With Christmas almost upon us, the NFL playoff races are as wild and confusing as ever, and the home stretch of the season will likely be one to remember. The AFC entered Week 16 with nine teams with winning records and four with 8-6 records – all tied for the final playoff spot. The NFC had three 7-7 teams entering Week 16.
The playoff standings are so crazy that we will be moving to a conference format instead of divisions from now on. The tiebreakers for each team are explained below.
Here's a breakdown of the current standings and what awaits each competitor in the first three games of Week 16.
AFC playoff image
| 1 | yz Ravens | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | +159 |
| 2 | yz dolphins | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | +147 |
| 3 | Y Chiefs | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | +68 |
| 4 | y-Jaguars | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | -12 |
| 5 | x-Browns | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | +34 |
| 6 | x bills | 9 | 6 | 0 | .600 | +127 |
| 7 | x-Colts | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | -18 |
| 8th | Texan | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | -3 |
| 9 | Steelers | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | -34 |
| 10 | Bengal | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | -27 |
| 11 | robber | 7 | 8th | 0 | .467 | -9 |
| 12 | Broncos | 7 | 8th | 0 | .467 | -50 |
| 13 | E-Jets | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | -84 |
| 14 | e-Titans | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | -47 |
| 15 | E-chargers | 5 | 10 | 0 | .333 | -44 |
| 16 | E-Patriots | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | -110 |
Z-fought playoff spot
x-current playoff team
Y division leader or division won
e-eliminated
Baltimore Ravens
What to knowledge: The Ravens have a two-game lead in the AFC North and are the No. 1 seed in the conference entering Week 16. If they win, they will secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers
Miami Dolphins
What you should know: Miami entered Week 16 as the No. 2 seed in the AFC and remains there with its big win over the Cowboys. The Dolphins play the Ravens in Week 17 and will clinch the No. 1 seed if they win.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
What you should know: The Chiefs lead the AFC West by two games over the Broncos despite their loss to the Raiders. They are currently No. 3 and are eliminated from the AFC due to home-field advantage.
Remaining schedule: against Bengals, at Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars
What you should know: The Jaguars are still the No. 4 seed in the AFC. Thanks to losses by the Texans and Colts, the Jaguars are still first in the AFC South. The Jaguars are in a head-to-head tiebreaker against the Texans and Colts despite losing four straight.
Remaining schedule: against Panthers, at Titans
Cleveland Browns
What you should know: The Browns are the No. 5 seed in the AFC. They are 1.5 games ahead of the AFC North lead and two games clear of the final wild card spot. They just need a win in their final two games to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: against Jets, at Bengals
Buffalo Bills
What you should know: The Bills jump to No. 6 with their win over the Chargers, while the Texans and Colts lose and are one game ahead of the team in the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: against Patriots, at Dolphins
Indianapolis Colts
What you should know: Despite the loss against the Falcons, the Colts are currently number 7 in the AFC and are in the direct due break above the Texans (number 8). The Colts also hold the direct tiebreaker over the Steelers (No. 9), who are ahead of the Bengals, because Pittsburgh holds the direct tiebreaker over Cincinnati (No. 10).
Remaining schedule: against Raiders, against Texans
Houston Texans
What you should know: Houston is currently in eighth place and is out of the playoffs following its loss to Cleveland on Sunday, having lost the head-to-head tiebreaker against Indianapolis for the No. 7 seed. The Texans also have the direct tiebreaker against the Steelers (No. 9). ), who are ahead of the Bengals because Pittsburgh holds the direct tiebreaker against Cincinnati (No. 10).
Remaining schedule: against Titans, at Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers
What you should know: The Steelers are currently on the outside looking in, even after Saturday's win over the Bengals, moving up to the No. 9 seed. They own the direct tiebreaker against the Bengals (No. 10) by beating Cincinnati, but lose the direct tiebreaker to the Colts and Texans.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
What you should know: The Bengals fall out of the playoffs with their loss to the Steelers. Cincinnati sits in 10th place and loses its head-to-head matchup with Pittsburgh for division rank, impacting any potential tiebreakers with Houston and Indianapolis.
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Browns
Las Vegas Raiders
What you should know: The Raiders are one game out of the final playoff spot in the AFC and are in 11th place in the conference. They hold the direct tiebreaker over the Broncos.
Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Broncos
Denver Broncos
What you should know: The Broncos remain in 12th place in the AFC after their crushing loss to the Patriots and are on the verge of elimination from the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, at Raiders
New York Jets
What you should know: The Jets are eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: at Browns, at Patriots
Tennessee Titans
What you should know: The Titans are eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers
What you should know: The Chargers were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the Bills in Week 16.
Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Chiefs
New England Patriots
What you should know: The Patriots are eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: at Bills, vs. Jets
NFC playoff picture
| 1 | yz-49ers | 11 | 3 | 0 | .769 | +191 |
| 2 | yz Lions | 11 | 4 | 0 | .733 | +57 |
| 3 | yz Eagles | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | +18 |
| 4 | y-buccaneers | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | +24 |
| 5 | z-Cowboys | 10 | 5 | 0 | .667 | +165 |
| 6 | X Rams | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | +25 |
| 7 | x Seahawks | 8th | 7 | 0 | .533 | -32 |
| 8th | Vikings | 7 | 8th | 0 | .467 | +15 |
| 9 | Hawks | 7 | 8th | 0 | .467 | -1 |
| 10 | packer | 7 | 8th | 0 | .467 | +2 |
| 11 | Saints | 7 | 8th | 0 | .467 | +34 |
| 12 | Bears | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | -31 |
| 13 | Giants | 6 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -149 |
| 14 | E Commander | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | -144 |
| 15 | E Cardinals | 3 | 12 | 0 | .231 | -128 |
| 16 | ePanther | 2 | 13 | 0 | .133 | -145 |
Z-fought playoff spot
x-current playoff team
Y division leader or division won
e-eliminated
San Francisco 49ers
What you should know: The 49ers remain the No. 1 seed in the NFC heading into Week 16 and have a half-game lead over the Lions for the top spot. San Francisco won the NFC West.
Remaining schedule: against Ravens, at Commanders, against Rams
Detroit Lions
What you should know: The Lions secured the NFC North with their win over the Vikings. After the Cowboys' loss, they are currently the No. 2 seed.
Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles
What you should know: The Eagles take over first place in the NFC East with the Cowboys' loss. They have secured a playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: against Giants, against Cardinals, at Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What you should know: The Buccaneers continue to lead the NFC South after their win over the Jaguars, extending their lead to one game over the Saints and Falcons.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Panthers
Dallas Cowboys
What you should know: With the loss to the Dolphins, the Cowboys lose their lead in the NFC East. Dallas is number 5 and has secured a spot in the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Commanders
Los Angeles Rams
What you should know: The Rams are the No. 6 seed in the conference after their win over the Saints. They hold the direct tiebreaker over the Seahawks (No. 7).
Remaining schedule: at the Giants, at the 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
What you should know: The Seahawks are back as the No. 7 seed in the NFC after their win over the Titans. The Rams are in the direct tiebreaker for sixth place, but Seattle still has one game left for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at the Cardinals
Minnesota Vikings
What you should know: The loss to the Lions drops the Vikings to eighth place in the conference. Minnesota owns the direct tiebreaker over the Falcons (No. 9) and Packers (No. 10). The Falcons are in a direct tiebreaker against the Saints (No. 11).
Remaining schedule: against Packers, at Lions
Atlanta Falcons
What you should know: The Falcons are one game away from taking the lead in the NFC South after their win over the Colts. As a No. 9 seed, they are also just one game away from the final wild card spot. They own the direct duel against the Packers (No. 10) and the Saints (No. 11) and lose the direct duel against the Vikings (No. 8).
Remaining schedule: at Bears, at Saints
Green Bay Packers
What you should know: With their win over the Panthers, the Packers move into 10th place in the NFC, one game out of the final playoff spot. They own the direct tiebreaker over the Saints (No. 11), but lose straight to the Vikings (No. 8) and Falcons (No. 9).
Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Bears
New Orleans Saints
What you should know: The Saints are one game out of the NFC South lead after losing to the Rams in Week 16. In addition, they lose the direct tiebreakers against all teams with whom they are tied for 8th place, which is why they are in 11th place.
Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, vs. Falcons
New York Giants
What you should know: The Giants hold the joint record tiebreaker over the Bears, but their playoff chances look slim entering Week 16. A loss eliminates the Giants from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: at Eagles, vs. Rams, vs. Eagles
Chicago Bears
What you should know: The Bears are two games out of the final playoff spot as a No. 12 seed, but still remain in contention with their win over the Cardinals.
Remaining schedule: against Falcons, at Packers
Washington commanders
What you should know: The Commanders are eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: against 49ers, against Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals
What you should know: The Cardinals are eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: at Eagles, vs. Seahawks
Carolina Panthers
What you should know: The Panthers are eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, vs. Buccaneers