NFL Playoff Scenarios 2023-24: Wildcard Picture, Postseason Bracket Post-Week 16

The playoff picture in the NFL is becoming clearer, thanks to the results of Week 16.

The Miami Dolphins continued to establish themselves as a legitimate contender to a Super Bowl title with a late-game, come-from-behind victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns earned wins that strengthened their playoff odds and showed flashes of why they should be considered among the scariest playoff contenders.

Following Sunday's slate of action, find out who those teams would play if the season ended now and what the current playoff standings look like.

Current AFC Playoff Picture

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 17: Roquan Smith #0 of the Baltimore Ravens leads a huddle 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 (10-4, AFC East)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5, AFC West)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6, AFC South)
5. Cleveland Browns (10-5, Wildcard)
6. Buffalo Bills (8-6, Wildcard)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-7, Wildcard)

---

On the Bubble

Houston Texans (8-7)

Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)

Denver Broncos (7-8)

Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)

---

Eliminated

Tennessee Titans (5-10)

New York Jets (6-9)

Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)

New England Patriots (4-11)

Current NFC Playoff Picture

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 17: Quarterback Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the football to Christian McCaffrey #23 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. Dallas Cowboys (10-4, NFC East) (clinched playoffs)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4, Wildcard) (clinched playoffs)
6. Los Angeles Rams (8-7, Wildcard)
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-7, Wildcard)

---

On the Bubble

Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

Green Bay Packers (7-8)

New Orleans Saints (7-8)

Atlanta Falcons (7-8)

New York Giants (5-9)

Chicago Bears (5-9)

---

Eliminated

Washington Commanders (4-11)

Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

Carolina Panthers (2-13)

AFC Playoff Bracket

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 17: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass during the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The current playoff match-ups as of Sunday would be:

---

Bye: Baltimore Ravens

No. 7 Indianapolis Colts at No. 2 Miami Dolphins

No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs

No. 5 Cleveland Browns at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars

---

The game that stands out most of those potential match-ups is obviously Buffalo at Kansas City in a rematch of their Week 14 match-up that saw the Bills pick up the 20-17 victory amid a controversial late-game penalty on Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney.

The Bills have not lost since, including a dominant 31-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys that entered them back in the playoff conversation. Quarterback Josh Allen is playing some of his best football in December and as he goes, so will the Bills.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, are 2-3 in their last five and have not looked like the defending Super Bowl champions. Frustration has set in, with Patrick Mahomes expressing his anger over an interception caused by a tip ball from Toney during the Patriots game in Week 16, and the offense has not had the crispness to it as in years past.

Whether the two-time league MVP could turn it on with the flip of a switch in the playoffs is the question. It has not happened yet and, faced with the task of beating a red-hot Bills team, it would hardly be the time to leave it up to chance.

NFC Playoff Bracket

David Berding/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 24: Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions walks off the field following the 30-24 win \am at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The current playoff match-ups as of Sunday would be:

---

Bye: San Francisco 49ers

No. 7 Seattle Seahawks at No. 2 Detroit Lions

No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles

No. 5 Dallas Cowboys at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

---

The last team any NFC squad wants to see in the playoffs is the Los Angeles Rams, especially as their offense gains momentum and quarterback Matthew Stafford plays his best football.

In his last five games, the veteran quarterback has thrown 14 touchdowns to one interception and is making the type of throws he made while guiding the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2021.

If the standings held, they would play the Eagles, who may have scored a 23-14 win over the Rams in Week 5 but have lost three straight and their defense has struggled mightily.

There is little reason to believe that team could conceivably stop Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and the rejuvenated Demarcus Robinson, let alone running back Kyren Williams, who is as important to what the Rams are doing on offense as anyone.

In 11 games, Williams has 1057 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

It would likely be a high-scoring game, maybe the best of the Wildcard round, and could very well see the first major upset of the postseason.