Five teams in each conference have clinched playoff berths: The Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars Chargers and Bills in the AFC, and the Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, 49ers and Rams in the NFC. That leaves four playoff berths remaining, plus plenty of jockeying for playoff seeding. Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks heading after Week 16:
AFC Playoff Picture
DIVISION LEADERS
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1. Broncos (12-3) If they win out, they’re the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
2. Patriots (12-3) Would lose the common-games tiebreaker to the Broncos.
3. Jaguars (11-4) The clear favorites in the AFC South.
4. Steelers (9-6) Big win in Detroit.
WILD CARDS
5. Chargers (11-4) First in the wild card race thanks to a better AFC record than the Bills.
6. Bills (11-4) Probably won’t catch the Patriots in the AFC East, but in great shape for a wild card.
7. Texans (10-5) Just need to keep winning to clinch the final AFC wild card berth.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Colts (8-7) Still mathematically alive, but they’re almost certainly going to miss the playoffs.
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9. Ravens (7-8) Playoff chances are slipping away.
10. Chiefs (6-9) Mathematically eliminated.
11. Dolphins (6-9) Mathematically eliminated.
12. Bengals (5-10) Mathematically eliminated.
13. Jets (3-12) Mathematically eliminated.
14. Titans (3-12) Mathematically eliminated.
15. Browns (3-12) Mathematically eliminated.
16. Raiders (2-13) Mathematically eliminated.
NFC Playoff Picture
DIVISION LEADERS
1. Seahawks (12-3) Big win on Thursday night against the Rams.
2. Bears (11-4) If they win one more game they win the NFC North.
3. Eagles (10-5) Clinched the NFC East.
4. Panthers (8-7) Big win over the Buccaneers.
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WILD CARDS
5. 49ers (11-4) Currently own the tiebreaker over the Rams thanks to a better record in the NFC West.
6. Rams (11-4) Losing to the Seahawks means they’re likely to have to win three road games, instead of two home games, to reach the Super Bowl.
7. Packers (9-5-1) The Lions’ loss helped the injury-plagued Packers’ playoff hopes.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Lions (8-7) Running out of time to turn their season around.
9. Vikings (7-8) Mathematically eliminated.
10. Buccaneers (7-8) Out of contention for a wild card, but they can still win the NFC South.
11. Cowboys (6-8-1) Mathematically eliminated.
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12. Falcons (6-9) Mathematically eliminated.
13. Saints (5-10) Mathematically eliminated.
14. Commanders (4-11) Mathematically eliminated.
15. Cardinals (3-12) Mathematically eliminated.
16. Giants (2-13) Mathematically eliminated.
