The NFL playoff races are going down to the wire as we work through the Week 16 slate. The race for home-field advantage will be a good one between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, with the Cincinnati Bengals having an outside shot heading into next week’s showdown with the Bills.
The Baltimore Ravens are back in the playoffs after their win Saturday — holding serve with the Bengals in the race for the AFC North — while the Los Angeles Chargers will also be in the postseason after handling the Colts on Monday night. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the AFC South lead with two games to play — thanks to the Tennessee Titans continuing their free fall.
The NFC wild card race seems to be coming down to the wire as all of the teams vying for the two spots lost on Saturday, opening the door for the Packers. The New York Giants and Washington Commanders currently hold the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds in the playoff race.
Two weeks remain until the playoffs. Below, you can find a division-by-division breakdown of the current standings and what each contender is facing on their schedule the rest of the way.
AFC East
y-clinched division title
Buffalo Bills
What to know: The Bills locked up the AFC East title with Saturday’s win over the Bears, and still hold the No. 1 seed in the conference with the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Chiefs. They clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and Chiefs loss next week.
Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Patriots
Miami Dolphins
What to know: Miami is the No. 7 seed in the AFC and holds a one-game lead over New York, New England and Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Jets
New England Patriots
What to know: The Patriots’ playoff chances are dimming with their loss to the Bengals. They are one of four teams tied at 7-8, but hold the conference-record tiebreaker over the Titans and Steelers. They hold the division tiebreaker by sweeping the Jets.
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Bills
New York Jets
What to know: The Jets are the No. 9 seed in the playoffs, losing the division-record tiebreaker to the Patriots. They hold the better win percentage in common games against the Titans and a conference-record tiebreaker over the Steelers.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Dolphins
AFC North
x-Bengals | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 85 |
x-Ravens | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | 49 |
Steelers | 7 | 8 | 0 | .466 | -55 |
e-Browns | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | -20 |
x- clinched playoff spot
e- eliminated from playoffs
Cincinnati Bengals
What to know: The Bengals hold on to their AFC North lead with a win over the Patriots. Cincinnati is the No. 3 seed in the conference, needing a win over Buffalo to have a shot at home-field advantage.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
What to know: The Ravens clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Falcons on Saturday and currently are the No. 5 seed in the AFC standings. Baltimore has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cincinnati.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
What to know: The Steelers keep their playoff hopes alive with their win over the Raiders. Pittsburgh is the No. 11 seed in the AFC, losing the conference-record tiebreaker to the Patriots, Jets, and Titans.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Browns
Cleveland Browns
What to know: The Browns have been eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to the Saints.
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Steelers
AFC South
Jaguars | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | +22 |
Titans | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | -43 |
e-Colts | 4 | 10 | 1 | .321 | -109 |
e- Texans | 2 | 12 | 1 | .167 | -104 |
e – eliminated from playoffs
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: The Jaguars take over first place in the AFC South with their win over the Jets and the Titans’ loss to the Texans. Regardless of their Week 17 result, Jacksonville will play for the division title in Week 18 when they play host to the Titans.
Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Titans
Tennessee Titans
What to know: The Titans fell out of the No. 7 seed and into the No. 10 seed in the AFC with their loss to the Texans. Tennessee loses a conference-record tiebreaker to the Patriots, and a common-record tiebreaker to the Jets. They win the conference-record tiebreaker over the Steelers.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts
What to know: The Colts are eliminated from the playoffs and lost to the Chargers on Monday night.
Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Texans
Houston Texans
What to know: The Texans are eliminated from playoff contention and have the worst record in the NFL. They beat the Titans for their second win of the year.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Colts
AFC West
y- clinched division title
e – eliminated from playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs
What to know: The Chiefs are still the No. 2 seed in the AFC as the Bills own the head-to-head tiebreaker for the top spot in the conference. They’ll get the top seed if they finish 2-0 and the Bills finish 1-1.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
What to know: The Chargers clinched a postseason berth with their win over Indianapolis on Monday. They’re in sole possession of the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
What to know: The Raiders are still mathematically alive in the AFC playoff race after their loss to the Steelers. Las Vegas is the No. 12 seed in the AFC, two games out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, vs. Chiefs
Denver Broncos
What to know: The Broncos have been eliminated from the playoffs and were blown out by the Rams on Sunday.
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
NFC East
x- Eagles | 13 | 2 | 0 | .867 | 137 |
x- Cowboys | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 131 |
Giants | 8 | 6 | 1 | .567 | -28 |
Commanders | 7 | 7 | 1 | .500 | -28 |
x- clinched playoff spot
Philadelphia Eagles
What to know: The Eagles still control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, just needing a win in their final two games. A win (or a Cowboys loss) wraps up the NFC East and home-field advantage (or a Vikings loss).
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, vs. Giants
Dallas Cowboys
What to know: The Cowboys kept their slim NFC East hopes alive with Saturday’s win over the Eagles. Dallas needs to win out and Philadelphia to lose out to win the diviison.
Remaining schedule: at Titans, at Commanders
New York Giants
What to know: The Giants retain the No. 6 seed in the NFC with all the wild card contenders battling for a playoff spot losing Saturday. New York clinches a playoff spot with a win next week.
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, at Eagles
Washington Commanders
What to know: The Commanders stay as the No. 7 seed in the NFC thanks to the Seahawks and Lions losing. They remain a half game up on both for the final playoff spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Cowboys
NFC North
y-Vikings | 12 | 3 | 0 | .800 | +5 |
Lions | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | -9 |
Packers | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | -21 |
e-Bears | 3 | 12 | 0 | .200 | -90 |
y-clinched division title
e – eliminated from playoffs
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings move a game behind the Eagles for the No. 1 seed in the NFC with their win and Philadelphia losing. Minnesota needs to win out and Philadelphia to lose out to get home-field advantage since the Eagles hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: at Packers, at Bears
Detroit Lions
What to know: The Lions remain the No. 9 seed in the NFC after losing to the Panthers, a half game behind the Commanders for the final playoff spot. Seattle holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Detroit.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Packers
Green Bay Packers
What to know: The streaking Packers are the No. 10 seed in the NFC and very much alive in the playoff race thanks to their win over the Dolphins on Sunday. They are currently one game behind the Commanders for the final playoff spot. If the Packers win out and the Commanders lose once, Green Bay will earn a postseason berth.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, vs. Lions
Chicago Bears
What to know: The Bears have been eliminated from playoff contention. They have the worst record in the NFC.
Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Vikings
NFC South
Buccaneers | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | -38 |
Panthers | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | -24 |
Saints | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | -22 |
e-Falcons | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | -35 |
e – eliminated from playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What to know: The Buccaneers lead the NFC South by one game after their OT win over Arizona on Sunday. They can wrap up the division next week with a victory over Carolina.
Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Falcons
Carolina Panthers
What to know: The Panthers need to beat the Buccaneers next week to stay alive in the NFC South race. Carolina holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay and would hold a three-way tiebreaker based on being unbeaten against the Buccaneers and Saints.
Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, at Saints
New Orleans Saints
What to know: The Saints lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Panthers and were swept by the Buccaneers, even though they are also one game out of the division lead.
Remaining schedule: at Eagles, vs. Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
What to know: The Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the Ravens.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Buccaneers
NFC West
y-49ers | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | 145 |
Seahawks | 7 | 8 | 0 | .467 | -14 |
e-Rams | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | -53 |
e-Cardinals | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | -83 |
y-clinched division title
e- eliminated from playoffs
San Francisco 49ers
What to know: The 49ers are still the No. 3 seed in the NFC with their win over the Commanders, and will be at least the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. They are still alive in the race for home field, but need the Eagles to lose out and the Vikings to lose once to have a shot at that.
Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
What to know: The Seahawks are still a half game out of the final wild card spot after their loss to the Chiefs. Seattle holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Detroit for the No. 8 seed, trailing Washington by a half game for the No. 7 seed.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, vs. Rams
Arizona Cardinals
What to know: The Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at Falcons, at 49ers
Los Angeles Rams
What to know: The Rams are eliminated from the playoffs after Monday’s loss to the Packers. They crushed the Broncos on Sunday.
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Seahawks