The puzzle that is the NFL playoffs is slowing coming together, and Week 16 holds the keys to plenty of teams’ post-season and division title hopes.
Let’s dig in, starting with the AFC:
AFC WEEK 16 PLAYOFF PICTURE
Who’s in?
1. Kansas City (13-1, AFC West champs)
2. Buffalo (11-3, AFC East champs)
3. Pittsburgh (11-3)
The AFC North, AFC South, and all three wild card spots are still up for grabs. If the playoffs started today, these four clubs would also be playoff-bound:
4. Tennessee (10-4)
5. Cleveland (10-4)
6. Indianapolis (10-4)
7. Miami (9-5)
That leaves the Baltimore Ravens (9-5) and Las Vegas Raiders (7-7) currently on the outside, but still with a chance of getting in.
AFC Week 16 clinching scenarios:
The Cleveland Browns will clinch a playoff berth (for the first time since 2002!) with one of the following outcomes:
• CLE win (vs. Jets) + BAL loss or tie (vs. Giants) OR
• CLE win + MIA loss or tie (vs. Raiders) OR
• CLE win + IND loss (vs. Steelers) OR
• CLE tie + BAL loss OR
• CLE tie + MIA loss [sidebar]
The Indianapolis Colts will clinch a playoff berth with one of these outcomes:
• IND win (vs. Steelers) + BAL loss or tie (vs. Giants) OR
• IND win + MIA loss or tie (vs. Raiders) OR
• IND tie + BAL loss OR
• IND tie + MIA loss
The Tennessee Titans will clinch a playoff berth with:
• TEN win (vs. Packers) OR
• MIA loss (vs. Raiders) OR
• BAL loss (vs. Giants) OR
• TEN tie + BAL tie
The Titans also have one clear path to the AFC South division title this week:
• TEN win + IND loss
Despite a three-game losing skid, the Pittsburgh Steelers can still clinch the AFC North division title with:
• PIT win (vs. Colts) OR
• CLE loss (vs. Jets) OR
• PIT tie + CLE tie
(Psst: Should the Steelers lose this Sunday and the Browns win to tie things up atop the division, we’re in for one heck of a season finale between the AFC North’s top two teams.)
The Kansas City Chiefs will secure the conference’s No. 1 seed (and first-round bye) with:
• KC win or tie (vs. Falcons) OR
• PIT loss or tie (vs. Colts) OR
• BUF loss or tie (vs. Patriots) OR…
• … this mess of a puzzle:
https://twitter.com/NFLScenarios/status/1341286562173251584
(Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.)
https://twitter.com/NFLScenarios/status/1341420652096577537
NFC WEEK 16 PLAYOFF PICTURE
Who’s in?
1. Green Bay (11-3, NFC North champs)
2. New Orleans (10-4)
3. Seattle (10-4)
The NFC South, NFC East, NFC West, and all three wild card spots are still up for grabs. If the playoffs started today, these four clubs would also be playoff-bound:
4. Washington (6-8)
5. L.A. Rams (9-5)
6. Tampa Bay (9-5)
7. Arizona (8-6)
That leaves the Chicago Bears (7-7), Minnesota Vikings (6-8), Dallas Cowboys (5-9), New York Giants (5-9), and Philadelphia Eagles (4-9-1) currently on the outside, but still not mathematically ruled out.
NFC Week 16 clinching scenarios:
The Arizona Cardinals can clinch a playoff berth in one of two ways:
• ARI win (vs. 49ers) + CHI loss or tie (vs. Jaguars) OR
• ARI tie + CHI loss
The Los Angeles Rams can clinch a playoff berth with:
• LAR win or tie (vs. Seahawks) OR
• CHI loss or tie (vs. Jaguars) OR
• ARI win or tie (vs. 49ers)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will clinch a playoff berth with:
• TB win or tie (vs. Lions) OR
• CHI loss or tie (vs. Jaguars)
The Washington Football Team clinches both a playoff berth and the NFC East division title with:
• WSH win (vs. Panthers) + NYG loss or tie (vs. Ravens) OR
• WSH tie + NYG loss + PHI-DAL tie
(This would, of course, see the other three NFC East teams officially eliminated from playoff contention, as the only path to the post-season for these clubs is by winning the division.)
The Seattle Seahawks have one path to the NFC West division title this week:
• SEA win (vs. Rams)
The New Orleans Saints will clinch the NFC South division crown with:
• NO win (vs. Vikings) OR
• TB loss (vs. Lions) OR
• NO tie + TB tie
The Green Bay Packers will secure the NFC’s top seed and first-round bye with:
• GB win (vs. Titans) + SEA loss or tie (vs. Rams) OR
• GB tie + NO loss or tie (vs. Vikings) + SEA loss or tie… as long as both NO and SEA don’t tie
[relatedlinks]
4:16