NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: Latest AFC, NFC Wild-Card Scenarios and Predictions

It's crunch time in the NFL, with half of the playoff spots in both the NFC and AFC up for grabs. 

After the Week 16 schedule is played, though, that number might be on the way down as there are a few scenarios that could play out. Clinching spots or not, the last two weeks of the NFL season are going to be filled with drama.

Here is the current playoff picture in the NFL:

Week 16 Playoff Scenarios

Seeding in the AFC is currently wide open, as only two teams have clinched their playoff spots. In the NFC, four of the six spots are clinched with the NFC East and final wild-card spot up for grabs. 

Here are all of Week 16 scenarios for teams in the playoff hunt.

AFC

New England Patriots

• Clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win vs. New York Jets 

Cincinnati Bengals

• Clinch the AFC North with a win vs. Denver Broncos or a Pittsburgh Steelers loss vs. Baltimore Ravens
• Clinch a first-round bye with a win

Denver Broncos

• Clinch the AFC West with a win vs. Cincinnati Bengals and a Kansas City Chiefs loss vs. Cleveland Browns
• Clinch a playoff spot with a win and losses by the Jets or Steelers

Houston Texans

• Clinch the AFC South with a win vs. Tennessee Titans and an Indianapolis Colts loss vs. Miami Dolphins

Kansas City Chiefs

• Clinch a playoff spot with a win vs. Browns and a loss from either the Jets or Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Clinch a playoff spot with a win vs. Ravens and a Jets loss

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NFC

Carolina Panthers

• Clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win vs. Atlanta Falcons or an Arizona Cardinals loss vs. Green Bay Packers

Arizona Cardinals

• Clinch first-round bye with a win vs. Packers

Green Bay Packers

• Clinch NFC North with a win and a Minnesota Vikings loss vs. New York Giants

Minnesota Vikings

• Clinch a playoff spot with a win vs. Giants, a Falcons loss vs. Panthers or a Seattle Seahawks win vs. St. Louis Rams

Washington Redskins

• Clinch NFC East with a win vs. Philadelphia Eagles or a Giants loss vs. Vikings

Week 16 Predictions

Matchup	Winner	Scenario
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles	Washington Redskins	Redskins clinch NFC East
New England Patriots at New York Jets	New York Jets	Jets stay alive, Pats don't clinch home field
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans	Houston Texans	Texans clinch AFC South with Colts loss vs. Dolphins
Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs	Kansas City Chiefs	Chiefs don't clinch playoff spot due to Jets, Steelers win
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons	Carolina Panthers	Panthers clinch home-field advantage
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers don't clinch playoff spot due to Jets win
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals	Arizona Cardinals	Cardinals clinch first-round bye, Packers do not clinch NFC North
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings clinch playoff spot, Giants eliminated
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos	Cincinnati Bengals	Bengals clinch AFC North, Broncos do not clinch division or playoff spot

A loss by the Packers and a win by the Vikings sets up a high-octane finish for the NFC North title, as the two teams will play each other for the division in Week 17 at Lambeau Field. At home against a young quarterback in 23-year-old Teddy Bridgewater, it would be difficult to pick against the Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

Regardless of who wins, the two might be playing each other in the NFC Wild Card round. The Packers would be rooted to the No. 3 seed in the conference, while the Vikings would be No. 6.

The Redskins, who will clinch the NFC East with a win against the Eagles, would host a Seahawks team that could finish the season with 11 wins. The best record Washington could end up with is 9-7.

In the AFC, a Broncos loss to the Bengals leaves the door wide open for the Chiefs, who have an easier pair of remaining games against the Browns and Oakland Raiders. If the Chiefs win out and the Broncos lose just once, Kansas City hosts Denver.

Like the Redskins, the Texans could also be hosting a playoff game with a 9-7 record against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that could have 11 wins. Here's how I think the Wild Card round will look come playoff time:

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Redskins

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

The winner of these games would play either the Patriots or Bengals in the AFC and the Panthers or Cardinals in the NFC.

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com