NFL Week 16: The Playoff Picture and Clinching Scenarios

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)

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:

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