NFL playoff picture Week 16: Chiefs, Vikings, 49ers clinch division titles
There are three weeks left in the NFL regular season and we know who three of the eight division winners will be.
The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC west, the Minnesota Vikings have clinched the NFC North and the San Francisco 49ers have clinched the NFC West.
Who will win the other divisions?
The Buffalo Bills are close to clinching the AFC East (and have already secured a playoff berth), while the AFC North and the AFC South might not be decided until the final week.
The Cincinnati Bengals, who have won six straight, have a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, while the Tennessee Titans, who have lost four straight, suddenly only lead the Jacksonville Jaguars by a game in the AFC South.
NFL power rankings Week 16:Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL playoff contention
The Philadelphia Eagles, at 13-1, could be close to clinching the NFC East with a huge game against the 10-4 Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. Both of those teams have already secured postseason bids.
The NFC South is still anyone's division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) holding a one-game lead over the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, who are all 5-9.
The top seed in each conference gets a bye in the wild card round of the NFL postseason and the other division winners get the No. 2 through No. 4 seeds.
The No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 seeds go to the non-division winners with the best records.
Here's how the NFC and AFC playoffs would look if the postseason began after NFL Week 15 (with the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers still set to face off on Monday Night Football).
NFL Week 16 odds: Jaguars vs. Jets | Falcons vs. Ravens | Lions vs. Panthers | Bills vs. Bears | Saints vs. Browns | Seahawks vs. Chiefs | Giants vs. Vikings | Bengals vs. Patriots | Texans vs. Titans | Commanders vs. 49ers | Eagles vs. Cowboys | Raiders vs. Steelers | Packers vs. Dolphins | Broncos vs. Rams | Buccaneers vs. Cardinals | Chargers vs. Colts
NFC playoff picture Week 16:
No. 1 Philadelphia Eagles (13-1) - NFC East leader
No. 2 Minnesota Vikings (11-3) - NFC North leader
No. 3 San Francisco 49ers (10-4) - NFC West leader
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) - NFC South leader
No. 5 Dallas Cowboys (10-4) - Wild Card
No. 6 New York Giants (8-5-1) - Wild Card
No. 7 Washington Commanders (7-6-1) - Wild Card
In the hunt:
Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
Detroit Lions (7-7)
Green Bay Packers (6-8)
Carolina Panthers (5-9)
New Orleans Saints (5-9)
Atlanta Falcons (5-9)
NFC playoff matchups right now:
No. 7 Washington Commanders at No. 2 Minnesota Vikings
No. 6 New York Giants at No. 3 San Francisco 49ers
No. 5 Dallas Cowboys at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Note: The Seahawks owns a tie breaker over the Lions because of their win over Detroit.
How to watch:NFL Week 16 schedule, television information
AFC playoff picture Week 16:
No. 1 Buffalo Bills (11-3) - AFC East leader
No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs (11-3) - AFC West leader
No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) - AFC North Leader
No. 4 Tennessee Titans (7-7) - AFC South leader
No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (9-5) - Wild Card
No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) - Wild Card
No. 7 Miami Dolphins (8-6) - Wild Card
In the hunt:
New England Patriots (7-7)
New York Jets (7-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8)
Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)
Cleveland Browns (6-8)
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8)
Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)
AFC playoff matchups right now:
No. 7 Miami Dolphins at No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs
No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals
No. 5 Baltimore Ravens at No. 4 Tennessee Titans
Notes: The Bills win a tie breaker over the Chiefs because of their win over Kansas City. The Chargers win a tie breaker over the Dolphins because of their win over Miami.
Super Bowl odds:NFL Week 16 betting odds for every NFL team to win 2023 Super Bowl
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL playoff picture Week 16: Chiefs, Vikings, 49ers win divisions
