Playoff Picture: Bengals clinch, Patriots secure home-field advantage in AFC
The playoff picture cleared up in Week 16. Five teams clinched a playoff berth and 9 of the 12 league's playoff spots have been already decided. In the final week of the season, there is still plenty to play for and a number of clubs could act as spoilers.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | YZ- Patriots | East | 12-3 |
| 2 | Y- Broncos | West | 11-4 |
| 3 | X- Bengals | North | 10-4-1 |
| 4 | Y- Colts | South | 10-5 |
| 5 | X- Steelers | North | 10-5 |
| 6 | Chargers | West | 9-6 |
X- Clinched Playoff Berth
Y- Clinched Division Title
Z- Clinched Bye
In the Hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ravens | North | 9-6 |
| 8 | Texans | South | 8-7 |
| 9 | Chiefs | West | 8-7 |
The New England Patriots clinched a first-round playoff bye with a 17-16 win over the New York Jets and secured home-field advantage in the AFC after Cincinnati's win on Monday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff berth with a 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh plays the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday in a game that will determine the AFC North winner.
Cincinnati defeated the Denver Broncos on Monday to punch its ticket to the postseason.
The San Diego Chargers will clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday. San Diego holds a tiebreaker over the Baltimore Ravens due to their 34-33 win head-to-head.
The Baltimore Ravens have two routes to the post-season. Baltimore needs to defeat the Cleveland Browns and San Diego to lose; or, the Ravens need a victory and need Cincinnati to lose its final two games.
The Houston Texans need to win their final game against the Jacksonville Jaguars to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Houston also needs Baltimore and San Diego to lose to get in.
The Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans have been eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X- Seahawks | West | 11-4 |
| 2 | X- Lions | North | 11-4 |
| 3 | Y- Cowboys | East | 11-4 |
| 4 | Panthers | South | 6-8-1 |
| 5 | X- Packers | North | 11-4 |
| 6 | X- Cardinals | West | 11-4 |
X- Clinched Playoff Berth
Y- Clinched Division Title
Z- Clinched Bye
In the Hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Falcons | South | 6-9 |
The Atlanta Falcons will play the Carolina Panthers in a game that will decide the NFC South winner. Neither team can make the post-season unless they capture the division.
The Dallas Cowboys clinched the NFC East with a 42-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Dallas can secure a first-round bye if they defeat the Washington Redskins and the Seattle Seahawks lose to the St. Louis Rams.
The Seattle Seahawks will defend their Super Bowl title officially, gaining entry into the post-season after the Cowboys defeated the Colts. Seattle took over the NFC West lead with a 35-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals and will secure the number one seed in the NFC if they defeat the St. Louis Rams next Sunday and the Lions-Packers game does not end in a tie.
Arizona surrendered the lead in the NFC West after losing to the Seahawks. However, the Cardinals clinched a playoff spot last week, and could win the NFC West if they defeat the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle loses.
The Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot after the Philadelphia Eagles lost 27-24 to the Washington Redskins. If the Lions defeat Green Bay next Sunday, they will clinch the NFC North and can also secure a first-round bye if either the Seattle Seahawks or Dallas Cowboys lose.
The Green Bay Packers secured a playoff berth with a 20-3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Green Bay can win the NFC North with a victory over the Lions and could secure a first-round bye if the Seahawks also lose to the Rams, and the Cardinals are defeated by the 49ers.
If the Seahawks, Packers/Lions winner and Cowboys all end 12-4, then Seattle will finish first, the winner of the NFC North will finish second, Dallas will finish third and the NFC North runner-up will be one of the two wild-cards.
The New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been eliminated from playoff contention.