NFL Playoff Picture: Division-by-Division Breakdown

With most of the action done in Week 16, the playoff picture in each conference is becoming clearer. The Packers, 49ers, Patriots, and Texans have all clinched their respective divisions, while the Saints, Ravens and Steelers are each in the playoffs. 

The Packers have dominated the NFC and the NFL in general all season long. A win on Christmas Day in Green Bay against the Bears and home field advantage is clinched. As things stand now, they have a bye week locked up.

The top of the AFC is more cluttered. If the Patriots win in Week 17 vs. the Bills, they are the No. 1 seed. If they lose, it opens up a complicated scenario involving both the Steelers and Ravens. Like the Packers, the Patriots do have a bye week locked up. 

Still, let's take a look at the playoff picture and see who needs to do what to get into the playoffs.

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AFC East

New England Patriots

The Patriots have the division and a bye week locked up. Still, their game against the Bills is important, as an upset loss would open up too many scenarios that would drop them to the No. 2 seed.

New York Jets

They shot themselves in the foot today with a loss against the Giants. They are technically alive, but will need to beat Miami next week and get an awful lot of help in Week 17, as the tiebreaker scenarios don't benefit them. 

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are done. The only thing they can do is mess up home field advantage for the Patriots. 

Miami Dolphins

Miami will get a chance to make the tiebreaker scenarios irrelevant. If they beat the Jets next week, New York is done. Miami was finished long ago. 

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

If the Ravens beat the Bengals next week, they lock up the division and at least the No. 2 seed, which brings them a bye week. 

A loss opens the door for the Steelers, who play the Browns to win the division.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are likely looking at a Wild Card spot, but could possibly earn the No. 1 overall seed. If they beat the Browns and the Patriots and Ravens both lose, the Steelers are the No. 1 seed because of their win over the Patriots.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati controls its own destiny at this point. They host the Ravens on Sunday. A win and the Bengals will earn the AFC's final Wild Card spot. A loss and they will need some help.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are nothing but spoilers at this point. With two first round draft picks next year, their best days are clearly in the future. 

AFC South

Houston Texans

The Texans have the division locked up, but they have taken themselves out of contention for one of the top two seeds. They're going to be the AFC's No. 3 seed and will host a game on Wild Card Weekend. 

Tennessee Titans

The Titans remain in contention for the AFC's final Wild Card spot, although they will need a lot to go in their favor. 

First, they will need to beat a Texans team that already dismantled them in Tennessee earlier in the year. Even if that happens, the Titans will need some help. They need to win and the Bengals would have to lose. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are done at this point. They play the Colts in a game, with the exception of draft order, that means nothing to anyone.

Indianapolis Colts

If the Colts lose to the Jaguars, they're the No. 1 pick in April's draft.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

For the Broncos, it's quite simple. If they beat the Chiefs, they are the division champions and will likely host the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. If not, they will need the Raiders to fall to the Chargers. 

Oakland Raiders

If the Raiders win and Broncos lose, Oakland wins the AFC West. If they win and the Broncos win, the Raiders can still earn a Wild Card spot. They would need the Bengals and Titans to lose. They both play playoff-bound teams, so that's not terribly unlikely.

San Diego Chargers 

The Chargers took themselves out of the playoffs with a loss to the Lions and a rough middle of the season. They're nothing more than spoilers at this point, taking a trip to Oakland next week.

Kansas City Chiefs

Like the Chargers, the Chiefs are nothing more than spoilers at this point. They can wreck the Broncos' playoff hopes and Tim Tebow's dream season with a win in Denver next week. 

NFC East

New York Giants

The Giants made the NFC East a two-team race on Sunday when they beat the Jets, eliminating the Eagles. They host the Cowboys in a game that will determine the division champion and No. 4 seed in the NFC.

Dallas Cowboys

They can't have a lot of confidence, getting beaten by the Eagles on Sunday and sustaining injuries in the process. Still, the game actually meant nothing. The division will be decided against the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles

The poor start and overall inconsistency cost the Eagles a chance at the playoff spot. They beat up the Cowboys on Sunday, but aren't going to get anything but pride for it. They'll be watching the playoffs.

Washington Redskins

Washington couldn't sustain momentum after a nice start to the season. They'll be playing the Eagles next week in a game that will have no meaning for anything other than draft order. 

NFC North

Green Bay Packers

Everything but the top seed is locked up for the Packers at this point. If they win on Sunday or the 49ers lose next week, that's locked up. 

Detroit Lions

Detroit locked up one of the NFC Wild Card spots with their win on Saturday against the Chargers. Their finale against the Packers will matter for seeding though. As the No. 5 seed, they play the NFC East Champ. 

If they are the No. 6 seed, they will have to face the Lions or 49ers in the first round. Both teams beat the Lions earlier in the season. 

Chicago Bears

Injuries have ruined the Bears' playoff chances. They are mathematically alive, but travel to Lambeau Field on Christmas night. They need to win that game, win next week against the Vikings, and then get some help around the league. 

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota is out of playoff contention. They are looking at one of the first picks in the NFL Draft.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have a trip to the playoffs locked up. A win against the Falcons on Monday or the Panthers next week and the division is locked up. 

The No. 2 seed is still doable if the Saints win both games and the 49ers lose to the Rams on Sunday. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons only chance at the division is to run the table, and have to have the Saints lose next week vs. Carolina. If that happens, the division belongs to Atlanta. Otherwise, Atlanta is looking at a Wild Card berth. 

One win or one loss from the Bears guarantees that.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have been a fun team to watch all year, but they're not going anywhere. They will have a potential opportunity to be a spoiler to the Saints next week, but nothing more than that. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

They have nothing to play for, other than a possible spoiler for the Falcons. The Buccaneers have been one of the NFL's biggest disappointments.  

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers

The NFC West belongs to them. After beating the Seahawks today, they need only one win or one loss from the Saints to wrap up the No. 2 seed. If the Packers lose out and the 49ers beat the Rams, San Francisco will be the top seed in the NFC.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle staged a strong late season run, but ultimately fell short of the playoffs. Their game against the Cardinals will be for second place, but neither team is making the playoffs.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona's season mirrored the Seahawks. They dug too big of a hole early in the year, taking themselves out of playoff contention.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams are playing for nothing at this point. They are in the running for the No. 1 pick, along with Indianapolis.