Week 16 NFL Playoff Picture, AFC, NFC Bracket Scenarios After Saturday's Games

The Chicago Bears pulled off one of the most improbable victories to maintain control of the NFC North.

Chicago rallied back in the fourth quarter to force overtime and then beat the Green Bay Packers on a touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to D.J. Moore.

The Bears moved to 11-4 to keep themselves one game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, who also won on Saturday, in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Chicago is still one game adrift of the Seattle Seahawks in the hunt for the No. 1 overall seed, but it is still in contention for home-field advantage.

The AFC playoff picture comes into a more intense focus on Sunday with two massive games involving teams in the hunt for their respective divisional titles.

AFC Standings

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Division Leaders

Denver Broncos (12-2; clinched playoff berth)

New England Patriots (11-3)

Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)

The hunt for the AFC's top seed will shift into the spotlight on Sunday afternoon, when the Denver Broncos host the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Denver could leave the weekend with a massive edge in the standings if the New England Patriots stumble against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

Baltimore needs a win to stay in the AFC North title race, so there's a chance Denver holds a two-game edge on New England by the end of Sunday.

Pittsburgh visits the Detroit Lions in a game that the Lions need far more than the Steelers do in the context of the playoff picture.

A Detroit victory would aid Baltimore's quest of first place in the AFC North.

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 should all win on Sunday.

Los Angeles takes on the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo faces the Cleveland Browns and Houston hosts the Las Vegas Raiders.

Buffalo and Houston could gain valuable ground in their respective divisional title races if the Patriots and Jaguars both lose in the high-profile AFC clashes.

In The Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)

Indianapolis has to wait until Monday night to play. The Colts face the San Francisco 49ers, who are still in the mix for the NFC West crown and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC.

A loss to the 49ers could end the Colts' playoff hopes because of the potential gap to the final wild-card position.

Baltimore's likeliest path to the postseason is through the AFC North title.

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

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3; clinched playoff berth)
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5; clinched NFC East title)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

The Bears, Seahawks and Eagles all won over the last three days to either move up, or remain, in the top three of the NFC standings.

Chicago is now up two games in the win column over the Packers in the NFC North. The Bears are close to securing the division title and at least one home playoff game.

Philadelphia became the first division winner of the season with its triumph over the Washington Commanders in Saturday's opening game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers square off with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday for control of the NFC South.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Rams (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

Green Bay will remain in the final wild-card spot at the end of Week 16, but its position is more perilous than it was going into Saturday.

The Packers will remain in front of the Lions, even if Detroit wins, because they have one fewer loss than their NFC North rival.

Green Bay needs to root for former Packer Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers to beat the Lions so that there is a two-game gap in the loss column between the two sides going into Week 17.

The 49ers are unlikely to drop down into the wild-card chaos. They are more involved in the NFC West title race that could be won by any of three teams.

In The Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-6)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7)

Detroit needs a win over Pittsburgh to feel better about its playoff fate.

The Lions will likely have to reach the postseason through a wild-card berth, so they can't fall more behind the Packers in the loss column.

Carolina's best postseason path is through the NFC South title. The Panthers and Bucs play twice in the next three weeks.

Eliminated

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

11. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (4-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-11)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

16. New York Giants (2-12)