With Two Weeks Left, Playoff Scenarios For Every Team Heading Into Week 16 Matchups
Only two weeks remain in the regular season for the NFL, but there is still plenty of things to be decided when it comes to seeding and clinching playoff spots. Only seven total teams remain in the hunt between the AFC and NFC, but only five teams have clinched spots in the playoffs which means another seven are still up for grabs. While some teams are on the verge of elimination, others are still right in the thick of things. So like last week, we will take a look at what each team currently holding a playoff spot can clinch this weekend as well as the remaining schedules for those teams and the teams still in the hunt so let us get started right away.
American Football Conference (AFC)
#1 Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
Last Game: Thursday (12/13) vs. LAC (28-29 L)
Next Game: 12/23 @ SEA, 8:20 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch AFC West + First-Round Bye w/
1. Week 16 win + Chargers loss
Clinch No. 1 seed + home-field advantage throughout playoffs w/
1. Week 16 win + Chargers loss + Texans loss/tie OR
2. Week 16 win + Chargers loss + Chiefs clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Texans
Remaining Schedule: vs. OAK
#2 Houston Texans (10-4)
Last Game: Saturday (12/15) @ NYJ (29-22 W)
Next Game: 12/23 @ PHI, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch AFC South w/
1. Win/tie OR
2. Colts loss/tie + Titans loss/tie
Clinch First-Round Bye in playoffs w/
1. Week 16 win + Patriots loss/tie OR
2. Week 16 tie + Patriots loss
Clinch Playoff Berth w/
1. Ravens loss/tie OR
2. Steelers loss OR
3. Titans loss/tie + Texans clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Ravens
Remaining Schedule: vs. JAX
#3 New England Patriots (9-5)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ PIT (10-17 L)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. BUF, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch AFC East w/
1. Week 16 win/tie OR
2. Dolphins loss/tie
Remaining Schedule: vs. NYJ
#4 Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) vs. NE (17-10 W)
Next Game: 12/23 @ NO, 4:25 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch AFC North w/
1. Week 16 win + Ravens loss/tie OR
2. Week 16 tie + Ravens loss
Clinch Playoff Berth w/
1. Week 16 win + Colts loss + Titans loss
Remaining Schedule: vs. CIN
#5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-3)
Last Game: Thursday (12/13) @ KC (29-28 W)
Next Game: 12/22 (Saturday) vs. BAL, 8:20 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16): None.
Remaining Schedule: @ DEN
#6 Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) vs. TB (20-12 W)
Next Game: 12/22 (Saturday) @ LAC, 8:20 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16): None.
Remaining Schedule: vs. CLE
In The Hunt
#7 Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) vs. DAL (23-0 W)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. NYG, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ TEN
#8 Tennessee Titans (8-6)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ NYG (17-0 W)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. WAS, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: vs. IND
#9 Miami Dolphins (7-7)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ MIN (17-41 L)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. JAX, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ BUF
#10 Cleveland Browns (6-7-1)
Last Game: Saturday (12/15) @ DEN (17-16 W)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. CIN, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ BAL
Eliminated From Playoff Contention
Denver Broncos (6-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
Buffalo Bills (5-9)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10)
New York Jets (4-10)
Oakland Raiders (3-11)
National Football Conference (NFC)
#1 New Orleans Saints
Last Game: Monday (12/17) @ CAR (12-9 W)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. PIT, 4:25 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in playoffs w/
1. Week 16 win OR
2. Week 16 tie + Rams loss/tie OR
3. Rams loss + Bears loss/tie
Clinch First-Round Bye w/
1. Week 16 tie OR
2. Rams loss OR
3. Bears loss/tie
Remaining Schedule: vs. CAR
#2 Los Angeles Rams
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) vs. PHI (23-30 L)
Next Game: 12/23 @ ARI, 4:05 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch First-Round Bye w/
1. Week 16 win + Bears loss/tie
2. Week 16 tie + Bears loss
Remaining Schedule: vs. SF
#3 Chicago Bears
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) vs. GB (24-17 W)
Next Game: 12/23 @ SF, 4:05 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16): None.
Remaining Schedule: @ MIN
#4 Dallas Cowboys
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ IND (0-23 L)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. TB, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch NFC East w/
1. Week 16 win OR
2. Week 16 tie + Redskins loss/tie + Eagles loss/tie OR
3. Redskins loss + Eagles loss
Cowboys clinch playoff berth w/
1. Week 16 tie + Vikings loss
Remaining Schedule: @ NYG
#5 Seattle Seahawks
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ SF (23-26 L)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. KC, 8:20 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch Playoff Berth w/
1. Week 16 win + Redskins loss/tie OR
2. Week 16 win/tie + Vikings loss OR
3. Week 16 tie + Redskins loss + Eagles loss/tie OR
4. Week 16 win + Seahawks clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Redskins OR
5. Week 16 win + Vikings tie + Seahawks clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Vikings
Remaining Schedule: vs. ARI
#6 Minnesota Vikings
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) vs. MIA (41-17 W)
Next Game: 12/23 v@ DET, 1:00 PM EST
Clinching Scenarios (For Week 16):
Clinch Playoff Berth w/
1. Week 16 win + Redskins loss + Eagles loss/tie
Remaining Schedule: vs. CHI
In The Hunt
#7 Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ LAR (30-23 W)
Next Game: 12/13 vs. HOU, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ WAS
#8 Washington Redskins (7-7)
Last Game: Sunday (12/16) @ JAX (16-13 W)
Next Game: 12/23 @ TEN, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: vs. PHI
#9 Carolina Panthers (6-8)
Last Game: Monday (12/17) vs. NO (9-12 L)
Next Game: 12/23 vs. ATL, 1:00 PM EST
Remaining Schedule: @ NO
Eliminated From Playoff Contention
Green Bay Packers (5-8-1)
Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-9)
New York Giants (5-9)
Detroit Lions (5-9)
San Francisco 49ers (4-10)
Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
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