NFL Playoffs 2020-21: Updated Standings, Bracket Picture and Scenarios

On the day Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nearly clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs, the New England Patriots suffered a loss that officially eliminated them.

Brady propelled a 17-point comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons to almost seal Tampa's spot in the postseason in Week 15. His former team, however, lost to the Miami Dolphins, dropped to 6-8 and won't be in the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

But as the Bucs are a single win away, the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks locked in a playoff berth this weekend.

We've updated the NFL standings, laid out the current bracket and highlighted some clinching scenarios for next Sunday.

Updated AFC Standings

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: 11-3 (clinched division)
Miami Dolphins: 9-5
New England Patriots: 6-8
New York Jets: 1-13

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers: 11-2
Cleveland Browns: 9-4
Baltimore Ravens: 9-5
Cincinnati Bengals: 2-10-1

AFC South

Tennessee Titans: 10-4
Indianapolis Colts: 10-4
Houston Texans: 4-10
Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-13

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs: 13-1 (clinched division)
Las Vegas Raiders: 7-7
Denver Broncos: 5-9
Los Angeles Chargers: 5-9

Updated NFC Standings

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

NFC East

Washington: 6-8
New York Giants: 5-8
Dallas Cowboys: 5-9
Philadelphia Eagles: 4-9-1

NFC North

Green Bay Packers: 11-3 (clinched division)
Chicago Bears: 7-7
Minnesota Vikings: 6-8
Detroit Lions: 5-9

NFC South

New Orleans Saints: 10-4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-5
Atlanta Falcons: 4-10
Carolina Panthers: 4-10

NFC West

Seattle Seahawks: 10-4
Los Angeles Rams: 9-5
Arizona Cardinals: 8-6
San Francisco 49ers: 5-9

Current AFC Bracket, Playoff Picture

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Current AFC Bracket

No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (bye)

No. 7 Miami Dolphins at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers

No. 6 Cleveland Browns at No. 3 Buffalo Bills

No. 5 Indianapolis Colts at No. 4 Tennessee Titans

AFC Playoff Picture

If the season ended today, the Chiefs would own home-field advantage. That's particularly valuable because, in 2020, only the best regular-season record has a first-round bye.

While the 11-2 Steelers are second and ahead of the 11-3 Bills, Pittsburgh doesn't hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The final division leader is the 10-4 Titans, who have the tiebreaker on the 10-4 Colts because of a better record against AFC South teams.

In the wild-card picture, Indianapolis is in front of Cleveland because of an earlier win in Week 15. However, the Browns have the head-to-head victory and can pass Indianapolis with a victory over the Giants on Sunday night.

The final playoff spot is down to the 9-5 Dolphins, 9-5 Ravens and 7-7 Raiders. Miami owns the edge on Baltimore thanks to a better record against AFC opponents.

Las Vegas hosts Miami in Week 16.

Current NFC Bracket, Playoff Picture

Mark Tenally/Associated Press

Current NFC Bracket

No. 1 Green Bay Packers (bye)

No. 7 Arizona Cardinals at No. 2 New Orleans Saints

No. 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 3 Seattle Seahawks

No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 4 Washington

NFC Playoff Picture

Though it wasn't pretty, the Packers held off the Panthers and took control of the NFC. Green Bay holds the tiebreaker on the Saints and Seahawks, who trail by one game.

New Orleans is above Seattle because of a superior record against NFC teams. Since the NFL removed a first-round bye, though, the difference between Nos. 2 and 3 is less meaningful. Both the Saints and Seahawks would play a first-round game.

Washington currently leads the NFC East but cannot rise higher than fourth in playoff seeding.

Los Angeles dipped into the wild-card standings after losing to the once-winless Jets. Still, the Rams are fifth thanks to a head-to-head victory over the Bucs. Both are ahead of 8-6 Arizona and hold a two-game edge on 7-7 Chicago.

While the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles aren't eliminated, they're only alive in the NFC East race.

Playoff Scenarios

Wade Payne/Associated Press

Week 16 AFC Scenarios

Chiefs: Clinch No. 1 seed with WIN

Steelers: Clinch AFC North with WIN or Cleveland LOSS*

Titans and Colts: Clinch playoff berth with WIN

*pending Week 15 results

Week 16 NFC Scenarios

Packers: Clinch No. 1 seed with WIN

Seahawks: Clinch NFC West with WIN over Rams

Washington: Clinch No. 4 seed with WIN and Giants LOSS and Cowboys LOSS