NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: Examining AFC, NFC Scenarios Before Sunday's Action

After two games on Saturday, both the AFC and NFC playoff pictures were altered heading into the remaining Week 16 contests.

The Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly fell to the Washington Redskins on a last-second field goal, dropping to 9-6 on the season and barely clinging to life in both the NFC East and the wild-card picture. This team will need plenty of help the rest of the way if it is to participate in January's action.

The San Diego Chargers improved to 9-6 on the year after a miraculous comeback that concluded in a dramatic overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers. With the win, San Diego remains in the thick of the wild-card race and changed the outlook for several other AFC teams before Sunday.

Before a breakdown of the updated playoff scenarios heading into Sunday, let's first take a look at the updated playoff picture.

Updated Playoff Picture

Week 16 Playoff Scenarios

AFC Outlook

The New England Patriots remain atop the AFC heading into Sunday, and they can clinch a first-round bye with a victory or losses by the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. New England can also gain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over the New York Jets and a Denver Broncos loss to the Bengals.

Due to a tiebreaker owned by the Patriots, Denver can't clinch home-field advantage in Week 16 even if it won and the Patriots lost. However, the Broncos can assure themselves of a first-round bye with a victory over the Bengals on Monday night.

Speaking of the Bengals, their clinching options grew slimmer following San Diego's win. Cincinnati can still clinch a playoff spot with a win or a tie and a Ravens loss, but those are their only remaining scenarios. Although, the Bengals can still take the division with a victory over the Broncos and losses by both Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh continues to have one scenario to earn a playoff berth this week: defeat the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only would a win in Week 16 clinch a spot in the postseason, but it would give the Steelers a chance to take the AFC North in Week 17 with a win over the Bengals.

Baltimore's playoff scenarios lessened following San Diego's win as well. The only way the Ravens can earn a postseason berth in Week 16 is by defeating the Houston Texans and watching both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati to fall to their respective opponents.

NFC Outlook

While many NFC teams benefited from Philadelphia's loss on Saturday, the Arizona Cardinals remain in the same situation. They already clinched a playoff berth following a Week 15 win over the Chiefs, so their only clinching scenario this week is earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by defeating the Seattle Seahawks.

The Detroit Lions came away the big winners from Saturday. All they needed was a loss by the Eagles to clinch a playoff berth, and that's exactly what happened. However, Detroit still has two playoff scenarios remaining in Week 16.

If the Lions take down the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers aren't able to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit clinches the NFC North—don't hold your breath for that one. Even less likely, but still plausible, is Detroit's scenario of clinching a first-round bye which consists of a win, a Packers loss and a loss by the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas now has a clear path to the NFC East title. A victory over the Colts would wrap up the division for Tony Romo and Co. However, defeating the Colts is never an easy feat, and the Cowboys could have a rough go if the NFL's rushing leader DeMarco Murray isn't able to play—recent reports from NFL media's Desmond Purnell (h/t Conor Orr NFL.com) suggest he will.

The Eagles made things really simple for the Seahawks. All Seattle needs to do is win to punch its ticket to the postseason. A victory will also propel the team to the top of the NFC West, giving it a chance to earn a first-round bye and even home-field advantage in Week 17. Should Seattle happen to fall to Arizona, it can still clinch a postseason berth with a Dallas victory.

Green Bay is in the exact same situation as the Seahawks. A win or a Dallas loss will send the Packers into the postseason. Should Aaron Rodgers and Co. defeat the Buccaneers—a likely scenario—they will play the Lions for the rights to the NFC North in Week 17.

Perhaps the only NFC contender that didn't earn a clinching scenario from the Eagles loss is the New Orleans Saints. This is because the only way any team from the NFC South will make the playoffs is by winning the division. The Saints have a chance to do just that in Week 16 with a win over the Atlanta Falcons and a Carolina Panthers loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Should Atlanta and Carolina both win this week, New Orleans will be eliminated and those two squads will face off in Week 17 for the right to enter the playoffs.

All playoff scenarios courtesy of CBSSports.com and current as of December 21 at 1 a.m. ET.