NFL Playoff Picture: Week Sixteen

Week 16 brought no changes to the playoff teams and very little in changes to the seeding (just one swap on the NFC side). The AFC playoff teams are now decided although the division leaders can shuffle around in regards to seeding. On the NFC side, there are just two spots left available: the NFC East divisional winner (who will be the #4) and the second Wild Card spot.

Taking a look at the AFC side, the Ravens clinched the North with their victory over the Giants this past weekend. The other divisional leaders (Patriots, Texans, and Broncos) all previously locked up their divisions. The Colts and Bengals locked up the two Wild Card spots this past weekend.

Seeding for the division leaders is still up for grabs (Indianapolis and Cincinnati are locked in at #5 and #6 respectively). Currently Houston is on top followed by Denver, New England, and then Baltimore. The Texans, Broncos, and Patriots all could end up as the #1. Houston and Denver could fall as low as #3. New England could fall to #4 (the only team that could end up anywhere in the top 4). The best the Ravens can do is #3. Here's how the seeding will play out:

• The Texans will be the #1 if they win. If they lose, they move down a spot if the Broncos or Patriots win and two spots if both of those teams win.
• The Broncos can be no worse that #2 if they win. In that case, they move up to #1 if the Texans lose. If Denver loses, they fall to the #3 if New England wins.
• The Patriots will fall to the #4 if they lose and Baltimore wins. If they win, they will move up a spot for each loss by Denver and Houston.
• The Ravens move up to the #3 if they win and New England loses. Otherwise they will be the #4.

The current AFC playoff picture:

Things are a bit more interesting on the NFC side. The winner of the Cowboys/Redskins matchup win be the NFC East divisional leader (and the #4 seed). The West is also still up for grabs: the 49ers get it with a win, otherwise the Seahawks can take it with a win. If both lose, San Francisco takes it. The non-division winner of those two from the West will get the first wild card. The second wild card will go to one of four teams. The Vikings get the spot with a win but they're hosting the Packers. If Minnesota loses, the Bears get the spot if they defeat the Lions. If that doesn't happen, the spot goes to the Redskins if they lost to the Cowboys. If none of those three things happen, the Giants get the spot if they win. And if that also doesn't happen, the spot stays with the Vikings.

Divisional seeding is a bit more locked up in the NFC. The Falcons have wrapped up the #1 spot. As mentioned before, the NFC East winner will be the #4. The Packers are currently the #2 and will keep it with a win. If Green Bay loses, they lose the #2 to the NFC West winner if that team wins in week 17 otherwise they keep the #2. The NFC picture is currently:

Should be quite the race to the finish. Definitely will be interesting to see how things all shuffle out.