NFL Standings 2025-26 Week 16 Records, Playoff Bracket Scenarios, Wild Card Picture

Week 16 in the NFL brings with a healthy dose of playoff implications for top teams and marquee match-ups.

The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks kick off the week with the biggest game, a divisional showdown that could determine the NFC West and the top seed in the conference.

San Francisco and Indianapolis square off in a showdown that could catapult three different teams to the postseason, depending on the outcome.

What are the clinching scenarios for the upcoming week, what are the current standings, and who are the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl? Find out now with this look at the current playoff situation.

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-3, NFC West; +320 odds to win the Super Bowl)

2. Chicago Bears (10-4, NFC North; +3000)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5, NFC East; +1200)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South; +5500)

The Rams clinched their playoff berth with a Week 15 victory over Detroit, but the Eagles can earn their way to the postseason Sunday with a win over Washington.

If Chicago bests Green Bay and Detroit loses, the Bears will head to the playoffs for the first time since a 21-9 loss to New Orleans at the end of the 2020 season.

Tampa Bay cannot confirm a playoff berth in Week 16.

Wild Card Teams

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3; +650)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4; +2200)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1; +1500)

Seattle can make its official return to the postseason for the first time since the 2022 with a win over the Rams Thursday. That victory would also put them atop both the west and the NFC as a whole.

A 49ers victory over Indianapolis secures their playoff spot while Green Bay can clinch with a victory over the Bears, but may find it more difficult after star pass rusher Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL in Week 15.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-6; +3000)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7; +25000)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1; +100000)

Neither Detroit or Dallas can afford a loss this week as they cling to narrow hopes of a playoff return. The Cowboys are all but eliminated after dropping a game to Minnesota on Sunday Night Football.

Carolina must keep pace with Tampa Bay and, like Baltimore in the AFC, still has a shot at winning the NFC South and making the playoffs as a division champion.

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)

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Denver Broncos (12-2, AFC West; +800)

2. New England Patriots (11-3, AFC East; +1500)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4, AFC South; +1600)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6, AFC North; +7000)

The Denver Broncos took over sole possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC with their win over Green Bay Sunday and could secure the AFC West title with a win over Jacksonville in Week 16 and a loss by the Los Angeles Chargers.

For the Patriots, a win against Baltimore will clinch them a playoff berth. A Jacksonville upset of Denver, coupled with a Colts loss, gets them into the dance. The Steelers have no clear path to a playoff berth this week.

Wild Card Teams

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4; +2500)

6. Buffalo Bills (10-4; +800)

7. Houston Texans (9-5; +1100)

A Chargers win and Colts loss cashes Justin Herbert and company's ticket to the playoffs while the Bills can also head to the postseason with a win and Indianapolis loss. If the Colts win and Houston loses, both Los Angeles and Buffalo will still cash their playoff tickets.

The Texans, despite being one of the league's hottest teams, cannot clinch in Week 16.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6; +40000)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7; +2200)

For both Indianapolis and Baltimore, the best they can do to enhance their playoff chances is to win. Neither can afford a loss, especially Indianapolis, whose postseason chances will become essentially nonexistent should they drop Sunday's game to San Francisco.

A win for the Ravens keeps them alive in the hunt for the AFC North 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. Tennessee Titans (2-12)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

x - indicates clinched playoffs