NFL Week 16: The Playoff Picture and Clinching Scenarios

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Stacy M. Brown
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It’s that time of the year where playoff tickets get punched and division championships are won. Four AFC teams and five NFC teams have a chance to secure playoff spots this week. Denver could also lock up the AFC’s No. 1 seed if four contests go their way. Here are the updated playoff scenarios heading to Week 16. 

AFC’s Playoff Scenarios

CLINCHED:

         Denver Broncos (12-2) – playoff berth

Denver Broncos (12-2) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4); Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)

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Denver clinches AFC West division title and the AFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage with:

  1. DEN win + LAC loss or tie + NE loss + BUF loss or tie

Denver clinches AFC West division title with:

  1. DEN win + LAC loss or tie OR
  2. DEN tie + LAC loss


Buffalo Bills (10-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-11); Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:

  1. BUF win + IND loss or tie OR
  2. BUF win + HOU loss or tie OR
  3. BUF tie + IND loss OR
  4. BUF tie + HOU loss


New England Patriots (11-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-7); Sunday night (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)

New England clinches playoff berth with:

  1. NE win or tie OR
  2. IND loss or tie OR
  3. HOU loss or tie


Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Denver Broncos (12-2); Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)

Jacksonville clinches playoff berth with:

  1. JAX win + IND loss or tie OR
  2. JAX win + HOU loss or tie OR
  3. JAX tie + IND loss OR
  4. JAX tie + IND tie + HOU loss


Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1); Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX)

Los Angeles Chargers clinch playoff berth with:

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  1. LAC win + IND loss or tie OR
  2. LAC win + HOU loss or tie OR
  3. LAC tie + IND loss OR
  4. LAC tie + IND tie + HOU loss

AFC playoff matchups as things stand

  • (7) Houston Texans at (2) New England Patriots
  • (6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars
  • (5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Wild-card round bye: (1) Denver Broncos

NFC’s Playoff Scenarios

CLINCHED:

         Los Angeles Rams (11-3) – playoff berth


Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10); Saturday (5 p.m. ET, FOX)

Philadelphia clinches NFC East division title with:

  1. PHI win OR
  2. DAL loss OR
  3. PHI tie + DAL tie


Chicago Bears (10-4) vs. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1); Saturday night (8:20 p.m. ET, FOX)

Chicago clinches playoff berth with:

  1. CHI win + DET loss or tie OR
  2. CHI tie + DET loss


Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) at Chicago Bears (10-4); Saturday night (8:20 p.m. ET, FOX)

Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:

  1. GB win + DET loss or tie OR
  2. GB tie + DET loss


San Francisco 49ers (10-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-6); Monday night (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:

  1. SF win OR
  2. DET loss OR
  3. SF tie + DET tie


Seattle Seahawks (11-3) vs. Los Angeles Rams (11-3); Thursday night (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)

Seattle clinches playoff berth with:

  1. SEA win or tie OR
  2. DET loss or tie

NFC’s Playoff Matchups as they stand

  • (7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears
  • (6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles
  • (5) Seattle Seahawks at (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Wild-card round bye: (1) Los Angeles Rams
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Stacy M. Brown is an NNPA Newswire Correspondent

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