The 49ers, Ravens, Eagles and Cowboys have clinched playoff spots, and there are 10 playoff spots available. Here’s what the NFC and AFC playoff pictures look like in Week 16:
NFC playoff picture
Section Leaders
1. 49ers (11-3): Won the NFC West.
2. Cowboys (10-4): Both the Lions and Eagles own tiebreakers, clinching playoff spots.
3. Lions (10-4): A huge lead in the NFC North.
4. Buccaneers (7-7): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Saints for the NFC South.
Wild cards
5. Eagles (10-4): Grabbed a playoff opportunity.
6. Vikings (7-7): Own the conference record tiebreaker over the Rams and Saints.
7. Rams (7-7): Own the conference record tiebreaker over the Saints and the division record tiebreaker over the Seahawks.
Looking out
8. Seahawks (7-7): Own the conference record tiebreaker over the Saints.
9. Saints (7-7): Still in contention after beating Giants.
10. Hawks (6-8): The loss to the hapless leopards is painful.
11. Packers (6-8): As they moved back into the playoff picture, the Packers lost games against the Giants and Bucks.
12. Giants (5-9): Controversy after losing to Saints.
13. Bears (5-9): A heartbreaking loss to the Browns ends any thoughts of a playoff run.
14. Generals (4-10): mathematically eliminated.
15. Cardinals (3-11): mathematically eliminated.
16. Leopards (2-12): A win over the Falcons means the Bears won’t be guaranteed the first overall pick.
AFC playoff picture
Section Leaders
1. Ravens (11-3): Grabbed a playoff opportunity.
2. Dolphins (10-4): The AFC East could come down to the last game of the season with the Bills.
3. Chiefs (9-5): A commanding lead in the AFC West.
4. Jaguars (8-6): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts and Texans in the AFC South.
Wild cards
5. Browns (9-5): Joe Flacco can lead them to the playoffs.
6. Bengal (8-6): Win a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts and Bills.
7. Colts (8-6): Win the conference record tiebreaker over the Bills and the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Texans.
Looking out
8. Texans (8-6): Win the conference record tiebreaker over the Bills.
9. Bills (8-6): They’re one of the seven best teams in the conference, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll make the playoffs.
10. Steelers (7-7): A loss to the Colts sent the Steelers into the playoffs.
11. Broncos (7-7): The loss to the Lions dashed their playoff hopes.
12. Raiders (6-8): Antonio Pearce had his team ready to play Thursday night.
13. Chargers (5-9): A season that started with playoff hopes has turned into a disaster.
14. Titans (5-9): mathematically eliminated.
15. Jets (5-9): mathematically eliminated.
16. The Patriarchs (3-11): mathematically eliminated.
Week 15 Cleaning Scenes
The 49ers have clinched the NFC West, along with the Ravens, Cowboys and Eagles for a playoff spot.
The 49ers will clinch the NFC No. 1 seed and home field advantage if they win this week and the Lions, Cowboys and Eagles all lose.
The Lions will clinch the NFC North with a win or tie against the Vikings on Sunday. If they lose to the Vikings, the Rams or Seahawks lose, the Lions will clinch a playoff spot.
A Ravens win and a Browns loss would clinch the AFC North.
A win for the Chiefs will clinch the AFC West.
A win would clinch a playoff spot for the Dolphins. A Dolphins win and Bills loss will clinch the AFC East.
If the Browns win, the other four AFC wild card contenders will clinch a playoff spot if they lose.
The NFL’s full, official playoff lineups will be released this week.
