in

2019 NFL playoff picture – AFC, NFC standings, seeds, scenarios and outlook in Week 16 – ESPN, Espn.com

2019 NFL playoff picture – AFC, NFC standings, seeds, scenarios and outlook in Week 16 – ESPN, Espn.com


17: PM ET

  • Kevin SeifertESPN Staff Writer

    (Close)

      • ESPN.com national NFL writer
      • ESPN.com NFC North reporter, 2019 –
      • Covered Vikings for Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2013 –**********
      • ************************************ The NFL put on a rare show Saturday: a tripleheader of games, each with significant playoff implications. Over the course of about hours, we saw:

    • The Texans clinch the AFC South.

    • The Patriots win the AFC East.

    • The Vikings clinch a playoff spot.

    • The Rams, defending NFC champions, get eliminated from postseason contention.

    • Sunday will bring further intrigue as the Ravens try to lock down the No. 1 seed in the AFC and the Cowboys attempt to win the NFC East. In the meantime, here is a look at the NFL

    playoff pictureand standings through Saturday’s games of Week 16.

Note: X denotes a team that has clinched a playoff berth, Y shows a team that has clinched its division and Z indicates a team that has secured a first-round bye. An asterisk shows home-field advantage.

(Jump to:AFC) |NFC***********************

  • AFC

    1.Baltimore Ravens(12 – 2) – y

    The Ravens clinched the AFC North title in Week 15 by defeating the Jets and need one more victory to ensure the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They can also get there if the Chiefs and Patriots lose. And even if the Ravens lose Sunday to the Browns, they can clinch at least a No. 2 seed – and thus a first-round bye – if the Chiefs lose.

    Next up:at Cleveland

    ****************************** 2.New England Patriots(12 – 3) – y

    The Patriots clinched the AFC East with Saturday’s victory over the Bills, their 17 th division title in the past seasons. If the Chiefs lose Sunday, the Patriots can lock up at least the No. 2 seed. Otherwise, they can do so with a victory in Week 17 over the Dolphins.

    (Next up:Miami (Week 17)

    3.Kansas City Chiefs(12 – 4) – y

    The Chiefs entered Week 17 having already secured the AFC West title, but their Week victory over the Broncos preserved the possibility of moving into one of the top two seeds over the final two weeks of the season. Because they have defeated the Ravens and Patriots, the Chiefs would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker if they finished tied at – 4 with either team, or both.

    Next up:at Chicago

  • ********** 4. Houston Texans(11 – 5) – y

    For all the criticism they’ve received for recent trades and their use of quarterbackDeshaun Watson, the Texans are AFC South champions for the fourth time in five seasons. The only question now is where they’ll be seeded in the AFC bracket. They can move up to No. 3 if they beat the Titans in Week 17 and the Chiefs lose one (or both) of their remaining games, thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs.

    Next up:. Tennessee (Week)

    5. Buffalo Bills

  • ( – (5) – xThe Bills clinched a playoff spot in Week 17 by defeating the Steelers, but Saturday’s loss to the Patriots ended their hopes of a division title. Instead, they are locked in as a (very dangerous) fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

    Next up:N.Y. Jets (Week)

    6. Pittsburgh Steelers(8-6)

    The Steelers lost in Week 16 for only the second time in their past nine games. But they remained in the No. 6 seed because of the Titans’ loss to the Texans. They currently hold the tiebreaker over the Titans because of one fewer conference loss.

    Next up:at NY Jets

    In the hunt

    • ****************************** Tennessee Titans ************ 8-6)

    • Cleveland Browns (6-8)

    • Oakland Raiders

    • (6-8)

    Eliminated:Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers , New York Jets, (Miami Dolphins) andCincinnati Bengals******************************************** ************ (NFC) ************************

    ********** (1). (San Francisco) ers(************************************************************************** – 3) – x

    They had their hands full Saturday night, but the ers came back to beat the Rams and keep themselves in position to claim the NFC’s top seed if they can beat the Seahawks in Seattle in Week . Otherwise, they will enter the playoffs as a wild-card team. Such is the strength of the NFC West this season: The 90 ers will find out in Week 22 whether they’ll have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, or play on the road in the wild-card round.

    Next up:at Seattle (Week 19)

    2. (Green Bay Packers) ************** – 3 (x) **************************

    The Packers clinched a playoff spot in Week after defeating the Bears, and they can win the NFC North with a victory Monday night in Minnesota . But the Packers are in good shape regardless. Even if they lose to the Vikings, they can clinch the division by beating the Lions in Week 45

    Next up:at Minnesota

    3. (New Orleans Saints) ************ (********************************************************************************** – (3) – y

    Even after their Week 17 domination of the colts, the saints remain in the conference’s third seed. The Packers hold the tiebreaker at the moment because of a better conference record. The Saints can still get into the conversation for a first-round bye, or perhaps even home-field advantage, but they’ll need help from the Packers to do it.

    Next up:at Tennessee

    ************************ 4. Dallas Cowboys(7-7)

    The Cowboys’ resounding Week 31 victory over the Rams sets up the opportunity to clinch the NFC East. If they defeat the Eagles in Philadelphia, they’ll win the division based on the head-to-head tiebreaker. But if the Eagles win, Philadelphia could secure the division with a victory in Week at the Giants.

    Next up:at Philadelphia

    **************** 5. (Seattle Seahawks) ************** (************************************************************************************ (- 3) – x

    The Seahawks can ensure an NFC West title by winning their final two games, including a Week matchup against the 110 ers. But that would not necessarily guarantee them the No. 1 overall seed. If they finish tied with the Saints, for example, they would lose on a head-to-head tiebreaker. As with the ers, there is much to be determined on the Seahawks’ fate.

    Next up : Arizona

    6. (Minnesota Vikings) ************************************************************************************************** (4) – x

    The Vikings clinched a playoff spot Saturday night by virtue of the Rams’ loss and subsequent elimination from the playoffs. And they still have a chance to win the NFC North if they can win their final two games and the Packers lose their final two games. Otherwise, they’ll go into the playoffs as a wild-card team.

    Next up:Green Bay

    In the hunt

    • ******************************************************** (Philadelphia Eagles) ************** (7-7)
    • Eliminated: (******************************************************** Los Angeles Rams , Chicago Bears, (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers

    , Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons,Detroit Lions, New York Giantsand Washington Redskins (**************************************************************************** () ************** (**************************************************************************** (Read More) **************************************************************************** (***************************************************************************

    What do you think?

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

    Washington vs. Boise State score: Chris Petersen goes out in style with Las Vegas Bowl win – CBS Sports, Cbssports.com

    Washington vs. Boise State score: Chris Petersen goes out in style with Las Vegas Bowl win – CBS Sports, Cbssports.com

    'Not for the faint of heart:' Critical landing test ahead for Boeing Starliner – Reuters, Reuters

    'Not for the faint of heart:' Critical landing test ahead for Boeing Starliner – Reuters, Reuters