NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: AFC, NFC Standings, Bracket Scenarios and Odds
The NFL has crowned its first division champion of the 2023 season. In Week 15, the San Francisco 49ers captured the NFC South title, allowing them to shift their sights to an even larger goal: the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
More division championships could be awarded in Week 16, as four teams have an opportunity to clinch. The Baltimore Ravens (AFC North), Miami Dolphins (AFC East), Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) and Detroit Lions (NFC North) could all be crowned division winners before the end of Monday night.
In addition to the 49ers, the Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles have already secured playoff berths. That leaves 10 spots still up for grabs in the 14-team postseason field.
Heading into Week 16, here's a look at the latest Super Bowl odds, followed by a breakdown of the playoff picture and clinching scenarios for both conferences.
Latest Super Bowl Odds
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San Francisco 49ers: +200 (bet $10 to win $20)
Baltimore Ravens: +550
Kansas City Chiefs: +700
Philadelphia Eagles: +850
Miami Dolphins: +850
Dallas Cowboys: +950
Buffalo Bills: +1200
Detroit Lions: +2000
Jacksonville Jaguars: +3000
Houston Texans: +5500
Cleveland Browns: +5500
Seattle Seahawks: +8000
Los Angeles Rams: +9000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: +10000
Indianapolis Colts: +10000
New Orleans Saints: +12000
Cincinnati Bengals: +12000
Denver Broncos: +13000
Minnesota Vikings: +15000
Green Bay Packers: +15000
Atlanta Falcons: +20000
Pittsburgh Steelers: +25000
Las Vegas Raiders: +50000
Chicago Bears: +50000
New York Giants: +100000
Los Angeles Chargers: +100000
AFC Playoff Picture, Scenarios
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Bye: No. 1 Baltimore Ravens (11-3)
No. 2 Miami Dolphins (10-4) vs. No. 7 Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) vs. No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) vs. No. 5 Cleveland Browns (9-5)
In the hunt: Houston Texans (8-6), Buffalo Bills (8-6), Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7), Denver Broncos (7-7), Las Vegas Raiders (6-8), Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)
The Ravens could wrap up the AFC North race in Week 16, but they'll need some help. If Cleveland loses at Houston on Sunday, then Baltimore can clinch the division title with a victory at San Francisco on Monday night.
Miami will also need help in order to clinch the AFC East title this week. If the Bills lose to the Chargers on the road on Saturday, then the Dolphins can secure the division championship with a home win against the Cowboys on Sunday. However, a Miami victory would at least clinch it a playoff berth without any assistance necessary.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs don't need any help in clinching the division title, as they can do so with a home win over the Raiders on Monday.
The only other Week 16 clinching scenario in the AFC involves the Browns, who could secure a playoff berth. But they need to beat the Texans on the road and also get a good bit of help by having multiple other teams lose.
The AFC South race has gotten much tighter, as the Jaguars, Colts and Texans are each 8-6. Those teams are also part of a crowded wild-card mix that features the Bills and Bengals, each of whom is 8-6 as well.
The Steelers and the Broncos are both 7-7 and only one game back of the final wild-card teams. But with so many teams battling it out, they'll each need to finish strong in order to ascend the standings and get into the playoffs.
NFC Playoff Picture, Scenarios
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Bye: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
No. 2 Dallas Cowboys (10-4) vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Rams (7-7)
No. 3 Detroit Lions (10-4) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)
In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (7-7), New Orleans Saints (7-7), Atlanta Falcons (6-8), Green Bay Packers (6-8), New York Giants (5-9), Chicago Bears (5-9)
The 49ers could clinch the No. 1 seed by the end of Week 16, but they'll need a good bit of help. Not only will they need to beat the Ravens at home on Monday night, but they need losses by the Eagles (vs. the Giants on Monday), the Cowboys (at the Dolphins on Sunday) and the Lions (at the Vikings on Sunday).
The NFC North race may be decided on Sunday, as Detroit can clinch the division title with a win at Minnesota. The Lions would also clinch if both the Rams (vs. the Saints on Thursday) and the Seahawks (at the Titans on Sunday) lose this week.
Although Dallas and Philadelphia have both secured playoff berths, the two teams remain in a tight race in the NFC East. Each team is 10-4, so a division champion may not be crowned until Week 18.
The Buccaneers (7-7) and the Saints (7-7) are battling it out for the NFC South crown, with the Falcons (6-8) still close behind. None of the three teams play each other this week, so it's possible the division picture remains similar heading into Week 17.
In addition to the Bucs and Saints, the Vikings, Rams and Seahawks are each 7-7 in a crowded wild-card mix. The Falcons and Packers (both 6-8) are in the picture, too.
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