NFL playoff clinching scenarios Week 16: NFL playoff picture, 8 teams can clinch

The NFL Playoffs are right around the corner with seven of 14 playoff spots locked up. There are more NFL playoff clinching scenarios this week, with Week 16 offering the potential to see a majority of postseason spots secured by Sunday.

There are more than just playoff spots at stake. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have something at stake as well, with home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs on the line for Kansas City while Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East in Week 16.

Related: NFL Week 16 predictions

Let’s dive into the current NFL playoff picture followed by the NFL playoff clinching scenarios this week.

NFL playoff picture 2024

Here is the NFL playoff picture entering Week 15 after the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.

AFC

  1. Kansas City Chiefs* – 13-1
  2. Buffalo Bills* – 11-3
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers* – 10-4
  4. Houston Texans* –9-5
  5. Baltimore Ravens – 9-5 (WC)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers – 9-6 (WC)
  7. Denver Broncos – 9-6 (WC)

NFC

  1. Detroit Lions* – 12-2
  2. Philadelphia Eagles* – 12-2
  3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8-6
  4. Los Angeles Rams – 8 – 6
  5. Minnesota Vikings – 12-2 (WC)
  6. Green Bay Packers – 10-4 (WC)
  7. Washington Commanders – 9-5 (WC)

Related: NFL power rankings 2024

Who has clinched the NFL playoffs in 2024?

The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans have clinched playoff spots. The Chiefs, Texans and Bills clinched their divisions, guaranteeing home-field advantage in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.

Related: NFL defense rankings, evaluating all 32 defenses

NFL teams eliminated from playoffs

  • New York Giants
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • New England Patriots
  • Tennessee Titans
  • Cleveland Browns
  • New York Jets
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Chicago Bears

Related: 2025 NFL Draft order

NFL Playoff matchups right now

AFC

  • (7) Denver Broncos @ (2) Buffalo Bills
  • (6) Los Angeles Chargers @ (3) Pittsburgh Steelers
  • (5) Baltimore Ravens vs (4) Houston Texans
  • BYE: (1) Kansas City Chiefs

NFC

  • (7) Washington Commanders @ (2) Philadelphia Eagles
  • (6) Green Bay Packers) @ (3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • (5) Minnesota Vikings @ (4) Los Angeles Rams
  • BYE: (1) Detroit Lions

NFL playoff clinching scenarios Week 16

Here are the NFL playoff clinching scenarios this week.

  • Kansas City Chiefs – No. 1 seed in AFC (First Round Bye) – vs Houston Texans
    • Kanas City Chiefs win + Buffalo Bills loss/tie vs New England Patriots
    • Kansas City Chiefs tie + Buffalo Bills loss
  • Pittsburgh Steelers – AFC North – @ Baltimore Ravens
    • Pittsburgh Steelers win
  • Baltimore Ravens – Playoff Berth – vs Pittsburgh Steelers
    • Baltimore Ravens win/tie
    • Miami Dolphins loss/tie vs San Francisco 49ers
  • Denver Broncos – Playoff Berth – @ Los Angeles Chargers
    • Cincinnati Bengals loss/tie vs Browns + Dolphins loss/tie + Indianapolis Colts loss/tie vs Titans
  • Los Angeles Chargers – Playoff Berth – vs Denver Broncos
    • Los Angeles Chargers win + Colts loss/tie + Dolphins loss/tie
  • Philadelphia Eagles – NFC East – @ Washington Commanders
    • Philadelphia Eagles win
  • Green Bay Packers – Playoff Berth – vs New Orleans Saints
    • Green Bay Packers win/tie
    • Seattle Seahawks loss/tie vs Minnesota Vikings + Atlanta Falcons loss/tie vs New York Giants
  • Washington Commanders – Playoff Berth – vs Philadelphia Eagles
    • Washington Commanders win + Falcons loss/tie + Seahawks loss/tie
    • Washington Commanders win + Falcons loss/tie + Los Angeles Rams loss/tie vs New York Jets
    • Washington Commanders tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Rams loss/tie
    • Washington Commanders tie + Falcons loss + Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks tie + Rams loss

Related: One move every NFL team should make this offseason

NFL playoff hunt right now

AFC

SeedTeamRecordWin %Tiebreaker
1Chiefs13-1.929N/A
2Bills11-3.786N/A
3Steelers10-4.769N/A
4Texans9-5.643N/A
5*Ravens9-5.643N/A
6*Chargers9-6.600LAC beat DEN
7*Broncos9-6.600^^
HuntColts6-8.429IND beat MIA
HuntDolphins6-8.429Win % vs AFC
HuntBengals6-8.429^^

Related: NFL QB rankings

NFC

SeedTeamRecordWin %Tiebreaker
1Lions12-2.857Win % vs NFC, H2H
2Eagles12-2.857^^
3Buccaneers8-6.571Win % vs NFC
4Rams8-6.571LAR beat SEA
5*Vikings12-2.857N/A
6*Packers10-4.714N/A
7*Commanders9-5.615N/A
HuntSeahawks8-6.571N/A
HuntFalcons7-7.500Win % vs NFC
HuntCardinals6-7.500^^

Related: Highest-paid NFL players 2024

Who can clinch a playoff spot this week NFL?

The Green Bay Packers, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens can all clinch playoff spots this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles can clinch their divisions in Week 16.

NFL, MLB & college football writer for Sportsnaut. Graduated from San Diego State University with BA in Journalism, 2019. ... More about Matt Johnson
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