Week 16 NFL Scores, AFC, NFC Playoff Bracket Picture, Standings and Results

The playoff picture continued to take shape in Week 16, with several key wins catapulting teams to the front of their divisions and putting them in a position to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.

Who sits where after Sunday's results and what does the current playoff picture look like?

Find out with this recap of the week's pivotal games.

Week 16 Scores

AP Photo

Thursday, December 18

Seattle Seahawks 38, Los Angeles Rams 37

Saturday, December 20

Philadelphia Eagles 29, Washington Commanders 18

Chicago Bears 22, Green Bay Packers 16

Sunday, December 21

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Dallas Cowboys 17

Minnesota Vikings 16, New York Giants 13

Cincinnati Bengals 45, Miami Dolphins 21

Carolina Panthers 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

New Orleans Saints 29, New York Jets 6

Buffalo Bills 23, Cleveland Browns 20

Tennessee Titans 26, Kansas City Chiefs 9

Jacksonville Jaguars 34, Denver Broncos 20

Atlanta Falcons 26, Arizona Cardinals 19

Houston Texans 23, Las Vegas Raiders 21

Pittsburgh Steelers 29, Detroit Lions 24

New England Patriots 28, Baltimore Ravens 24

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (12-3, NFC West; +500 odds to win the Super Bowl)

2. Chicago Bears (11-4, NFC North; +2200)'

3. x-Philadelphia Eagles (10-5, NFC East; +1000)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7, NFC South; +15000)

The Panthers' unlikely pursuit of a playoff berth continues after a Week 16 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which put them in the driver's seat in the NFC South and set up a Week 18 match-up with that same team that will likely determine who represents the division as its champion in the postseason.

All that stands between them and that date with destiny? A showdown with the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks, who will be looking to maintain their grasp on the to seed in the conference and a division lead over the rival Rams.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4; +400)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4; +2000)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1; +1600)

Green Bay's playoff hopes took a blow Saturday night with a last-second, overtime loss to Chicago that saw Caleb Williams find DJ Moore for a long, walk-off touchdown. There is no guarantee that the Packers, who once looked like a sure-thing for a playoff berth, will make the postseason.

A Week 17 match-up against Baltimore, a team still fighting for the AFC North title, looms large and could open the door for the Lions to catapult into the final Wild Card spot if the Packers stumble and fail to contain Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-7; +1300)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8; +7000)

In Week 15, the Lions struggled defensively to contain the Los Angeles Rams and took a big loss, hampering their path back to the postseason. There is still hope, but they need the teams ahead of them to lose, meaning they cannot control their road to the playoffs.

The Buccaneers need the Panthers to lose in Week 17 to the Seahawks while they beat the Dolphins. From there, they need to win the rematch against the Panthers in Week 18 or will certainly miss the postseason after looking like an early Super Bowl favorite through the first quarter of the season.

Eliminated

10. Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

11. Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-11)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

x - denotes clinched playoffs

z - denoted clinched division

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Denver Broncos (12-3, AFC West; +1300)

2. x-New England Patriots (12-3, AFC East; +1300)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4, AFC South; +900)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6, AFC North; +5000)

The Patriots suffered their third loss of the season to Buffalo in Week 15, but their ability to execute in all three phases of the game has them looking like the class of the conference, alongside Denver.

The Broncos wrap up the season with divisional showdowns with the reeling Chiefs and the one team that can potentially knock them off their pedestal, the Chargers.

The Patriots have two winnable games against the Jets and Dolphins to close their season out.

Following statement-making victory over Denver Sunday, the Jaguars are not out of the conversation for the top seed in the AFC. Adam Schefter of ESPN noted that the team can win the all-important first round bye and home field advantage throughout by winning out, with the help of another loss from Denver and New England, respectively.

Wild Card Teams

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4; +1800)

6. Buffalo Bills (11-4; +850)

7. Houston Texans (10-5; +1400)

The Bills bested a tough Cleveland team Sunday, winning by three, and setting themselves up in a good position for a playoff spot, even if they have yet to clinch anything. Their ability to compete against the best the league has to offer, in a high-stakes game, will be tested in Week 17 against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

In The Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6; +50000)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8; +4000)

The Ravens are one of the most dangerous teams remaining, if only because of the playmakers Jackson and Henry. An AFC North title is not out of the realm of possibility, but their room for error is officially at zero following a loss to New England Sunday night.

Eliminated

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-9)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

13. New York Jets (3-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

15. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)