NFL Playoff Scenarios For Week 16

After 15 weeks, a lot of the playoff scenarios are finally starting to become clearer. However, only a handful of teams have either clinched playoff spots or have been eliminated from the playoffs entirely. Let's take a look at the playoff scenarios as they stand going into Week 16.

AFC:

Already Eliminated
Kansas City 2-12
Jacksonville 2-12
Oakland 4-10
Cleveland 5-9
San Diego 5-9
Buffalo 5-9
Tennessee 5-9
New York Jets 6-8

Need Help
Miami 6-8

In The Hunt
Pittsburgh 7-7

Wild Card Teams
Cincinnati 8-6
Indianapolis 9-5

Division Leaders
Houston 12-2
Denver 11-3
New England 10-4
Baltimore 9-5

Who Can Clinch This Week?

• With a Houston win and Denver loss, the Houston Texans will clinch the number one seed in the AFC and home field advantage. 
• Denver can clinch the number two seed with a win and a Patriots loss.
• Baltimore can clinch the AFC North with a win or a tie and a Cincinnati loss or tie.
• Indianapolis can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Kansas City or a loss by Pittsburgh.
• Cincinnati can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Pittsburgh.

NFC:

Already Eliminated 
Philadelphia 4-10
Detroit 4-10
Carolina 5-9
Arizona 5-9
St. Louis 6-7-1
Tampa Bay 6-8
New Orleans 6-8

In The Hunt
New York Giants 8-6
Chicago Bears 8-6
Dallas Cowboys 8-6

Wild Card Teams
Minnesota 8-6
Seattle 9-5

Division Leaders
Atlanta 12-2
San Francisco 10-3-1
Green Bay 10-4
Washington 8-6

Who Can Clinch This Week?

• The Atlanta Falcons can clinch the top seed in the NFC with a win or losses by both the Packers and Niners.
• San Francisco can clinch the NFC West with a win or tie against Seattle.
• Green Bay can clinch the third seed in the NFC with a win. 
• Washington clinches a playoff spot with a win and losses by the Bears, Giants and Vikings.
• Seattle clinches a playoff spot with a win against San Francisco.

There are going to be a lot of games worth keeping track of this week. For some teams, it will be a very merry Christmas watching their teams slip into the playoffs. For fans of other teams, it could be the start of another long off-season  For fans in cities like Minnesota or Washington, it could be that nothing is decided until next week.