NFL Playoff Picture 2014: NFC, AFC Teams in Most Danger of Week 16 Elimination

Four teams have already punched their ticket for the 2014 NFL playoffs. With only two weeks remaining, that number will only grow, while more and more teams remove themselves from the discussion.

In total, the playoff chase is still pretty interesting, especially in the AFC, where 12 teams still technically have a chance of making the postseason. That number is only seven in the NFC.

By the time Sunday's slate of games are over, fans can expect the group of contenders to have drastically lessened. The five teams below are the closest to crossing that point of no return.

Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins

The Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins are all essentially in the same boat. The Texans and Dolphins are driving the boat, and the Browns are water-skiing behind them. All three are 7-7 entering Week 16 and are out of their respective division races.

Cleveland, Houston and Miami already start Week 16 behind the eight ball because 10-6 is very likely going to be the cutoff for the AFC Wild Card. A loss on Sunday would mean mathematical elimination.

A Texans loss might also mean the Browns and Dolphins are out no matter what, with Houston playing the Baltimore Ravens. Victories for the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers would be the death knell for the three 7-7 teams.

For the Browns, getting so close to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade and falling apart in the second half of the season will be a hammer blow.

Johnny Manziel's awful NFL debut only compounds the fans' misery. Manziel nearly had the worst performance of any quarterback this season, per NFL on ESPN:

As ESPN Stats & Info noted, at no point in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals did he ever look good:

Not only could Cleveland be eliminated from the playoffs, but another bad loss would heap even more pressure on Manziel and make many question whether he's the franchise QB going forward. Thus the Cleveland Browns' circle of life would be complete.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs wouldn't necessarily be mathematically eliminated in defeat on Sunday, but their playoff chances would be hanging by a thread. By losing to the Steelers, they'd not only be hurting their own case but would also be helping one of the two current wild-card teams strengthen its position.

Kansas City also wraps up the regular season at home to the San Diego Chargers, who will themselves be fighting for their postseason lives. The Chargers also own a home win against the Chiefs back in Week 7.

At least the Chiefs should be able to count on a healthy Jamaal Charles and Tamba Hali on Sunday.

"Jamaal came in today and did his work," said head coach Andy Reid of Charles, per ESPN.com's Adam Teicher. "[Chiefs trainers] did some stuff with him after the game that he was able to take home with him to keep the swelling down in his knee and ankle, and he felt pretty good today."

Regarding Hali, Reid said the veteran linebacker had been suffering from swelling in his left knee but that it doesn't look to be a problem this week.

Atlanta Falcons

Depending on the outcome of Monday night's game between the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears, the Atlanta Falcons are the only NFC team in any serious danger of getting eliminated from playoff contention (the Philadelphia Eagles should be able to handle the Washington Redskins).

They're a half-game behind the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South, which means a Falcons loss and a Panthers win would send Atlanta packing.

The outcome of the Panthers game might be irrelevant if the Saints win on Monday night. New Orleans could grab sole possession of the division with a victory. The Saints would then have an opportunity to eliminate the Falcons when the teams meet in New Orleans on Sunday.

Atlanta fans can put a positive spin on a Week 16 defeat. It could mean once and for all the Falcons won't win the NFC South. Getting a much better draft pick arguably outweighs likely losing in the opening round of the playoffs.