NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: AFC, NFC Scenarios, Predictions for 2022 Postseason

Will all four NFC East teams make it to the playoffs? Will the NFC South champion end up being a team with a losing record? How many of the three AFC East teams likely battling for wild-card spots will reach the postseason?

There are a lot of questions to answer over the final three weeks of the 2022 NFL regular season. While some teams have already clinched playoff berths, that isn't the case for others. Those squads will be playing crucial contests across Weeks 16, 17 and 18.

The Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West), Minnesota Vikings (NFC North) and San Francisco 49ers (NFC West) are already division champions. The Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys have also clinched spots in the postseason. The other eight playoff berths are still up for grabs.

Heading into Week 16, here's everything you need to know about the NFL playoff picture.

NFL Playoff Picture

Nic Antaya/Getty Images

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 20: Wilson brand footballs with the NFL logo are pictured during the game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns at Ford Field on November 20, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

AFC

Division Leaders

1. Buffalo Bills (11-3, clinched playoff berth)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3, clinched AFC West)

3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)

4. Tennessee Titans (7-7)

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Wild-Card Leaders

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

7. Miami Dolphins (8-6)

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In the Hunt

8. New England Patriots (7-7)

9. New York Jets (7-7)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8)

11. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)

12. Cleveland Browns (6-8)

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8)

14. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

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NFC

Division Leaders

1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-1, clinched playoff berth)

2. Minnesota Vikings (11-3, clinched NFC North)

3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4, clinched NFC West)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8)

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Wild-Card Leaders

5. Dallas Cowboys (10-4, clinched playoff berth)

6. New York Giants (8-5-1)

7. Washington Commanders (7-6-1)

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In the Hunt

8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)

9. Detroit Lions (7-7)

10. Green Bay Packers (6-8)

11. Carolina Panthers (5-9)

12. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

13. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

AFC Clinching Scenarios, Predictions

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa (57) gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Week 16 Clinching Scenarios

The Bills can clinch the AFC East title with a road win over the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Buffalo will also become the division champion if Miami loses to Green Bay at home on Sunday. Either of those games ending in ties would also result in the Bills clinching.

The Bengals can clinch a playoff berth with a road win over the Patriots on Saturday. Cincinnati would also secure a spot in the postseason if the Jets lose to the Jaguars at home on Thursday night. Either of those games ending in ties would also result in the Bengals clinching.

It's possible the Ravens could clinch a playoff berth as well this week, but they'll need some help. If they beat the Falcons at home on Saturday, they would secure a spot if two of the following three teams lose: the Dolphins (vs. the Packers), the Patriots (vs. the Bengals) or the Jets (vs. the Jaguars).

Baltimore could also clinch a berth if New England, New York, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Tennessee all lose and Los Angeles wins.

The Chargers can clinch a spot in the playoffs with a road win over the Colts on Monday night, if the Raiders, Patriots and Jets all lose prior to that. There are two other scenarios in which Los Angeles could clinch with a win, but each of those need a tie to occur in another game, so it's less likely.

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Predictions

1. Buffalo

2. Kansas City

3. Cincinnati

4. Jacksonville

5. Los Angeles

6. Miami

7. Baltimore

The Jaguars, who have won three of four games since their Week 11 bye, all of a sudden have a legitimate shot to win the AFC South. They already beat the Titans in Week 14, and the division rivals will face again in Jacksonville in Week 18.

If the Jags can come back and win the AFC South (which seems quite possible), they'll likely bump Tennessee out of the playoffs. Because Los Angeles, Miami and Baltimore (the three teams currently in wild-card spots) should all hold on, even though the seeds are likely to change a bit.

The Chargers are in a great position to move up to the No. 5 seed, as their final three games are against teams that have a combined record of 12-29-1. Los Angeles has won three of the past four weeks and are likely to keep that momentum going toward the postseason.

Miami is the best of the three AFC East teams that will be battling for wild-card berths, and it should beat New England and New York in Weeks 17 and 18 to solidify its spot in the playoffs.

Even though the Ravens have been without star quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee injury) of late, they should reach the postseason, even if they can't overtake the Bengals in the AFC North. Baltimore plays Atlanta and Pittsburgh the next two weeks, which should help it get back on track after losing in Cleveland in Week 15.

NFC Clinching Scenarios, Predictions

AP Photo/Bryan Woolston

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) crosses the goal line for at touchdown against New York Giants cornerback Jason Pinnock (27) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Week 16 Clinching Scenarios

If the Eagles go on the road and beat the Cowboys on Saturday, they'll not only clinch the NFC East title, but they'll also secure the No. 1 seed in the conference. That's crucial, because only the top team gets a first-round bye.

Philadelphia would also clinch both if it ties and the Vikings lose or tie against the Giants on Saturday.

The only other possible clinching scenario in the NFC this week involves the Giants. They can secure a spot in the postseason with a road win over the Vikings on Saturday and losses by two of the following three teams: the Commanders (at the 49ers), the Seahawks (at the Chiefs) or the Lions (at the Panthers).

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Predictions

1. Philadelphia

2. San Francisco

3. Minnesota

4. Tampa Bay

5. Dallas

6. New York

7. Washington

For the first time in NFL history, an entire division could reach the playoffs. The Eagles and Cowboys have already clinched spots, and the Giants could join them soon. Even if it takes a bit longer, New York should find a way in. And don't count out Washington, either.

The Giants' win over the Commanders in Week 15 was crucial, because they'll own the tiebreaker between the two teams. New York could lose twice in the final three weeks, because it has road matchups against Minnesota and Philadelphia still to come, but that may not matter as long as they beat Indianapolis at home in Week 17.

It's a bit of a tougher path for the Commanders, who likely need to win two of their final three games to get into the playoffs and hold off the Seahawks and Lions. Washington may not win in San Francisco in Week 16, but it closes out the regular season with home matchups against Cleveland and Dallas. And those are winnable games, especially if the Cowboys have already been locked into the No. 5 seed by that point.

Speaking of Dallas, it's unlikely to move in the standings, unless it can upset Philadelphia in Week 16 and then make a run to the NFC East title. But the Eagles shouldn't allow that to happen.

The NFC South race will be interesting to watch down the stretch, with the Buccaneers (6-8), Panthers (5-9), Saints (5-9) and Falcons (5-9) all in the running. Tampa Bay should end up on top, as it's the most talented team and plays its final three games against Arizona, Carolina and Atlanta.

However, the Bucs need to play better than they have for much of the year in order for that to happen.