NFL Playoff Picture, Week 16: The Vikings’ Path to the NFC North Crown Is Wide Open

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Dec 17, 2024
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The countdown is on to the playoffs as there are only three weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL regular season.

Week 15 opened the potential for major shuffling in the playoff races across the league with some surprising outcomes and thrillers between the league’s heavyweights. As we now look ahead to Week 16, here is a look at the NFL playoff picture.

AFC Playoff Picture

NFL Playoff Picture
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with teammates, during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.

AFC East

  1. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
  2. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
  3. New York Jets (4-10)
  4. New England Patriots (3-11)

In a potential Super Bowl preview, the Buffalo Bills won an absolute thriller against the Detroit Lions. It marked the eighth consecutive game in which Buffalo has scored 30+ points this season, and it likely solidified Josh Allen’s position at the top of the MVP race. Meanwhile, the Dolphins saw their playoff hopes slip even further with their loss to the Houston Texans.

AFC North

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
  4. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

The AFC North got a little tighter this weekend as the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles while Baltimore closed Pittsburgh’s lead to one game with their win over the New York Giants. Cincinnati kept the last gasps of their playoff chances alive with a win over the Tennessee Titans.

AFC South

  1. Houston Texans (9-5)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
  4. Tennessee Titans (3-11)

If you weren’t the Houston Texans, it was a rough day for the AFC South. Houston clinched the division title for the second consecutive season with a win over the Dolphins. Meanwhile, Indianapolis got blown out by the Denver Broncos to ensure that they cannot make a final push for the title. They do have a slight chance at a Wild Card spot, though.

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
  2. Denver Broncos (9-5)
  3. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
  4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

While Patrick Mahomes came out of the game with an injury, the Kansas City Chiefs came one step closer to sealing the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Cleveland Browns. Further down the standings, the Denver Broncos leapfrogged the Los Angeles Chargers by virtue of their win over Indy and LA’s loss to Tampa Bay.

AFC Playoff Seeds

  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)
  6. Denver Broncos (9-5)
  7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

The big storyline from the AFC playoff race was Denver jumping ahead of Los Angeles for the No. 6 seed, lining them up for a matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round while LA would currently have to go to Buffalo and face the hottest offense in the league. Buffalo also gained a game on Pittsburgh for the No. 2 seed.

NFC Playoff Picture

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

NFC East

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
  2. Washington Commanders (9-5)
  3. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
  4. New York Giants (2-12)

The Washington Commanders may have hung on for a win against the New Orleans Saints, but the Philadelphia Eagles inched closer to an NFC East title by virtue of their dominant win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Philly can officially clinch the division if they beat Washington this upcoming Sunday.

NFC North

  1. Detroit Lions (12-2)
  2. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
  3. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
  4. Chicago Bears (4-10)

There suddenly is some drama in the NFC North after Detroit’s loss to Buffalo on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings clinched a playoff spot this week due to Green Bay’s win over the Seattle Seahawks, and they crept back into the NFC North title race with their own win over the Chicago Bears. Week 18 between Detroit and Minnesota looks like it not only could be pivotal for that division crown, but also for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

NFC South

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
  2. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
  3. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
  4. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

Folks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be for real. Not only have they now won four straight games since their bye week, but their most recent victory came in dominant fashion, on the road, and by dropping 40 points on the No. 1 scoring defense in the league. The Atlanta Falcons also kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football.

NFC West

  1. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
  2. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

The NFC West once again changed ownership this weekend as the Los Angeles Rams leaped past the Seahawks due to their Thursday Night Football win against the San Francisco 49ers. Similarly to the NFC North, Week 18 could be very pivotal in this divisional race. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals continue to lurk after their win over the Patriots, and San Francisco’s door may have closed.

NFC Playoff Seeds

  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)
  6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
  7. Washington Commanders (9-5)

The Detroit Lions still hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but that may change if they have one more hiccup considering how the Eagles and Vikings are playing right now. The Eagles have now won 10 consecutive games, and the Vikings have won seven straight with no end in sight. Further down the list, the Buccaneers have now moved into the No. 3 seed, and the Seahawks now are completely out of the playoff race after their loss to Green Bay.

Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.

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