Itoro N. Umontuen
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:
DEN win + LAC loss or tie + NE loss + BUF loss or tie
Denver clinches AFC West division title with:
DEN win + LAC loss or tie OR
DEN tie + LAC loss
Buffalo Bills (10-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-11); Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
BUF win + IND loss or tie OR
BUF win + HOU loss or tie OR
BUF tie + IND loss OR
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:
NE win or tie OR
IND loss or tie OR
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:
JAX win + IND loss or tie OR
JAX win + HOU loss or tie OR
JAX tie + IND loss OR
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:
LAC win + IND loss or tie OR
LAC win + HOU loss or tie OR
LAC tie + IND loss OR
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:
PHI win OR
DAL loss OR
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:
CHI win + DET loss or tie OR
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:
GB win + DET loss or tie OR
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:
SF win OR
DET loss OR
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:
SEA win or tie OR
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
