Each week throughout the 2024 NFL season, YSL News Sports will deliver up-to-date insights into the league’s constantly shifting playoff landscape. These updates will typically start following the late Sunday games and continue through the week, including Monday and Thursday matches, or Saturday if relevant.

What just unfolded? What does it signify? What critical factors, including potential tiebreaking scenarios, influence the formation of each conference’s seven-team playoff bracket? All will be discussed as we approach the postseason, which will be finalized on Sunday, January 5.

Here’s the current situation as we enter Week 16 of the 2024 season:

NFC Playoff Outlook

x – 1. Detroit Lions (12-2), Leaders of NFC North: After suffering a heavy defeat to Buffalo on Sunday, the Lions are now in a three-way tie at the top of the conference and are locked in for the division lead following the Vikings’ victory on Monday night. The tiebreakers favor the Lions, thanks to their earlier win over Minnesota and a superior conference record (8-1) compared to Philadelphia. They might need to secure wins in all remaining games to maintain their hold on the division. Remaining Schedule: at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2), Leaders of NFC East: Currently on a 10-game winning streak, the Eagles couldn’t clinch the division after Washington’s win in New Orleans but can accomplish this by defeating the Commanders on Sunday. They’ve matched the Lions’ record but will need another Lions loss to take the conference’s top position. Remaining Schedule: at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6), Leaders of NFC South: The Buccaneers delivered a strong performance against the Chargers in Week 15, keeping them in first place in the division, regardless of Atlanta’s win on Monday. After Seattle’s loss, Tampa Bay moved up in the rankings due to a better conference record (6-3) than the Rams (5-5). Remaining Schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6), Leaders of NFC West: The Rams can secure the division title if they win their final games. They took the lead over the Seahawks on Sunday night due to their Week 9 victory in Seattle. Remaining Schedule: at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2), Wild Card No. 1: The Vikings clinched a playoff spot on Sunday night thanks to Seattle’s defeat. Their victory over Chicago on Monday allows them to control their destiny in the NFC North—if they win out, the division title is theirs, and they could secure the No. 1 seed. Remaining Schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4), Wild Card No. 2: Having lost both contests to Detroit and once to Minnesota, the Packers are leaning towards the wild-card slot. A win on Monday locks them into the playoffs, barring any unexpected outcomes. Remaining Schedule: vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (9-5), Wild Card No. 3: Surviving their matchup against the Saints keeps their playoff hopes alive, and they’re technically still in the hunt for the NFC East title. With a win and assistance from others, they can secure their playoff spot on Sunday. Remaining Schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6), Contenders: Following Sunday night’s loss to Green Bay, the Seahawks fell out of both the NFC West lead and playoff projections but have a chance to reclaim the division title with a clean slate in their remaining games. Remaining Schedule: vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7), Contenders: The Falcons snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Raiders on Monday, despite needing to switch quarterbacks. They can reclaim the NFC South lead if they catch up to the Buccaneers, whom they previously defeated. Their strong NFC record (6-3) is crucial for tiebreakers. Remaining Schedule: vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers

10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7), Contenders: After halting a three-game losing streak by defeating the Patriots, the Cardinals need favorable outcomes in their remaining games to remain relevant in the playoff discussion. Remaining Schedule: at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8), Contenders: The reigning NFC champions have less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL.com, reflecting a challenging season. Remaining Schedule: at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8), Contenders: Similar to the 49ers, who they lost to earlier this season, the Cowboys face slim playoff chances despite their win in Charlotte on Sunday. Remaining Schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders

AFC Playoff Outlook

y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1), AFC West Champions: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the team to victory over Houston on Saturday, meaning the Chiefs will secure the No. 1 seed if Buffalo loses on Sunday. Another win from the Chiefs will ensure that the AFC Super Bowl path runs through Arrowhead Stadium. Remaining Schedule: at Steelers, at Broncos

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (11-3), AFC East champions: The win in Detroit on Sunday likely boosts their confidence more than it helps their playoff situation. With Pittsburgh’s defeat, the Bills are now comfortably holding onto the second spot in the conference, especially with an easier end-of-season schedule ahead. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

x – 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5), AFC North leaders: Tough luck on Saturday. They lost the chance for the top seed thanks to Kansas City’s victory, and missed an opportunity to secure the division. Now they’re in a fierce race with Baltimore, who seems to have an easier road ahead. For now, the Steelers maintain the division lead by just a game over the Ravens in AFC matchups, which isn’t much. Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals

y – 4. Houston Texans (9-6), AFC South champions: They have dominated a weak division for the second consecutive year and are nearly secured as the fourth seed, which will lead to a challenging wild-card matchup. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Titans

x – 5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5), wild card No. 1: Great news for them this Christmas. They secured their playoff spot, thwarted Pittsburgh’s division celebration, are still in the running for the division title, and might be regaining their early-season Super Bowl form. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Browns

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6), wild card No. 2: By defeating the Broncos for the first time in 14 years, they kept Denver from clinching and moved ahead of their divisional rivals, securing a tiebreaker thanks to the sweep. A single win will guarantee their playoff spot unless both the Colts and Dolphins lose on Sunday afternoon. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-6), wild card No. 3: They had a chance to secure a postseason spot on Thursday, marking their first entry since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. Now, they can only advance if the Colts, Dolphins, and Bengals all lose. One more win will guarantee their place in the playoffs, though their Week 17 game against Cincinnati is crucial. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8), in the hunt: Following their loss in Week 15 at Denver, their chances are pretty much gone. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (6-8), in the hunt: After losing to Houston in Week 15, their playoff hopes have diminished. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8), in the hunt: They managed a win last Sunday, keeping their slim hopes alive. With a 3-6 conference record, they are currently behind the Dolphins and Colts. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers

NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 16

Kansas City can secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

▶ A loss or tie by Buffalo

Denver can clinch a playoff spot with:

▶ A Miami loss or tie, a Cincinnati loss or tie, and an Indianapolis loss or tie

Los Angeles Chargers can secure a playoff spot with:

▶ A Miami loss or tie and an Indianapolis loss or tie

Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East with:

▶ A win or tie

Green Bay can clinch a playoff berth with:

1. Win or tie
2. Atlanta loss or tie and LA Rams loss or tie
3. Atlanta loss or tie and Seattle loss or tie

Washington can clinch a playoff berth with:

1. Win, along with Atlanta loss or tie and LA Rams loss or tie
2. Win, along with Atlanta loss or tie and Seattle loss or tie
3. Tie, with Atlanta loss, Arizona loss or tie, LA Rams loss or tie, and Seattle loss or tie (as long as Rams and Seahawks both don’t tie)

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2024

▶ New York Giants

▶ Las Vegas Raiders

▶ New England Patriots

▶ Jacksonville Jaguars

▶ Tennessee Titans

▶ Cleveland Browns

▶ New York Jets

▶Chicago Bears

▶ Carolina Panthers

x – secured a spot in the playoffs

y – won the division title

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