NFL live playoff picture 2023: Updated standings, clinching scenarios for Week 16 bracket

The 2023 NFL season is rapidly drawing to a close, but there remains plenty unsettled about the league's playoff picture.

Entering Week 16, just four teams have clinched playoff spots. Numerous teams can ensure passage to the postseason by the week's end, but there are a couple of divisions that will remain tight until the very end.

And the wild card races in each conference? Let's just say "wild" is the perfect descriptor for them, as only six teams had been eliminated from postseason contention with three weeks left in the season.

Suffice to say that Week 16 will go a long way toward determining which teams will represent the AFC and NFC on either side of the postseason bracket. Here's what to know about the playoff picture as it stands and how the Week 16 results are impacting it.

MORE: Sporting News' expert model predicts the results of every Week 16 game

This article will be updated periodically to reflect the latest news, updates and results from around the NFL.

NFL playoff standings Week 16

• AFC playoff picture

In the hunt: Texans (8-7), Steelers (8-7), Bengals (8-7), Broncos (7-8), Raiders (6-8)

• NFC playoff picture

In the hunt: Vikings (7-8), Saints (7-8), Falcons (7-8), Packers (7-8), Giants (5-9), Bears (5-9)

NFL tiebreakers, explained

Several teams in the AFC and NFC have the same records. Here's how the NFL is breaking the ties between the teams still alive in the 2023 NFL playoff race.

AFC tiebreakers

• The Jaguars currently lead the AFC South because they have head-to-head wins against both the Texans and the Colts.
• The Colts hold the AFC's No. 7 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Steelers and the elimination of the Texans and Bengals in the divisional tiebreaks.
• The Texans hold the AFC's No. 8 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Steelers and the elimination of the Bengals via the divisional tiebreaks.
• The Steelers hold the AFC's No. 9 seed because of their season sweep against the Bengals.

NFC tiebreakers

• The Rams are the No. 6 seed because of their season sweep of the Seahawks.
• The Vikings are the No. 8 seed because they have a head-to-head win over the Falcons and both the Packers and Saints were eliminated in the division tiebreakers.
• The Falcons own the No. 9 seed because of their head-to-head win over the Packers and their ownership of the division tiebreaker over the Saints.
• The Packers own the 10th seed because of their head-to-head win over the Saints.
• The Giants are the 12th seed over the Bears because New York has a better winning percentage in common games.

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NFL clinching scenarios Week 16

• AFC

Baltimore Ravens (11-3)

Games remaining: at 49ers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers

The Ravens can no longer clinch the AFC North in Week 16. Baltimore could have wrapped up the division with either of the following results:

1. Ravens win AND Browns loss or tie OR
2. Ravens tie AND Browns loss

The Browns beat the Texans 36-22 to prevent the Ravens from accomplishing that this week.

Cleveland Browns (10-5)

Games remaining: vs. Jets, at Bengals

Cleveland clinches playoff berth with:

1. Browns win AND Bengals loss AND Broncos loss or tie AND Bills loss AND Dolphins win or tie AND Colts loss or tie OR
2. Browns win AND Steelers loss or tie AND Bills loss AND Dolphins win or tie AND Broncos loss or tie OR
3. Browns win AND Steelers loss or tie AND Bills loss AND Dolphins win or tie AND Jaguars loss AND Colts win OR
4. Browns win AND Steelers loss or tie AND Broncos loss or tie AND Jaguars loss AND Colts win OR
5. Browns win AND Steelers loss or tie AND Bills loss AND Chiefs win AND Colts win AND Jaguars loss OR
6. Browns win AND Steelers loss or tie AND Broncos loss or tie AND Dolphins win or tie AND Colts loss OR
7. Browns win AND Steelers loss or tie AND Broncos loss or tie AND Dolphins win or tie AND Jaguars loss OR
8. Browns win AND Bengals/Steelers tie AND Bills loss AND Colts win AND Jaguars loss

Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)

Games remaining: vs. Raiders, vs. Bengals, at Chargers

Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West title with:

1. Chiefs win OR
2. Chiefs tie AND Broncos loss

Miami Dolphins (10-4)

Games remaining: at Ravens, vs. Bills

The Dolphins officially clinched a playoff berth thanks to their 22-20 win over the Cowboys. They couldn't clinch the AFC East title, as the Bills prevented that from happening via their Saturday win over the Chargers.

• NFC

Detroit Lions (11-4)

Games remaining: at Cowboys, vs. Vikings

The Lions officially clinched the NFC North title thanks to their 30-24 win over the Vikings.

San Francisco 49ers (11-3)

Games remaining: vs. Ravens, at Commanders, vs. Rams

The 49ers can no longer clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage in Week 16. San Francisco could have achieved that in Week 16 with the following results:

1. 49ers win and Cowboys loss and Eagles loss and Lions loss

The Lions beat the Vikings 30-24 in Week 16 to prevent that from happening.

NFL elimination scenarios Week 16

There are a few teams that can be eliminated from playoff contention this week. They are as follows.

• AFC

The Raiders are eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Chiefs. They can also be eliminated with numerous situations involving a tie.

The Chargers were eliminated from playoff contention with Saturday's loss to the Bills. 

For the full details on the AFC elimination scenarios, click here.

• NFC

The Bears staved off elimination by beating the Cardinals in Week 16. However, they remain two games back of a playoff berth, so it remains a long shot that they will be able to qualify for the postseason. 

The Giants, meanwhile, will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Eagles. 

For the full details on the NFC elimination scenarios, click here.

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NFL playoff odds Week 16

According to Sporting News' expert prediction model, this is where each team's playoff odds stood entering Week 16.

• AFC

• NFC