NFL Playoff Scenarios 2016: Reviewing Post-Week 16 AFC, NFC Picture, Bracket

The 2015 NFL season has been an intriguing one with the playoff picture in both conferences yet to be determined.

With just one week left—plus a Week 16 Monday Night Football game—the final seeds may not be set until the final snap of the season.

Teams that were once riding high in the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots both lost in Week 16, while two early losses for the Arizona Cardinals are forgotten as they are playing as well as any team in the league right now.

Here's a look at the playoff bracket as it stands now, but there is potential for change. The following is the current playoff picture in both conferences:

Seed	AFC	NFC
1	New England Patriots 12-3	Carolina Panthers 14-1
2	Cincinnati Bengals 11-3	Arizona Cardinals 13-2
3	Denver Broncos 10-4	Green Bay Packers 10-5
4	Houston Texans 8-7	Washington 8-7
5	Kansas City Chiefs 10-5	Minnesota Vikings 10-5
6	New York Jets 10-5	Seattle Seahawks 9-6
Still in the hunt	Pittsburgh Steelers 9-6	N/A
Still in the hunt	Indianapolis Colts 7-8	N/A

Monday Night Football Matchup A Big One

The final Monday Night Football game of the season epitomizes the drama of this year's NFL. The Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals still have a shot at the No. 1 overall AFC seed; however, this game means more to the Broncos.

Despite leading the Kansas City Chiefs by a half-game in the AFC West, they have not clinched a playoff spot, while Kansas City has.

That would change with a win over the Bengals. However, a loss drops them into second place in the division and while still in the wild-card lead, the Broncos would have to wait until Week 17 to secure a spot.

Denver does catch a break, as the Bengals are playing without starting quarterback Andy Dalton, who has a fractured thumb, but it too is playing with a backup in Brock Osweiler for the sixth straight week.

Denver is hoping Von Miller and its stellar defense can hold off a short-handed Bengals team:

Cincinnati is already in, but two wins to end the regular season, coupled with a New England Patriots loss in Week 17, will give it the No. 1 overall seed.

Buckle up for a good one on Monday.

Sunday Night Football For All The NFC North Marbles

The Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings, 30-13, in Week 11, but it doesn't mean a thing if they can't beat them in Week 17.

Coming off a 49-17 blowout victory against the New York Giants, Minnesota heads to Green Bay with the NFC North division title on the line. The winner hosts a playoff game, while the loser packs its bag for a road wild-card game.

While the seeds are still up in the air in the NFC, all six teams have clinched playoff spots. However, pride is on the line when these two rivals meet. Head coach Mike Zimmer said the Vikings have to find a way to win this next game, per his team's Twitter account:

Minnesota hasn't done that since 2009, and it won't be easy. However, the Packers did lose to the Detroit Lions at home earlier this season for the first time since 1991 and also dropped a game at home to the 6-9 Chicago Bears.

Ravens Deal Steelers Blow To Playoff Chances

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 16 as the No. 6 seed in the AFC. After a loss to the 5-10 Baltimore Ravens, they are now on the outside looking in.

Baltimore, playing with castoff Ryan Mallett under center, held off a late Steelers rally to win 20-17. Pittsburgh now has to win on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 to have any hope of making the postseason.

Head coach Mike Tomlin simply said his team did not do what it was supposed to after the loss, per ESPN.com:

"

We didn't handle the business in the stadium today, so we're left to look around at other stadiums. Such is life this time of year when you don't do what you're supposed to do. And we didn't today. We take ownership over that.

"

Mallett did what he was supposed to, completing 28 of 41 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, although it came as a surprise. He was cut by the Houston Texans earlier this year and was making his first start with Baltimore.

The uninspiring performance has Pittsburgh with its back against the wall, but the Carolina Panthers, who lost their first game of the season in Week 16, felt the Steelers' pain:

At 14-1, it's easy for the Panthers to overlook their loss, but the Steelers shouldn't make time for many jokes, as their loss may have cost the team a shot at the playoffs for the third time in four years.