NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: AFC, NFC Scenarios, Predictions for 2016 Postseason

After a dull season that saw them floundering with a 4-6 record after 10 weeks, the Green Bay Packers are streaking at the right time of the year.

They have won four games in a row, are currently in the playoff structure and have a chance to catch the Detroit Lions (9-5) and win the NFC North title.

The Packers (8-6) got one of the breaks they needed when the New York Giants (10-4) beat the Lions last week. The other came Monday night when the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers (6-8) upset the Washington Redskins (7-6-1).

That enabled the Packers to move into the No. 2 wild-card spot and the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs. However, they have their sights set on the NFC North crown, which they can earn if they beat the Lions in the last game of the regular season and don't lose any ground to Detroit this week.

The Packers host the Minnesota Vikings (7-7), while the Lions go on the road to play the Dallas Cowboys (12-2) Monday night.

Conference	Team	Seed	Skinny
AFC	New England Patriots	No. 1	No end-of-season slip-ups this year
AFC	Kansas City Chiefs	No. 2	Raiders lose season finale and Chiefs take division
AFC	Pittsburgh Steelers	No. 3	Epic win over Ravens on Christmas Day
AFC	Tennessee Titans	No. 4	Mariota, Murray has them marching
AFC	Oakland Raiders	No. 5	Fall short in season finale at Denver
AFC	Miami Dolphins	No. 6	Excellent season for rookie coach Gase
NFC	Dallas Cowboys	No. 1	Prescott-Elliott duo leads the way
NFC	Seattle Seahawks	No. 2	Plenty of questions despite solid position
NFC	Atlanta Falcons	No. 3	Powerful offensive unit
NFC	Green Bay Packers	No. 4	Beware the late rusher
NFC	New York Giants	No. 5	Defense leads the way
NFC	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	No. 6	Winston-Evans combination makes them dangerous

The Cowboys are in a position to clinch the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win Monday night or in the season finale at Philadelphia. If the Cowboys lose both games, the New York Giants (10-4) could steal the division and the No. 1 seed by beating the Philadelphia Eagles and the Redskins.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The Atlanta Falcons (9-5) have a one-game lead and a tiebreaker edge on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) in the NFC South. The Falcons close with games against Carolina and the New Orleans Saints (6-8). The Bucs can make the playoffs if they end the season with wins over the Saints and Panthers.

Even if the Buccaneers don't catch the Falcons, that would give them a 10-6 record, and if Detroit beats the Packers in the season finale, Tampa Bay would have a better record. If the Packers win that game, the Bucs and Lions would both have 10-6 records—assuming Detroit beats Dallas in Week 15—but the Bucs would have the tiebreaker.

The Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1) have clinched the NFC West and have the inside track on the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

The Vikings, Redskins, Panthers and Saints are all technically still in playoff contention, but they would need significant help to get to the postseason.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The New England Patriots (12-2) have clinched the AFC East for the eighth consecutive season and have the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the AFC after beating the Denver Broncos (8-6) in Week 15. 

The Oakland Raiders (11-3) have clinched a playoff spot and have a one-game lead on the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) in the AFC West. The Chiefs have the tiebreaker edge on the Raiders if the two teams finish with the same record based on a series sweep, but Kansas City's Week 15 home loss to the Tennessee Titans (8-6) hurt Andy Reid's team.

The Chiefs are in a great position to win the No. 1 wild-card spot, but that loss cost them the lead in the division.

The Titans and the Houston Texans (8-6) are tied for the AFC South lead, but the Texans have the tiebreaker since they beat the Titans earlier in the season. The Texans, who just named Tom Savage as their starting quarterback over Brock Osweiler, will travel to Tennessee in the regular-season finale, and that game is likely to be for the division title.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) have reeled off five straight victories and have a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) in the AFC North. Those two teams meet in Pittsburgh on Christmas Day. If the Steelers win, they will clinch the division title, but a Baltimore victory would put the Ravens in first place because they would have a sweep of the season series. 

The Ravens have beaten the Steelers in four straight meetings and six of the last seven.

The Miami Dolphins (9-5) have the No. 2 wild-card spot heading into Week 16, and if they can beat the Buffalo Bills (7-7) and the Broncos lose to the Chiefs on Christmas night, Miami will clinch a playoff spot.

The Indianapolis Colts (7-7), Broncos and Bills remain in contention, but they need help to have a chance at playing postseason football.