NFL Playoff Picture and Scenarios after Week 16

NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 17

If you handicap the games this late in the season, you need to know the NFL playoff scenarios. It’s a must to know and we have them for you after Week 16.

As of Dec. 26, here are the teams eliminated from the playoffs

*-Carolina, Arizona, Washington, NY Giants, New England, LA Chargers, Tennessee, NY Jets

NFC Playoff Picture

1)San Francisco (11-4). They clinched the NFC West and have the tiebreakers over the Lions and Eagles. Will finish with Washington on the road and the LA Rams at home.

*The 49ers can clinch a first-round bye and home-field advantage with a win, and Eagles' loss and a Detroit loss.

2)Philadelphia (11-4). They are in the driver’s seat with Arizona and the Giants coming up.

*The Eagles can clinch the NFC East with a win and a Dallas loss/tie

OR a Philly tie and a Dallas loss.

3)Detroit (11-4). They’ve won the NFC North and now they can win the NFC. They face Dallas on the road and Minnesota at home.

4)Tampa Bay (8-7). The Bucs face New Orleans at home and Carolina on the road to end the season.

*The Bucs can clinch the NFC South Division title with…

A Tampa Bay win OR a Tampa Bay tie and an Atlanta loss.

Wild Cards

5)Dallas (10-5). Has clinched a playoff berth. The Cowboys face Detroit at home and Washington on the road.

6)LA Rams (8-7). They own a head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle.

*Rams can clinch a playoff berth with:

A Rams win + Seattle loss.

OR a Rams win + Minnesota/Green Bay tie.

7)Seattle (8-7). Has Pittsburgh at home and Arizona on the road left on their schedule.

Outside the playoffs but still with a chance.

8)Minnesota (7-8). Has Green Bay at home and Detroit on the road left.

9)Atlanta (7-8). Has Chicago on the road and New Orleans on the road to end the season.

10)Green Bay (7-8). Has Minnesota on the road and Chicago on the road to end the season.

11)New Orleans (7-8). Has Tampa Bay on the road and Atlanta at home to end the season.

12)Chicago (6-9). Has Atlanta at home and Green Bay on the road to end the season.

AFC Playoff Picture

1)Baltimore (12-3). Can win the AFC with a win over Miami. They host Pittsburgh to end the season.

*Clinches First-round bye and home field advantage with a win over Miami.

*Clinches AFC North with a win/tie OR Cleveland loss/tie.

2)Miami (11-4). Clinched a playoff berth. Can win the AFC East with one win in their final two games. Will face Buffalo in the finale at home.

*Clinches AFC East with a Miami win/tie OR Buffalo loss/tie.

3)Kansas City (9-6). They will host Cincinnati this week and end with LA Chargers on the road.

*KC clinches the AFC West division title with a win/tie OR a Denver loss/tie + Las Vegas loss/tie.

4)Jacksonville (8-7). Wins the tiebreak over Houston/Indy on head-to-head. They face Carolina at home and Tennessee on the road.

*Jax clinches the AFC South division title with a Jaguars win + Indy loss + Houston loss

5)Cleveland (10-5). The Browns end the season with the NY Jets at home and Cincinnati on the road.

*Cleveland clinches a playoff berth with a win/tie OR Pittsburgh loss/tie OR Buffalo loss OR Jacksonville loss/tie OR Houston loss/tie + Indy loss/tie.

6)Buffalo (9-6). Bills faces New England at home and Miami on the road to end the season.

*Buffalo clinches a playoff berth with a Win + Pittsburgh loss/tie + Cincinnati loss/tie OR WIN + Pittsburgh loss/tie + Jax loss/tie OR WIN + Pittsburgh loss/tie + Indy loss/tie + Hou loss/tie OR WIN + Cincy loss/tie + Jax loss/tie OR WIN + Cincy loss/tie + Indy loss/tie + Hou loss/tie OR Buff TIE (there are nine difference scenarios).

7)Indianapolis (8-7). The Colts face Las Vegas and Houston at home to the end the season..

*Indy wins tiebreak over Houston on head-to-head. Pittsburgh win tiebreak over Cincinnati on head-to-head. Indy wins tiebreak over Pittsburgh on head-to-head.

Outside the playoffs but still with a chance.

8)Houston (8-7). The Texans face Tennessee at home and Indy on the road.

*Houston wins tiebreak over Pittsburgh head-to-head.

9)Pittsburgh (8-7). The Steelers face Seattle and Baltimore on the road to end the season.

*Pittsburgh wins tie break over Cincinnati on head-to-head.

10)Cincinnati (8-7). The Bengals face KC on the road and Cleveland at home.

11)Las Vegas (7-8). The Raiders face the Colts on the road and Denver at home.

*Wins tiebreak over Denver based on head-to-head percentage.

12)Denver (7-8). Denver takes on the LA Chargers at home and Las Vegas on the road.

Author Profile
Ben Hayes

Ben has been a sports writer for over 35 years, dabbling in college and pro basketball, college and pro football, baseball, college lacrosse, minor league baseball and even college gymnastics. He's also been involved in the gaming industry for nearly 30 years and has been looking to beat the books since he was 13! Ben has had great success in handicapping college football, the NFL, college basketball, the NBA and MLB for 27+ years. His Twitter handle is @BenHayesWAW