Two teams clinched playoff spots in Week 15, with the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos each securing one of 14 spots in the postseason for a shot at the Lombardi Trophy. In Week 16, there are far more NFL playoff clinching scenarios that could see a number of spots secured.
As Week 15 draws to a close and we prepare for a weekend of football with games on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, let’s dive into the NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 16. If a team isn’t listed, they can’t clinch this weekend. We’ll start with NFC teams and then wrap up with AFC clubs.
Philadelphia Eagles
It’s been a roller-coaster kind of month for the Philadelphia Eagles. Back on Nov. 16, they were coming off wins over the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to hold an 8-2 record and seemingly had a shot at the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Then came a three-game losing streak, putting them in jeopardy of choking away the NFC East. Fortunately for Philadelphia, the Cowboys have imploded in the last two weeks and handed back a golden opportunity to the Eagles to clinch the division this week.
- Clinching Scenario: Philadelphia Eagles clinch NFC East with WIN vs Washington Commanders OR Dallas Cowboys LOSS to Los Angeles Chargers
Related: Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Candidates to Replace Kevin Patullo
Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears
We’re grouping the NFC North rivals together heading into their Week 16 head-to-head matchup at Soldier Field since they are in the same boat. The winner of Saturday’s Bears vs. Packers game will sit atop the division with just two weeks left in the regular season and effectively be in the driver’s seat to clinch it. Just as important, the team victorious on Saturday will be keeping a very close eye on the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions game, rooting for Aaron Rodgers.
- Clinching Scenario: Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears clinch a playoff spot with a WIN and a Detroit Lions LOSS to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Related: NFL Week 16 Predictions, including Packers vs Bears
Seattle Seahawks
Just about everything is on the line for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16. Facing the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, this is an opportunity for revenge after what happened a few weeks ago at SoFi Stadium. Just as important, beating the Rams on Thursday would push Seattle into position for both the NFC West crown and the NFC’s No.1 seed, with the all-important first-round bye. Those are the long-term stakes, but a victory at home against Los Angeles also means Seattle is playoff bound. However, it’s not their only path in Week 16 to an automatic playoff spot.
- Clinching Scenario: Seattle Seahawks clinch with WIN over Los Angeles Rams OR a Detroit Lions LOSS to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Related: NFL Week 16 Power Rankings, Evaluating all 32 Teams after Week 15
San Francisco 49ers
It seems unbelievable that the San Francisco 49ers could experience this meany season-ending and multi-week injuries to key players and still make the playoffs. The fact that it will happen is a testament to head coach Kyle Shanahan and running back Christian McCaffrey. Heading into a Week 16 matchup on Monday Night Football versus the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco holds control of its playoff destiny. As with many other NFC teams, the 49ers will be rooting for Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.
- Clinching Scenarios: San Francisco 49ers clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Indianapolis Colts OR a Detroit Lions loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Related: NFL Playoff Picture Right Now, AFC and NFC Playoff Bracket Entering Week 16
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are playoff-bound for the second consecutive season, but there’s even more potentially on the line in Week 16. A loss this past week by the New England Patriots put Denver in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. A lot of dominoes would have to fall the right way, but there’s a path to the Broncos clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by the end of Sunday. There’s also a more viable path this week to just winning the AFC West for the first time in a decade.
- Clinching Scenario: Denver Broncos clinch AFC West with a WIN over the Jacksonville Jaguars and a Los Angeles Chargers LOSS to the Dallas Cowboys. Denver can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a WIN, a Chargers LOSS, a New England Patriots LOSS to the Baltimore Ravens and a Buffalo Bills LOSS to the Cleveland Browns.
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New England Patriots
The New England Patriots blew their chance at clinching the AFC East crown this past Sunday, but there’s an immediate shot at redemption in Week 16. Facing the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, New England can clinch its spot in the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2021. Even if the patriots won’t win on Sunday, they could still automatically make the playoffs on Monday.
- Clinching Scenario: New England Patriots clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Baltimore Ravens OR an Indianapolis Colts loss to the San Francisco 49ers OR a Houston Texans LOSS to the las Vegas Raiders
Read More: Week 16 Fantasy Rankings
Buffalo Bills
This past Sunday’s second-half comeback over New England handed the Buffalo Bills quite a few NFL playoff clinching scenarios in Week 16. Both require a few things out of their control to happen, but a victory against the Cleveland Browns this week would make the Bills a practical lock to reach the postseason.
- Clinching Scenarios: Buffalo Bills clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Cleveland Browns AND either a Houston Texans LOSS to the Las Vegas Raiders or an Indianapolis Colts loss to the San Francisco 49ers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Riding a five-game win streak, the Jacksonville Jaguars have thrust themself back into the playoff picture. They will be tested in Week 16 on the road against the Denver Broncos, but a victory would go a long way toward earning a playoff spot and proving the Jaguars are among the top contenders in the AFC.
- Clinching Scenarios: Jacksonville Jaguars clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Denver Broncos AND either an Indianapolis Colts LOSS to the San Francisco 49ers OR a Houston Texans LOSS to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Los Angeles Chargers
Fresh off knocking the Kansas City Chiefs out of the playoff hunt, the Los Angeles Chargers could make this season even sweeter by clinching a playoff spot in Week 16. While they have long odds of catching up to the Denver Broncos for the AFC West, the door is wide open for Los Angeles to snag one of the AFC’s wild card spots very soon.
- Clinching Scenarios: Los Angeles Chargers clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Dallas Cowboys AND either an Indianapolis Colts loss to the San Francisco 49ers or a Houston Texans loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
