NFL playoff teams are starting to take shape with the start of the Week 16 games. The Minnesota Vikings made the NFC playoff race less complex after being eliminated from the playoffs on Friday with a loss to the New Orleans Saints , which ended NFC South with a victory. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their first playoff spot since 2007, while the Arizona Cardinals squandered their playoff hopes with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers – allowing the Chicago Bears to return to the playoff.
In the AFC, the Miami Dolphins need to win to secure a playoff spot – and can eliminate the Las Vegas Raiders with a victory on Saturday.
Below, you can find a breakdown by split analysis of the current standings, how each club fared in week 15 and what they have next on the schedule.
AFC East
division title x-conquered
e- eliminated from the playoffs
Buffalo Bills
What to know: TBD after Monday’s game at the Patriots
Remaining schedule: in the Patriots, vs. Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
What to know: TBD after Saturday’s Raiders game
Remaining schedule: in Raiders, in Bills
New England Patriots
What to know: TBD after Monday’s game against bills
Remaining schedule: vs. accounts, vs. jets
New York Jets
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Browns
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns at the Patriots
AFC North
|
z-Steelers |
11 |
3 |
0 |
0.786 |
+102 |
|
Browns |
10 |
4 |
0 |
0.714 |
-6 |
|
Ravens |
9 |
5 |
0 |
0.643 |
+116 |
|
e-Bengals |
3 |
10 |
1 |
0.250 |
-84 |
Z-won local playoff
Pittsburgh Steelers
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Colts
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts at Browns
Cleveland Browns
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s Jets game
Next game: at Jets, vs. Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against the giants
Remaining schedule: vs. Giants in Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at Texans
Remaining schedule: in Texans, vs. Ravens
AFC South
|
Titans |
10 |
4 |
0 |
0.714 |
+75 |
|
Colts |
10 |
4 |
0 |
0.714 |
+79 |
|
e- Texans |
4 |
10 |
0 |
286 |
-71 |
|
e- Jaguars |
1 |
13 |
0 |
0.071 |
-148 |
e- eliminated from the playoffs
Tennessee Titans
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at Packers
Remaining schedule: at Packers, Texans
Indianapolis Colts
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at Steelers
Remaining schedule: in Steelers, vs. Jaguars
Houston Texans
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Bengals
Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, vs. Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Bears
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Colts
AFC West
division title x-conquered
Kansas City Chiefs
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against the Falcons
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, vs. Chargers
Las Vegas Raiders
What to know: TBD after Saturday’s game against the dolphins
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins in Broncos
Denver Broncos
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at Chargers
Remaining schedule: in Chargers, vs. Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Broncos
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos in Chiefs
East NFC
|
Washington |
6 |
8 |
0 |
.429 |
+7 |
|
Cowboys |
5 |
9 |
0 |
0.357 |
-94 |
|
Giants |
5 |
9 |
0 |
0.357 |
-67 |
|
Eagles |
4 |
9 |
1 |
.321 |
-58 |
Washington Football Team
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against the Panthers
Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers at the Eagles
Dallas Cowboys
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against the Eagles
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles in Giants
New York Giants
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game in Ravens
Remaining schedule: in Ravens, vs. Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at Cowboys
Remaining schedule: in Cowboys, vs. Washington
NFC North
|
x-packers |
11 |
3 |
0 |
0.786 |
+95 |
|
Bears |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0.500 |
-3 |
|
e-Vikings |
6 |
9 |
0 |
400 |
-47 |
|
e-Lions |
5 |
10 |
0 |
0.333 |
-140 |
division title x-conquered
e- eliminated from the playoffs
Green Bay Packers
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Titans
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans at the Bears
Chicago Bears
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Jaguars
Remaining schedule: in Jaguars, vs. Packers
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs after Friday’s loss to the Saints. This will be the second time in three years that Minnesota will miss the postseason.
Remaining schedule: in Lions
Detroit Lions
What to know: Lions lose 10 games in a season for the third consecutive year after being eliminated by the Buccaneers. They will be playing for a choice of the draft top10 next week.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings
NFC South
|
x-Saints |
11 |
4 |
0 |
0.733 |
+119 |
|
z-Buccaneers |
10 |
5 |
0 |
0.667 |
+120 |
|
e-Falcons |
4 |
10 |
0 |
0.286 |
+2 |
|
e-Panthers |
4 |
10 |
0 |
286 |
-33 |
division title x-conquered
Z-won local playoff
e- eliminated from the playoffs
New Orleans Saints
What to know: Saints are in the middle of a game behind Green Bay for the top seed in the conference with a win over Saints on Friday, and the Packers have a draw against each other. New Orleans has the tiebreaker over Seattle for the runner-up based on having a better record in conference games, so it will remain with Friday’s victory. The Saints won the NFC South.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings at the Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What to know: Tampa Bay won their first playoff spot since 2007, with a resounding victory over Lions. The Buccaneers are currently No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs, but Rams play on Sunday.
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at the Chiefs
Remaining schedule: in Chiefs, in Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game in Washington
Remaining schedule: in Washington, vs. Saints
NFC West
|
z-Seahawks |
10 |
4 |
0 |
0.714 |
+74 |
|
Rams |
9 |
5 |
0 |
0.643 |
+76 |
|
Cardinals |
8 |
7 |
0 |
0.571 |
+62 |
|
e-49ers |
6 |
9 |
0 |
0.357 |
-19 |
Z-won local playoff
e-eliminated from the playoffs
Seattle Seahawks
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game against Rams
Remaining schedule: vs. Rams in 49ers
Los Angeles Rams
What to know: TBD after Sunday’s game at Seahawks
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, on Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
What to know: A loss to the 49ers means that Arizona will need help reaching the playoffs. Bears will take seed No. 7 with a win over Jaguars on Sunday. If Chicago wins its final two games, Bears will go into the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: in Rams
San Francisco 49ers
What to know: The 49ers are eliminated from the playoff race, but played a spoiler for the Cardinals with the win turned. Arizona must win in Week 17 and hope that Chicago misses one of its two final games to secure a playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks