The NFL playoff picture after Week 16: who is likely in and who is in trouble?
There are two weeks to go in the NFL regular season and five playoff spots are still up for grabs and Weeks 17 and 18 will see some serious divisional showdowns.
The NFL regular season is nearly through, and yet there are still 15 teams in the playoff hunt with two weeks to go. Let’s take a look at who’s in, who’s out, who’s still in the hunt, and who’s likely out of the NFL playoffs heading into Week 17.
AFC playoff picture after Week 16
AFC teams out of the playoffs:
- Cleveland Browns (6-9, last in AFC North)
- Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1, third in AFC South)
- Denver Broncos (4-11, last in AFC West)
- Houston Texans (2-12-1, last in AFC South)
AFC teams who have clinched playoff berth and where they stand
Buffalo Bills,12-3, AFC East champions
The Bills won the AFC East crown for the third year in a row with their win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Now they will try to beat the Bengals in Week 17 to battle with the Kanas City Chiefs for the top seed, home-field advantage and first-round bye in the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs, 12-3, AFC West champions
The Chiefs clinched the AFC West and now sit at the second seed in the AFC after beating the Seahawks on Sunday. They are in a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bills, needing to win out and the Bills to lose at least one to take the top seed in the AFC.
Cincinnati Bengals, 11-4, first place in AFC North
The Bengals hold a one-game lead in the AFC North and would clinch the title with a win over the Bills and a Ravens loss to the Steelers in Week 17.
Jacksonville Jaguars, 7-8, first place in AFC South
The Jaguars beat the Jets and the Titans lost to the Texans to put the Jaguars up to the no. 4 seed in the AFC and leaders of the AFC South. They have the same record as the Titans, but beat them on the road in Week 14, so sit ahead of them in the division. Week 17′s games won’t matter for either of them as the AFC South title will come down to their Week 18 matchup against each other.
Baltimore Ravens, 10-5, second in AFC North
The Ravens clinched a playoff berth when the Bengals beat the Patriots and stayed in contention for the AFC North title by beating the Falcons themselves.
Los Angeles Chargers, 9-6, second in AFC West
The Chargers clinched their playoff spot by wining on the road against the Colts in Week 16 and then saw everything else work in their favor too.
AFC teams still in the playoff hunt and what they need to make it
Miami Dolphin, 8-7, second in AFC East
The Dolphins lost to the Packers in Week 16 to push them down to the seventh seed in the AFC. They are still likely to make the playoffs, despite this being their fourth straight loss. They need to win their final two games against the Patriots and Jets or beat the Patriots and lose to the Jets, and the Jets lose to the Seahawks or lose to the Patriots and beat the Jets, and the Patriots lose to the Bills.
New England Patriots, 7-8, third in AFC East
The Patriots lost their third straight game against the Bengals in Week 16 and their chances of making the playoffs are quite low, though not impossible. They play the Dolphins at home in Week 17.
New York Jets, 7-8, last in AFC East
The Jets have lost their last four games and play the Seahawks in Week 17.
Tennessee Titans, 7-8, second in AFC South
The Titans lost their fifth straight game against the Texans and they’re now down to the tenth seed in the AFC. They can still win the AFC South if they win their last two games.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 7-8, third in AFC North
The Steelers avoided being eliminated from playoff contention by beating the Raiders. They will be eliminated if they lose to the Ravens in Week 17 or even before that game, if the Dolphins beat the Patriots or Jets beat the Seahawks.
Las Vegas Raiders, 6-9, third in AFC West
The Raiders have to win out and need a lot of other things to go in their favor to even make it to the playoffs at this point.
NFC playoff picture after Week 16
NFC teams out of the playoffs:
- Los Angeles Rams, 5-10, third in NFC West
- Atlanta Falcons, 5-10, last in NFC South
- Arizona Cardinals, 4-11, last in NFC West
- Chicago Bears, 3-12, last in NFC North
NFC teams who have clinched playoff berth and where they stand
Philadelphia Eagles, 13-2, first in NFC East
The Eagles lost to the Cowboys, making it just a two-game lead over their rivals in the division. They could clinch the NFC East with one more win or one Cowboys loss. They would clinch the no. 1 seed in the NFC with one win and a Vikings loss in Week 17.
Minnesota Vikings, 12-3, NFC North champions
The Vikings still have a chance to get the top seed in the NFC after their clutch win over the Giants in Week 16. They would only be able to do that if they can finish one game ahead of the Eagles.
San Fransisco 49ers, 11-4, NFC West champions
The Niners clinched the NFC West for the second time in four years when they beat the Seahawks in Week 15. They are two games behind the Eagles in the NFC and are unlikely to make it to the top seed, but could overtake the Vikings for the second seed as they are just one game down and hold the tiebreaker.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-8, first in NFC South
The Buccaneers hold just a one-game lead over the Panthers and Saints in the NFC South and have the tiebreaker over the Saint. They could win the title with a win at home against the Panthers in Week 17.
Dallas Cowboys, 11-4, second in NFC East
The Cowboys beat the Eagles in Week 16 to cut the NFC East lead to two games, but still need to win out and have the Eagles lose out to win the crown.
NFC teams still in the playoff hunt and what they need to make it
New York Giants, 8-6-1, third in NFC East
The Giants missed their chance to clinch a playoff berth when they lost to the Vikings in Week 16. Thanks to the Lions and Seahawks losses, the Giants now just need one more win to make it into the playoffs.
Washington Commanders, 7-7-1, last in NFC East
The Commanders lost to the 49ers but are still the seventh seed in the NFC. They need to win their final two games against the Browns and the Cowboys.
Seattle Seahawks, 7-8, second in NFC West
The Seahawks’ playoff chances are no longer in their own hands. If the Giants and Commanders lose in their final two, they might have a chance.
Detroit Lions, 7-8, second in NFC North
The Lions lost to the Panthers in Week 16 but other losses kept them in playoff contention. To make the playoffs now, they would need to win out against the Bears and Packers, one Commanders loss, one Seahawks loss, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Green Bay Packers, 7-8, third in NFC North
The Packers could make the playoffs by winning out and the Commanders losing one game.
Carolina Panthers, 6-9, second in NFC South
If the Panthers win out, they would actually win the NFC South crown.
New Orleans Saints, 6-9, third in NFC South
To make the playoffs, the Saints have to win out against the Eagles and Panthers and need the Buccaneers to lose out in order to win the NFC South.