NFL Playoff Picture After Week 16
Week 16 of the 2019 NFL season saw several teams eliminated from playoff contention while a few others got closer to earning a much-needed bye.
The NFC playoff teams are set aside from the NFC East winner, but the top seeds are still up for grabs. There's a bit more drama in the AFC as a few teams are fighting for the No. 6 seed and one last bye is there for the taking.
NFC Playoff Picture After Week 16
NFC playoff picture after 16 weeks:
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 24, 2019
1) #49ers (12-3)
2) #Packers (12-3)
3) #Saints (12-3)
4) #Eagles (8-7)
5) #Seahawks (11-4)
6) #Vikings (10-5)
—#Cowboys (7-8)
The Minnesota Vikings are locked into the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 team in the NFC will either be the Philadelphia Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys. After that there are four teams that could end up with the top seed.
The Eagles need a win or a Cowboys loss to get in. The Cowboys need a win over the Washington Redskins and an Eagles loss against the New York Giants.
The real drama in the NFC has to do with the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers can make it simple and get the No. 1 seed with a win over Seattle in the Sunday night finale. A loss drops the 49ers down into the Wild Card, so just a bit of pressure in Week 17.
The Packers and Saints cannot fall lower than the No. 3 seed thanks to being division winners. A Packers win ensures at least the No. 2 seed. The Saints need help to rise out of the No. 3 seed an earn a bye.
AFC Playoff Picture After Week 16
AFC playoff picture after 16 weeks:
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 23, 2019
1) #Ravens (13-2)
2) #Patriots (12-3)
3) #Chiefs (11-4)
4) #Texans (10-5)
5) #Bills (10-5)
6) #Titans (8-7)
—#Steelers (8-7)#Raiders (7-8)
The Baltimore Ravens have clinched the top seed and the Buffalo Bills are locked in at No. 5. The New England Patriots earn a bye with a win, but fall a spot if the Kansas City Chiefs finish with an identical 12-4 record. The Chiefs can also fall a spot to No. 4 if they tie the Houston Texans with an 11-5 record.
The drama comes in the fight for the No. 6 seed. The Tennessee Titans are in with a win. The Pittsburgh Steelers need a win and a Titans loss. Mayhem is needed for the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders need losses by the Titans and Steelers, along with an Indianapolis Colts win to force a four-way tie at 8-8 and get in on a tiebreaker.
Get ready for a wild Week 17, NFL fans!