NFL Scores Week 16: AFC, NFC Playoff Picture, Standings and Results

The playoff picture in both the AFC and NFC became clearer Sunday following a slate of Christmas Eve showdowns with considerable postseason stakes.

More than half of the teams playing in Week 16 were still alive for a playoff spot, with their wins meaning more than ever and losses by rivals equally as significant.

Who emerged in the best position to sustain their playoff push and what does the playoff picture look like now?

Find out with this recap of Sunday's action.

Week 16 Scores

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on December 21, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Thursday, December 21

Los Angeles Rams def. New Orleans Saints (30-22)

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Saturday, December 23

Pittsburgh Steelers def. Cincinnati Bengals (34-11)

Buffalo Bills def. Los Angeles Chargers (24-22)

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Sunday, December 24

Detroit Lions def. Minnesota Vikings (30-24)

Cleveland Browns def. Houston Texans (36-22)

Green Bay Packers def. Carolina Panthers (33-30)

Seattle Seahawks def. Tennessee Titans (20-17)

Atlanta Falcons def. Indianapolis Colts (29-10)

New York Jets def. Washington Commanders (30-28)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers def. Jacksonville Jaguars (30-12)

Miami Dolphins def. Dallas Cowboys (22-20)

Chicago Bears def. Arizona Cardinals (27-16)

New England Patriots def. Denver Broncos (26-23)

AFC Playoff Standings

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 17: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens walks out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Current standings following Sunday's slate of games:

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-3, AFC North) (clinched playoffs)
2. Miami Dolphins (11-4, AFC East) (clinched playoffs, clinched AFC East)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5, AFC West)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7, AFC South)
5. Cleveland Browns (10-5, Wildcard)
6. Buffalo Bills (8-6, Wildcard)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-7, Wildcard)

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On the Bubble

Houston Texans (8-7)

Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)

Denver Broncos (7-8)

Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)

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Eliminated

Tennessee Titans (5-10)

New York Jets (6-9)

Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)

New England Patriots (4-11)

NFC Playoff Standings

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 17: unning back Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 45-29. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Current standings following Sunday's slate of games:

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3, NFC West) (clinched playoffs, division)
2. Detroit Lions (11-4, NFC North)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4, NFC East) (clinched playoffs)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South)
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-5, Wildcard) (clinched playoffs)
6. Los Angeles Rams (8-7, Wildcard)
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-7, Wildcard)

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On the Bubble

Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

Green Bay Packers (7-8)

New Orleans Saints (7-8)

Atlanta Falcons (7-8)

Chicago Bears (6-9)

New York Giants (5-9)

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Eliminated

Washington Commanders (4-11)

Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

Carolina Panthers (2-13)

Cleveland Strengthens Playoff Possibility With Dominant Victory Over Texans

Tim Warner/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 24: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

There may be no potential playoff team more improbable than the Cleveland Browns, who lost starter Deshaun Watson to a shoulder injury earlier in the season, then started both PJ Tucker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson before turning to grizzled veteran and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco to guide them through the remainder of the season.

Despite injury and inconsistent play at the most important position on the field, the Browns sat solidly in the AFC's fifth seed entering Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, with a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a Denver Broncos loss in the night game.

Cleveland responded, tallying over 400 yards of offense en route to a one-sided win over a Texans teams without its star quarterback, rookie CJ Stroud.

Flacco put up 368 yards and three touchdowns. There was the small matter of two interceptions, both of which would have proved costly in a playoff game, but his aerial assault on an outmatched Houston secondary was more than enough to power his team to victory.

Amari Cooper had a monster day, catching 11 balls for 265 yards, and two touchdowns.

Those two competitors have revitalized the Browns offense and have them in a position to play in their first postseason game since 2020. With a defense that gave up just 250 total yards, the team is built to win playoff games in the winter.

It will be important to get the run game rolling again after tallying just 53 total yards in the win over Houston, but Browns fans should feel very good about their team, which continues to win against all odds.