NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2025-26 Week 16, Standings After Dolphins vs. Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers used a blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night to stay one game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.

Aaron Rodgers and Co. sit at 8-6 with all eyes on the Week 18 clash at Acrisure Stadium against the Ravens.

Miami became the latest team to be eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.

After Monday, only nine teams in the AFC are still alive in the playoff hunt with three games to go in the regular season.

AFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

Denver Broncos (12-2; clinched playoff berth)

New England Patriots (11-3)

Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)

Pittsburgh maintained its one-game edge over Baltimore for another week with its Monday night win over Miami.

The Steelers face a difficult Week 16 matchup with the Detroit Lions, who are desperate for a win in their own playoff race, before they close the regular season in the AFC North against the Cleveland Browns and Ravens.

Baltimore has two tough games of its own prior to the Week 18 showdown, as it takes on the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers.

New England needs a win on Sunday night in Week 16 to stay in front of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)

6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

7. Houston Texans (9-5)

The Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans all still have divisional title aspirations.

The Chargers need to be within one game of the Broncos for the Week 18 clash between the two sides to matter for the AFC West title.

Houston visits Los Angeles in Week 17 in a game that will affect the wild-card seeding, and if any teams below the Texans have a shot to get into the playoff field.

In The Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)

Baltimore's most realistic shot at the postseason comes through the AFC North. The Ravens need to win out and receive a lot of help to have a sniff at the No. 7 seed.

Indianapolis closes with the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston. It could lose all three games and be nowhere close to the wild-card spots.

However, the Colts do have opportunities in front of them to not just get in as a wild-card team, but to make a late surge at the AFC South crown.

Eliminated

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)

13. New York Jets (3-11)

14. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

16. Tennessee Titans (2-12)

NFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

Los Angeles Rams (11-3; clinched playoff berth)

Chicago Bears (10-4)

Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

The Los Angeles Rams are far from comfortable atop the NFC going into Week 16.

The Rams play the Seattle Seahawks, who are also 11-3, in a divisional battle on Thursday night.

Los Angeles finishes against the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals, so at minimum, it is expected to finish 13-4.

The Chicago Bears have the toughest remaining schedule of the NFC division leaders. They face the Packers, 49ers and Lions, all teams looking to secure their own playoff lives.

The NFC South is also in play between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. They play twice in the next three weeks.

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team in a safe position atop their division. A win over the Washington Commanders would secure the NFC East crown for the reigning Super Bowl champion.

Wild-Card Race

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

Seattle and Green Bay both have direct opportunities to take the lead in their respective divisions in Week 16.

The 49ers visit the Colts on Monday night. Even if they lose that game, they are in good shape to make the postseason with a two-game buffer over the Lions.

San Francisco finishes at home with Chicago and Seattle. If it wins out and gets some help, it could still win the NFC West, but at minimum, they will most likely be in the postseason field.

In The Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-6)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

Detroit is in a tough spot to make a push toward the playoffs.

The Lions haven't won consecutive games since Weeks 4 and 5 and it sits in a tough spot against Pittsburgh in Week 16.

Detroit needs to win that game to keep the wild-card positions within sight ahead of two NFC North clashes with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago.

Carolina's best shot at making the postseason comes through the NFC South title.

Dallas can only reach the playoffs if it pulls off a miracle in the NFC East.

Eliminated

11. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (4-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-10)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

16. New York Giants (2-12)