The AFC playoff image is beginning to change into clearer, as the sector is near being set. The Los Angeles Chargers took away the Denver Broncos locking up a playoff berth, whereas hurting the possibilities of the opposite AFC groups which are mathematically within the hunt.
The Baltimore Ravens are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North lead after their win Saturday, however Pittsburgh nonetheless holds the tiebreaker by advantage of getting a greater convention file. In the meantime, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are a win away from locking up home-field benefit (or a Buffalo Payments loss Sunday).
The NFC video games start on this Sunday in Week 16, with an thrilling race for home-field benefit occurring.
Beneath is a breakdown of the conference standings with some Week 16 video games accomplished:
AFC playoff image
| Seed | Group | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
y – Chiefs |
14 |
1 |
.933 Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
|
| 2 |
y – Bills |
11 |
3 |
.786 |
|
| 3 | x – Steelers |
10 |
5 |
.667 |
|
| 4 | y – Texans |
9 |
6 Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
.600 |
|
| 5 | x- Ravens | 10 | 5 | 0 | .643 |
| 6 | Chargers | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 |
| 7 | Broncos | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 |
| 8 | Colts | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 |
| 9 | Dolphins | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 |
| 10 | Bengals | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 |
| 11 | e – Jets | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 |
| 12 | e – Browns | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 |
| 13 | e – Jaguars | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 |
| 14 | e – Titans | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 |
| 15 | e – Patriots | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 |
| 16 | e – Raiders | 2 | 12 | 0 | .142 |
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eradicated from playoffs
1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (14-1)
The Chiefs are up two video games over the Payments for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. A Payments loss in Week 16 or a Chiefs win on Christmas would give Kansas Metropolis home-field benefit within the convention.
Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Broncos
2. Buffalo Payments (11-3)
Buffalo trails Kansas Metropolis by two video games for home-field benefit, however has the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Payments have one of many best schedules the remainder of the way in which.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
The playoff-bound Steelers are tied with the Ravens within the AFC North, even after their loss to Baltimore on Saturday. Pittsburgh has the conference-record tiebreaker (7-3) over Baltimore (6-4) that provides the Steelers the sting within the division.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals
4. Houston Texans (9-6)
The Texans have already clinched the AFC South. They are going to be at the very least the No. 4 seed within the AFC and may have a house recreation within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs, however path the Steelers by one recreation for the No. 3 seed.
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Titans
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
The Ravens clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Steelers on Saturday and at the moment are tied for the AFC North lead. Pittsburgh has the conference-record tiebreaker over Baltimore.
Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Browns
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
The Chargers enhance to the No. 6 seed within the AFC after their win over the Broncos, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker after sweeping Denver.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Raiders
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
The Broncos are a win away from clinching a playoff spot, even with Thursday’s loss to the Chargers.
Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Chiefs
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
The Colts are 2.5 video games out of the ultimate wild-card spot within the AFC, however are eradicated from playoff rivalry with a loss. The Colts have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins for the No. 8 seed by advantage of their Week 7 victory and personal the tiebreaker over the Bengals primarily based on having a greater convention file (5-5) than Cincinnati (3-6).
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
The Dolphins’ AFC playoff hopes are nonetheless alive, however Miami will probably be eradicated with a loss. Miami is 2 video games behind Denver for the ultimate playoff spot and holds the conference-record tiebreaker (5-5) over Cincinnati (3-6).
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
The Bengals stay the No. 10 seed within the AFC, needing important assist to earn a playoff berth. Cincinnati wants to leap a number of groups and win out to have a shot on the playoffs, because the Bengals are two video games again of the Broncos and play them in Week 17. They can not lose one other recreation.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers
Eradicated from playoff rivalry
Six groups are eradicated from the playoff race within the AFC: the Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars and Browns.
NFC playoff image
| Rank | Group | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
x – Lions |
12 |
2 |
.857 Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
|
| 2 | x – Eagles | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 |
| 3 | Rams | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 |
| 4 |
8 |
6 |
.571 |
||
| 5 | x – Vikings | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 |
| 6 | Packers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 |
| 7 | Commanders | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 |
| 8 | Seahawks | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 |
| 9 | Falcons | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 |
| 10 | Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 |
| 11 | 49ers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 |
| 12 | Cowboys | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 |
| 13 | Saints | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 |
| 14 | e – Bears | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 |
| 15 | e – Panthers | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 |
| 16 | e – Giants | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 |
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eradicated from playoffs
1. Detroit Lions (12-2)
The Lions stay the No. 1 seed within the convention as a result of having a greater convention file (8-1) than the Eagles (7-2). They’re additionally tied for the NFC North lead with the Vikings, however maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker. Detroit will stay the No. 1 seed over each Philadelphia and Minnesota.
Remaining schedule: at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
The Eagles stay within the hunt for home-field benefit, however Detroit nonetheless has the conference-record tiebreaker. Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East and the No. 2 seed with a win Sunday.
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
The Buccaneers lead the NFC South. Tampa Bay (6-3) holds the conference-record tiebreaker over Los Angeles (5-5) for the No. 3 seed. Atlanta has swept Tampa Bay this season, however the Buccaneers lead the NFC South by one recreation.
Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
The Rams lead the NFC West. Los Angeles holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle, which is how the Rams gained the division lead.
Remaining schedule: at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks
5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
Minnesota stays the highest wild-card workforce within the convention and is now tied with Detroit for first place within the NFC North. Detroit nonetheless has have the division lead by way of the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (10-4)
The Packers are the No. 6 seed within the NFC. They’ll clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Saints Monday.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)
The Commanders lead the Seahawks by one recreation for the ultimate playoff spot within the convention. They clinch a playoff berth with a win and a Falcons loss or tie or if the and Rams or Seahawks lose or tie.
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
The Seahawks stay one-game again of the Commanders for the ultimate wild-card spot. They’re tied for the NFC West lead, however the Rams maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
The Falcons path the Buccaneers by one recreation for the NFC South lead. Atlanta has the conference-record tiebreaker (6-3) over Arizona (3-6) for the No. 9 seed.
Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers
10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
The Cardinals stay within the NFC West and wild-card hunt. Arizona is 2 video games behind Washington for the ultimate wild-card spot.
Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
The 49ers’ slim playoff hopes are nonetheless alive. They’re three video games out of the ultimate playoff spot, so their wild-card likelihood is virtually nonexistent. They’re two video games behind the Rams and Seahawks within the NFC West.
Remaining schedule: at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
The Cowboys are nonetheless within the playoff hunt. Yet one more loss by Dallas — or a Washington win over Philadelphia — will remove the Cowboys from playoff rivalry.
Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
The Saints are three video games out of the NFC South lead with three video games to play. They are going to be eradicated from playoff rivalry with one other loss (or a Buccaneers win).
Remaining schedule: at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers
Eradicated from playoff rivalry
The Bears and Panthers joined the Giants as groups formally eradicated from the playoffs with losses in Week 15.
