NFL Week 16: What’s at stake?

With three weeks left of the NFL regular season, we are starting to get a clearer picture of how the playoffs could look. After Week 15, six teams earned a playoff spot and three already stole their division.

NFL Playoffs: Who’s in?

Philadelphia Eagles, 13-1 (NFC East leader)

It’s no surprise the Philadelphia Eagles clinched their spot in the playoffs. They were the first to do so in Week 14. Currently at 13-1 and sitting atop the NFC, they are arguably the best team in the league right now. They had a rough game against the Bears last week and Jalen Hurts’ shoulder injury is a bit of a concern. Still, they are confident going into their division rivalry game against the Cowboys this weekend. A win will give the Eagles the NFC East title and make them the NFC’s number one seed (not to mention a first-round bye week and home field advantage).

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Minnesota Vikings, 11-3 (NFC North winner)

The Minnesota Vikings not only clinched their spot in the playoffs last week, but they also clinched the NFC North when they beat the Colts. In that game, they came back from a 33-point deficit and Kirk Cousins looked impressive.

San Francisco 49ers, 10-4 (NFC West winner)

One of the other three teams to clinch their division is the San Francisco 49ers when they beat the Seahawks last week. That’s even with Brock Purdy in at quarterback. But their defense alone could carry them deep into the playoffs.

Kansas City Chiefs, 11-3 (AFC West winner)

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West title with their win over the Texans last week. Though they did make Cowboys fans feel a little better by getting that win against Houston in overtime.

Buffalo Bills, 11-3 (first in AFC East)

The Bills clinched their spot in the playoffs when they beat the Dolphins last week. They are first in the AFC East and could clinch the title with a win over the Bears this week. They also own the tiebreaker over the Chiefs because of a head-to-head win in October.

Dallas Cowboys, 10-4 (second in NFC East)

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t clinch a spot in the playoffs themselves. Instead, they clinched their playoff berth due to the Seahawks and Commanders losing in Week 15. The fact that they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week pretty much means they will be playing in the wild card game in the playoffs.

NFL Playoffs: Who’s looking good?

Cincinnati Bengals, 10-4 (first in AFC North)

The Bengals can clinch a playoff spot in Week 16 with a win over the Patriots or a Jets loss.

Detroit Lions, 7-7 (second in NFC North)

The Lions got off to a terrible 1-6 start, but have come back to win six of seven games and put themselves back in the playoff race. They will face the Panthers in Week 15 and need to finish in the top two ahead of the Giants, Commanders, Seahawks, and Packers in order to make the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers, 8-6 (second in AFC West)

The Chargers would clinch a playoff spot this week with a win and losses by the Raiders, Jets, and Patriots.

New York Giants, 8-5-1 (third in NFC East)

The Giants can still clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 if they win and the Commanders and Lions lose or a win and Commanders and Seahawks losses or a win and Lions and Seahawks losses.

Baltimore Ravens, 9-5 (second in AFC South)

The Ravens would clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 with a win and Patriots and Jets losses or a win and losses by the Patriots and Dolphins or a win and Jets and Dolphins losses.

Miami Dolphins, 8-6 (second in AFC East)

The Dolphins have suffered three straight losses. They’re still in the race, unlike their opponent in Week 16, the Green Bay Packers. But they’ll need wins against both the Patriots and Jets to clinch a playoff berth. Obviously, if they win out, they will be in the playoffs. If they beat the Packers and then lose to the Patriots and Jets, it’s unlikely they would make it in the playoffs, but if they lose out, they are out.

NFL Playoffs: Who is scrambling?

Tennessee Titans, 7-7 (first in AFC South)

They may be first in their division, but not by far. After losing to the Jaguars in Week 14, the Titans are suddenly in a race to win the AFC South. With Ryan Tannehill suffering from an ankle injury, their chances are looking grim.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-8 (first in NFC South)

Being first in the worst division in the league isn’t saying a whole lot, and the Buccaneers are on a downward trajectory. A win over the Cardinals would greatly increase their chances at making the playoffs. If the Panthers, Saints, and Falcons all lose, then their chances increase even more. They would clinch a playoff berth if they win out.

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New England Patriots, 7-7 (tied for last in AFC East)

The Patriots are still technically in the race, but it’s not looking great for them. Winning out would be their best bet to make it in to a Wild Card spot.

New York Jets, 7-7 (tied for last in AFC East)

The New York Jets could be eliminated in Week 16 if they lose and the Chargers, Dolphins, Patriots, and Ravens win, or the Jets could be eliminated by a loss plus a Browns loss and wins by the Chargers, Dolphins, and Patriots.

Seattle Seahawks, 7-7 (second in NFC West)

If the Seahawks win out, they could have a chance at making the playoffs. It wouldn’t guarantee it, but it would certainly help their odds. They could even make it to the playoffs via a wild-card spot if they lose one of the next three, but they would still need help from the other teams in that case.

Washington Commanders, 7-6-1 (fourth in NFC East)

If the Seahawks or Lions finish with two or three wins in the last three games, the Commanders will be eliminated from the playoffs. In fact, the only way they can stay the No. 7 seed would be for both the Lions and Seahawks to go 1-2 or 0-3 to finish the season.

Las Vegas Raiders, 6-8 (third in AFC West)

The Las Vegas Raiders would be eliminated from the playoffs in Week 16 if they lose and the Chargers and Dolphins win or if they lose and the Chargers and Jets win or if they lose and the Chargers and Patriots win.

Cleveland Browns, 6-8 (tied for last in AFC North)

The Browns could be eliminated from the playoffs this week if they lose. Even if they win, they would be eliminated if the Chargers, Ravens, and Dolphins all win or if the Chargers, Ravens, Patriots, and Jets all win.

Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-8 (tied for last in the AFC North)

The Steelers would be eliminated from the playoffs this week withe a loss or wins by both the Chargers and Dolphins or wins by the Chargers, Patriots, and Jets.

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Green Bay Packers, 6-8 (third in NFC North)

The Packers would have to win out the rest of their games to even have a chance to make the playoffs. It’s unlikely to happen with the Dolphins and Vikings coming up.

Indianapolis Colts, 4-9-1 (third in AFC South)

The Colts are on the verge of being eliminated. A loss would see them out of the playoffs. If they pull off the win, they would still be eliminated if the Titans or Jaguars win their games.

Carolina Panthers, 5-9 (tied for second in NFC South)

To win the NFC South, the Panthers only have to win half a game more than the Buccaneers by the end of the season. If the Bucs lose this week or in Week 18, a tie between the Bucs and Panthers would see Carolina go to the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints, 5-9 (tied for second in NFC South)

The Saints would be eliminated from playoffs if they lose and the Buccaneers win.

Atlanta Falcons, 5-9 (tied for second in NFC South)

The Falcons would be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss and a Buccaneers win or a loss and wins by both the Saints and the Panthers.

Jacksonville Jaguars, 6-8 (second in AFC South)

The Jaguars upset over the Cowboys kept them in playoff contention, but they are still a long shot to win a wild-card playoff berth. They would need to win out the rest of their games. Trevor Lawrence has looked good recently, so who knows?

NFL Playoffs: Who’s out of the playoffs?