As we head into Week 16 of the NFL season, the playoff landscape is becoming increasingly clear. By the end of “Monday Night Football,” there could be as many as 11 teams that have secured their playoff positions.

However, there is still some unpredictability remaining. Several division titles have not yet been decided, with three in the NFC and one in the AFC still up for grabs. These divisional outcomes could influence the wild-card scenarios, so while we have a good idea of half of the playoff teams, the specifics are still changing.

In addition, the battle for the No. 1 seed in each conference is heating up. The Kansas City Chiefs are very close to clinching the top seed in the AFC, while in the NFC, the race will likely involve the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings over the next three weeks.

What will the playoff picture ultimately look like? There are numerous potential outcomes, but here’s how YSL News Sports envisions the scenarios unfolding.

Which Teams Have Secured Playoff Spots?

As of Week 16, seven teams have already locked in their playoff spots. The Baltimore Ravens secured their position as well with their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

Here’s a list of the teams that have earned their way into the postseason.

AFC

• Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West champions)
• Buffalo Bills (AFC East champions)
• Houston Texans (AFC South champions)
• Baltimore Ravens (playoff berth)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (playoff berth)

NFC

• Detroit Lions (playoff berth)
• Philadelphia Eagles (playoff berth)
• Minnesota Vikings (playoff berth)

NFL Playoff Forecasts for 2024

AFC Predictions

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2, AFC West champions)
2. Buffalo Bills (14-3, AFC East champions)
3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5, AFC North champions)
4. Houston Texans (10-7, AFC South champions)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-6, wild card No. 1)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 2)
7. Denver Broncos (10-7, wild card No. 3)

Five teams in the AFC have already secured their playoff spots, including all four divisional champions. The Ravens or Steelers will emerge as the AFC North champions. Thus, the key focus among those competing for the seventh seed is whether the Broncos can maintain their position.

The Broncos had a chance to lock in a playoff berth with a victory against the Chargers in Week 16, but the Chargers triumphed on “Thursday Night Football.” Now, the Broncos face a challenging conclusion to the season, needing to win either against the Cincinnati Bengals or the Chiefs in the upcoming weeks to secure their playoff spot or rely on losses from the Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts.

Denver’s Week 17 match against the Bengals, their most significant challenger for the seventh seed, is crucial. A win here would all but finalize the AFC playoff field, while a loss would put the Bengals just one game behind, equipped with a tiebreaker advantage, heading into Week 18.

The Bengals must win their games against the Cleveland Browns, Broncos, and Steelers to have a chance at the playoffs, which is not a certainty. As such, the Broncos remain in our projections, although their path may narrow following a Bengals win this Sunday.

In other news, there aren’t many surprises in the AFC. The Chiefs require one more win to secure the top seed. The Bills seem poised for the No. 2 seed, while the Ravens, ranked slightly below the Steelers on tiebreakers, are likely to be the No. 3 seed due to an easier schedule in their last two games compared to Pittsburgh. This could potentially lead to another matchup between the Harbaugh brothers in the postseason.

NFC Predictions

1. Philadelphia Eagles (15-2, NFC East champions)
2. Detroit Lions (14-3, NFC North champions)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-6, NFC South champions)
4. Los Angeles Rams (11-6, NFC West champions)
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3, wild card No. 1)
6. Green Bay Packers (12-5, wild card No. 2)
7. Washington Commanders (11-6, wild card No. 3)

There’s a chance all seven NFC playoff teams could end up with 11 wins when they reach the postseason.

While the Lions are currently in the best position for the top seed, it’s hard to imagine them maintaining that status. They have a relatively easier matchup against the Chicago Bears in Week 16, but divisional games are always tricky. Following that, they will face the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football” and end the season with a vital game against the Vikings, which could decide the NFC North title.

Can the Lions potentially win all three of these games? Absolutely. However, considering their current injury issues, it wouldn’t be surprising if they falter at some point. If that occurs, it could open the door for the Eagles, who have an easier remaining schedule, to take over.

For now, we’ll assume that Dan Campbell manages to lead the Lions to win the NFC North, securing them the No. 2 seed overall.

As for the No. 3 seed, that position is likely to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who only need to win out to clinch the NFC South. Even if they don’t manage to win all their remaining games, they simply have to avoid losing more games than the Atlanta Falcons to keep their lead.

The Falcons are shifting to rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. instead of sticking with Kirk Cousins. This change raises doubts about the Falcons’ ability to make it to the playoffs, even though Penix could bring some new energy to the team.

Meanwhile, the Rams are leading the NFC West, and it’s challenging to see the Seattle Seahawks catching up, especially with Geno Smith dealing with a knee injury. The Rams’ most critical matchup will be in Week 18 against Seattle. However, if the Rams secure a victory against the New York Jets in Week 16 and the Vikings also beat the Seahawks, the Rams’ chance of clinching the division will look better.

The Vikings have the potential for some upward movement but are likely to finish as the NFC’s No. 5 seed. Yet, they could take advantage if the Lions’ weakened defense struggles in their next game against Chicago, so keep them in mind.

As for the Packers, they are almost certainly poised to claim the No. 6 seed at this stage. The Commanders represent the biggest wild card in the mix, but with the quarterback issues affecting the Seahawks and Falcons, it’s difficult to envision another team stealing Washington’s playoff position.

Still, Washington’s most significant “danger” game lies in Week 17 against Atlanta. Should the Commanders falter in that matchup, the Falcons could potentially surpass them in the wild-card race, assuming the Buccaneers continue to lead in the NFC South.

Current NFL Playoff Landscape

Our forecasted NFL playoff scenario differs slightly from the current standings. Here’s how the conferences rank as we head into Sunday’s games:

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1, winners of the AFC West)
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3, winners of the AFC East)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5, leaders of the AFC North)
4. Houston Texans (9-6, winners of the AFC South)
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5, wild card No. 1)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 2)
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 3)

Contenders: Indianapolis Colts (6-8), Miami Dolphins (6-8), Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)

NFC

1. Detroit Lions (12-2, leaders of the NFC North)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, leaders of the NFC East)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6, leaders of the NFC South)
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6, leaders of the NFC West)
5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2, wild card No. 1)
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4, wild card No. 2)
7. Washington Commanders (9-5, wild card No. 3)

Contenders: Seattle Seahawks (8-6), Atlanta Falcons (7-7), Arizona Cardinals (7-7), San Francisco 49ers (6-8), Dallas Cowboys (6-8), New Orleans Saints (5-9)