Week 16 of the 2019 NFL season will be a pivotal one in the playoff races for both conferences as several division titles and playoff berths/seeds can be clinched over the next few days.
Here's a look at the updated AFC and NFC playoff pictures based on the outcome of the Week 16 games. This story will be updated as more games conclude.
AFC
1. Baltimore Ravens, 13-2, AFC North winner: Bye week
The Ravens were able to beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday 31-15 to secure the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Browns were eliminated from playoff contention as well.
2. New England Patriots, 12-3, AFC East winner: Bye week
The Patriots have clinch the AFC East title for the 11th consecutive season after they beat the Bills at Gillette Stadium 24-17 on Saturday. New England will clinch the No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye if it defeats the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 or if the Kansas City Chiefs lose to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
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3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4, AFC West winner) vs. 6. Tennessee Titans (8-7, second wild card)
The Chiefs are still alive in the race for a top-two seed, but they need another Patriots loss for that to happen. Kansas City dominated the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football, 26-3.
The Titans own the second wild card spot by the slimmest of margins. They have the same record and in-conference record as the Steelers, but the Titans have superior strength of victory. Both teams lost on Sunday to the Jets and Saints respectively.
New England Patriots
4. Houston Texans (10-5, AFC South winner) vs. 5. Buffalo Bills (10-5, first wild card)
The Texans staved off a late comeback attempt by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday to win the AFC South title. Houston could still move up to the No. 2 or No. 3 seeds because it owns the head-to-head tiebreakers with both the Patriots and Chiefs.
The Bills have clinched a playoff berth and are all but locked into the five seed. A win in Week 17 would clinch it, as would a loss by either the Titans or the Steelers (the Bills own the head-to-head tiebreaker against both teams).
In the Hunt
7. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-7
8. Oakland Raiders, 7-8
NFC
1. San Francisco 49ers, 12-3, NFC West leader: Bye week
By virtue of their last-second win over the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers head into Sunday holding onto the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
2. Green Bay Packers, 12-3, NFC North winner: Bye week
The Packers clinched the NFC North title win their win over the rival Vikings in Minnesota on "Monday Night Football." They also jumped back up to the No. 2 seed with the victory.
3. New Orleans Saints (12-3, NFC South winner) vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings (10-5, second wild card)
The Saints beat the Tennessee Titans and have already clinched a top-three seed, but they go back down from the No. 2 spot to No. 3 after the Packers' win on Monday Night Football.
The Vikings' loss cost them a shot at the NFC North title, however they had already clinched a playoff spot with the Los Angeles Rams losing on Saturday. Minnesota is locked into the No. 6 spot.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7, NFC East leader) vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks, 11-4, (first wild card)
The Eagles took down the Cowboys to overtake their archrival in the NFC East. Philly will have a chance to clinch the division crown with a win next week vs. the New York Giants.
The Seahawks fell to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, thus failing to jump back to the top seed in the NFL entering their Week 17 showdown against the 49ers in Seattle.
In the Hunt
Dallas Cowboys, 7-8