THE Week 16 NFL Playoff Photo focuses on the race for AFC No. 1 seed and the NFC North.
Kansas City holds a two-game lead over Buffalo for the top seed, who enjoys home-court advantage and a first-round bye. The Bills’ win over Detroit last weekend kept the Chiefs from winning the game simply with a win over the Texans on Saturday. KC’s magic number is still 2, and it can clinch the top spot this week with a win and a Buffalo loss to New England. Patrick Mahomes’ health and ability to rest his injured ankle before the playoffs loom large.
In the NFC, the North continues to get further bogged down. Detroit and Minnesota are tied at 12-2, with Green Bay at 10-4. Green Bay can become the third team in the division to clinch a playoff spot with a win Monday night.
Here is the NFL playoff picture from Week 16:
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NFL playoff photo
AFC Playoff Photo
Division heads
1. The Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) won the AFC West
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Kansas City wins the No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs with a win and a loss or a tie for the Bills OR a tie and a loss for the Bills.
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This week: Houston, noon CT Saturday on NBC
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Remaining schedule: Houston (Saturday), at Pittsburgh (Wednesday), at Denver
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3) won the AFC East
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This week: New England, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday on NewsChannel 5
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Remaining schedule: New England, NY Jets, New England
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4), AFC North leader, playoff berth
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Pittsburgh wins the AFC North with a victory.
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This week: in Baltimore, 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday on FOX
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Remaining schedule: in Baltimore (Saturday), Kansas City (Wednesday), Cincinnati
4. The Houston Texans (9-5) clinched the AFC South
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This week: in Kansas City, noon CT Saturday on NBC
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Remaining schedule: in Kansas City (Saturday), Baltimore (Wednesday), Tennessee
Wildcards
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Baltimore gets a playoff spot with a win or a draw OR a Colts loss or tie and a Dolphins loss or tie.
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This week: Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday on FOX
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Remaining schedule: Pittsburgh (Saturday), at Houston (Wednesday), Cleveland
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: The LA Chargers win a place in the playoffs with a win and a Colts loss or tie and a Dolphins loss or tie.
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This week: Won 34-27 against Denver
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Remaining schedule: Denver (Thursday), New England, Las Vegas
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Denver wins a place in the playoffs with a Colts loss or tie, a Bengals loss or tie, and a Dolphins loss.
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This week: Lost 34-27 to LA Chargers
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Remaining schedule: at LA Chargers (Thursday), at Cincinnati, Kansas City
Outside I look inside
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
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This week: Tennessee, Sunday noon CT on NewsChannel 5
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Remaining schedule: Tennessee, at New York Giants, Jacksonville
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
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This week: San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: San Francisco, to Cleveland, to the NY Jets
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
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This week: Cleveland, noon CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: Cleveland, Denver, to Pittsburgh
13. New York Jets (4-10) eliminated from playoffs
11. Cleveland Browns (3-11) eliminated from playoffs
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11) eliminated from playoffs
14. Tennessee Titans (3-11) Eliminated from playoffs
15. New England Patriots (3-11) Eliminated from playoffs
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) Eliminated from playoffs
NFC Playoff Photo
Division heads
1. Detroit Lions (12-2) leader of the NFC North; clinched a playoff spot
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This week: in Chicago, noon CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: in Chicago, in San Francisco (Monday), Minnesota
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2), leader of the NFC East; clinched a playoff spot
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Philadelphia wins the NFC East with a win or a draw.
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This week: in Washington, noon CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: to the Washington, Dallas and NY Giants
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) leader of the NFC South
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This week: in Dallas, 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC
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Remaining schedule: in Dallas, Carolina, New Orleans
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6) leader of the NFC West
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This week: at NY Jets, noon CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: to the NY Jets, Arizona, Seattle
Wildcards
5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2) Clinched a playoff berth
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This week: in Seattle, 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday on FOX 17
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Remaining schedule: in Seattle, Green Bay, Detroit
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Green Bay wins a place in the playoffs with a win or a draw OR a loss or draw for the Falcons and a loss or draw for the Rans OR a Falcons loss or tie and a Seahawks loss or tie.
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This week: New Orleans, 7:15 p.m. CT Monday on ABC/ESPN
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Remaining schedule: New Orleans (Monday), Minnesota, Chicago
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)
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REPORTING SCENARIOS: Washington wins a place in the playoffs with a win and a Falcons loss or tie and a Rams loss or tie OR a win and a Falcons loss or tie and a Seahawks loss or tie OR a tie and a Falcons loss and a Rams loss and a Cardinals loss or tie and a Seahawks loss or tie OR a tie and a Falcons loss and a Seahawks loss and a Cardinals loss or a tie and a Rams tie.
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This week: Philadelphia, noon CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas
Outside I look inside
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
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This week: Minnesota, 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday on FOX 17
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Remaining schedule: Minnesota, at Chicago (Thursday), at the LA Rams
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
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This week: New York Giants, Sunday noon CT
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Remaining schedule: New York Giants, Washington, Carolina
10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
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This week: in Carolina, noon CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: in Carolina, at the LA Rams, San Francisco
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
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This week: in Miami, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday
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Remaining schedule: in Miami, Detroit (Monday), Arizona
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
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This week: Tampa Bay, 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC
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Remaining schedule: Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Washington
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
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This week: in Green Bay, 7:15 p.m. CT Monday on ABC/ESPN
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Remaining schedule: in Green Bay, Las Vegas, in Tampa Bay
14. Chicago Bears (4-10) eliminated from playoffs
15. Carolina Panthers (3-11) eliminated from playoffs
16. New York Giants (2-12) Eliminated from playoffs
This article was originally published on Nashville Tennessean: NFL Playoff Picture: Every Playoff Scenario Ahead of Week 16