Week 16 is done, and with a week now remaining in the 2019 regular season, the NFL playoff picture is almost complete based on the current AFC and NFC standings.
Here is an updated look at what each conference field would look like now, what teams are still in contention and what teams should already be thinking about the offseason.
MORE: Clinching scenarios for Week 16
NFL standings for Week 16
AFC playoff picture
Who would be in?
1. Ravens, champions, AFC North (13-2) — With their Week 16 win over the Browns, the Ravens clinched the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, sitting a game (plus a head-to-head tiebreaker) up on the Patriots. Who’s left to play: vs. Steelers
2. Patriots, champions, AFC East (12-3) — The Patriots clinched an 11th consecutive division title by beating the Bills at home in Week 16. New England likely needs to beat Miami at home in Week 17 to stay ahead of the Chiefs and get a first-round bye. Who’s left to play: vs. Dolphins | Patriots seeding scenarios
3. Chiefs, champions, AFC West (11-4) — The Chiefs beat the Bears in Week 16 to keep pressure on the Patriots, the team ahead of them that they beat. They need to keep winning and get some big-time help from the Dolphins to move up to first-round bye position. The Chiefs also need to be wary of losing and dropping to No 5 and into a tougher wild-card playoff game. Who’s left to play: vs. Chargers | Chiefs seeding scenarios
4. Texans, champions, AFC South (10-5) — The Texans can do no worse than the No. 4 seed after clinching the division with their Week 16 win over the Buccaneers. With the playoff berth secure, they can look to move up a seed in Week 17, having already beaten the Chiefs. Who’s left to play: vs. Titans
5. Bills, second place, AFC East (10-5) — The Bills are locked into this seed as the top AFC wild card after missing their chance at the division against the Patriots. They beat both the Steelers and Titans, the two teams fighting for the final wild card, and neither of them can catch the Bills, anyway. Who’s left to play: vs. Jets
6. Titans, second place, AFC South (8-7) — The Titans lost to the Saints in Week 16, but they still control their own fate thanks to the Steelers' loss to the Jets. They no longer can win the division, but if they can rebound on the road after a two-game home losing skid and avenge their loss to Houston, the Titans would qualify. Who’s left to play: at Texans
Who can get there?
7. Steelers (8-7); 8. Raiders (7-8)
The Steelers dropped out of the playoff picture with their Week 16 loss to the Jets, as they lost the conference-record tiebreaker they had over the Titans. They need to hope the Titans lose to the Texans and they beat the Ravens, who have nothing on the line in Week 17.
The Raiders need to beat the Broncos in Week 17 and have three things happen elsewhere in Week 17 to get in.
Who's out?
9. Colts (7-8); 10. Jets (6-9); 11. Broncos (6-9); 12. Browns (6-9); 13. Chargers (5-10); 14. Jaguars (5-10); 15. Dolphins (4-11); 16. Bengals (1-14)
The Browns were eliminated in Week 16 after losing to the Ravens. The Colts were eliminated with their Week 15 loss to the Saints. The Broncos were eliminated with their Week 15 loss to the Chiefs. The Jaguars were eliminated with their Week 14 loss to the Chargers, who also were eliminated by the Steelers’ win.
The Jets were eliminated by both the Steelers and Titans winning in Week 14. The Dolphins were eliminated in Week 13. The Bengals have clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
NFC playoff picture
Who would be in?
1. 49ers (12-3), first place, NFC West — The 49ers jumped back to the No. 1 seed with their win over the Rams in Week 16, now a full game ahead of the Seahawks for the division lead. Seattle failed to pull even and push San Francisco back down to No. 5 by losing at home to Arizona on Sunday. The Week 17 Sunday night rematch in Seattle is now the division title game, but for the 49ers, who beat the Packers and Saints, it's also their chance to lock down the top seed. Who’s left to play: at Seahawks | 49ers seeding scenarios
2. Packers, champions, NFC North (12-3) — The Packers clinched the division title by finishing their season sweep of the Vikings in Minnesota to close Week 16..They are No. 2 because they lost to the 49ers but hold the conference-record tiebreaker over the Saints. They would be guaranteed to stay here with a win. They also would need a 49ers loss with the Seahawks winning the NFC West to earn No. 1. Who’s left to play: at Vikings | Packers seeding scenarios
3. Saints, champions, NFC South (12-3) — After beating the Titans on the road in Week 16, in order to move up to No. 1, the Saints need the Packers to lose in Week 17 and hope the Seahawks, whom they beat, win the NFC West. For now, they have the worst conference record between themselves, the 49ers and the Packers. Who’s left to play: at Panthers | Saints seeding scenarios
4. Eagles, first place, NFC East (8-7) — The Eagles finally took the division lead away from the Cowboys by beating them in Philadelphia in Week 16. They are a full game ahead, but to win the NFC East, they still need to beat the Giants for the second time in four weeks or have the Cowboys lose or tie against the Redskins. Who’s left to play: at Giants
5. Seahawks, second place, NFC West (11-4) — The 49ers' win plus the Seahawks' loss in Week 16 dropped Seattle a full game in the division and down to the wild card. The Seahawks can still win the NFC West by beating the 49ers in Week 17. Who’s left to play: vs. 49ers | Seahawks seeding scenarios
6. Vikings, second place, NFC North (10-5) — The Vikings are locked into this seed after losing to the Packers in Week 16. They're done in the division and can't jump either the 49ers as a 12-4 wild card or the Seahawks as an 11-5 wild card because they would either be a game down or lose the head-to-head tiebreaker. Who’s left to play: vs. Bears
Who can get there?
7. Cowboys (7-8)
The Cowboys’ playoff chances are down to winning the NFC East over the Eagles. Dallas needs to beat Washington at home in Week 17 while Philadelphia loses to New York.
MORE: Updated NFL Draft order for 2020
Who's out?
8. Rams (8-7); 9. Bears (7-8); 10. Buccaneers (7-8); 11. Falcons (6-9); 12. Cardinals (5-9-1); 13. Panthers (5-10); 14. Giants (4-11); 15. Lions (3-11-1); 16. Redskins (3-12)
The Rams' loss to the 49ers in Week 16 eliminated them from playoff contention. The Bucs pushed the Lions further down in Week 15, but they already were eliminated from a wild card. The Panthers and Redskins, before losing again in Week 15, were eliminated from contention with their respective losses to the Falcons and the Packers in Week 14.
The Lions, Falcons, Giants and Cardinals were eliminated with respective losses to the Bears, Saints, Packers and Rams in Week 13.
