The NFL playoff picture is becoming more clear as Week 16 arrives. Entering this week, clinching scenarios are in play for the Chiefs, Patriots, Texans, Steelers, Saints, Rams, Cowboys, Seahawks and Vikings.
With two weeks left in the season, only three teams — Saints, Rams and Bears — have clinched their divisions. The Chiefs, Texans, Patriots, Steelers and Cowboys have chances to join that group this week. At the top of each conference, Kansas City and New Orleans have chances to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC and NFC playoffs, respectively.
Below are the NFL playoff clinching scenarios in play for Week 16, plus the overall playoff picture as the 2018 postseason draws near.
NFL playoff clinching scenarios
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (clinched playoff berth)
(at Seahawks)
— Chiefs clinch AFC West title and first-round bye in AFC playoffs with:
- Chiefs win + Chargers loss
— Chiefs clinch No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
- Chiefs win + Chargers loss + Texans loss/tie OR
- Chiefs win + Chargers loss + Chiefs clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Texans
Houston Texans
(at Eagles)
— Texans clinch AFC South title with:
- Texans win/tie OR
- Colts loss/tie + Titans loss/tie
— Texans clinch first-round bye in AFC playoffs with:
- Texans win + Patriots loss/tie OR
- Texans tie + Patriots loss
— Texans clinch playoff berth with:
- Ravens loss/tie OR
- Steelers loss OR
- Titans loss/tie + Texans clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Ravens
New England Patriots
(vs. Bills)
— Patriots clinch AFC East title with:
- Patriots win/tie OR
- Dolphins loss/tie
Pittsburgh Steelers
(at Saints)
— Steelers clinch AFC North title with:
- Steelers win + Ravens loss/tie OR
- Steelers tie + Ravens loss
— Steelers clinch playoff berth with:
- Steelers win + Colts loss + Titans loss
NFC
New Orleans Saints (clinched NFC South)
(vs. Steelers)
— Saints can clinch No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in NFC playoffs with:
- Saints win OR
- Saints tie + Rams loss/tie OR
- Bears loss/tie + Rams loss
— Saints clinch first-round bye in playoffs with:
- Saints tie OR
- Bears loss/tie OR
- Rams loss
Los Angeles Rams (clinched NFC West)
(at Cardinals)
— Rams clinch first-round bye in playoffs with:
- Rams win + Bears loss/tie
- Rams tie + Bears loss
Dallas Cowboys
(vs. Buccaneers)
— Cowboys clinch NFC East title with:
- Cowboys win OR
- Cowboys tie + Redskins loss/tie + Eagles loss/tie OR
- Redskins loss + Eagles loss
— Cowboys clinch playoff berth with:
- Cowboys tie + Vikings loss
Seattle Seahawks
(vs. Chiefs)
— Seahawks clinch playoff berth with:
- Seahawks win + Redskins loss/tie OR
- Seahawks win/tie + Vikings loss OR
- Seahawks win + Seahawks clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Redskins OR
- Seahawks win + Vikings tie + Seagawks clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Vikings OR
- Seahawks tie + Redskins loss + Eagles loss/tie
Minnesota Vikings
(at Lions)
— Vikings clinch playoff berth with:
- Vikings win + Redskins loss + Eagles loss/tie
NFL playoff picture
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
- Houston Texans (10-4)
- New England Patriots (9-5)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5-1)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-3)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
In the hunt:
Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Tennessee Titans (8-6)
Miami Dolphins (7-7)
Cleveland Browns (6-7-1)
MORE: Analysis of current playoff picture
NFC
- New Orleans Saints (12-2)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
- Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-6-1)
In the hunt:
Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)
Washington Redskins (7-7)
Carolina Panthers (6-8)