NFL Playoff Picture 2023: Updated AFC and NFC Standings, Clinching Scenarios

[Thomas]

The 49ers, Ravens, Eagles and Cowboys have clinched playoff berths, and 10 more playoff spots are available. Here’s how the NFC and AFC playoff pictures look heading into Week 16:
NFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS
1. 49ers (11-3): Clinched the NFC West.
2. Cowboys (10-4): Clinched a playoff berth, owns the tiebreakers over both the Lions and Eagles.
3. Lions (10-4): A big lead in the NFC North.
4. Buccaneers (7-7): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints for the NFC South.
WILD CARDS
5. Eagles (10-4): Clinched a playoff berth.
6. Vikings (7-7): Own the conference record tiebreaker over the Rams and Saints.
7. Rams (7-7): Own the conference record tiebreaker over the Saints and the division record tiebreaker over the Seahawks.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Seahawks (7-7): Own the conference record tiebreaker over the Saints.
9. Saints (7-7): Still in contention after beating the Giants.
10. Falcons (6-8): A loss to the hapless Panthers hurts.
11. Packers (6-8): Just when they had fought their way back into the playoff picture, the Packers lost back-to-back games against the Giants and Bucs.
12. Giants (5-9): Out of contention after losing to the Saints.
13. Bears (5-9): Heartbreaking loss to the Browns ends any thought of a playoff run.
14. Commanders (4-10): Mathematically eliminated.
15. Cardinals (3-11): Mathematically eliminated.
16. Panthers (2-12): Beating the Falcons means it’s not a sure thing they’ll give the Bears the first overall pick.
AFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS
1. Ravens (11-3): Clinched a playoff berth.
2. Dolphins (10-4): The AFC East might come down to the last game of the season with the Bills.
3. Chiefs (9-5): Commanding lead in the AFC West.
4. Jaguars (8-6): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts and Texans in the AFC South.
WILD CARDS
5. Browns (9-5): Joe Flacco may lead them to the playoffs.
6. Bengals (8-6): Win head-to-head tiebreaker over Colts and Bills.
7. Colts (8-6): Win conference record tiebreaker over Bills and head-to-head tiebreaker over Texans.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Texans (8-6): Win conference record tiebreaker over Bills.
9. Bills (8-6): They’re one of the seven best teams in the conference, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll make the playoffs.
10. Steelers (7-7): The loss to the Colts put the Steelers out of playoff position.
11. Broncos (7-7): The loss to the Lions just about stamped out any playoff hopes.
12. Raiders (6-8): Antonio Pierce had his team ready to play on Thursday night.
13. Chargers (5-9): A season that started with playoff hopes has turned into a debacle.
14. Titans (5-9): Mathematically eliminated.
15. Jets (5-9): Mathematically eliminated.
16. Patriots (3-11): Mathematically eliminated.
Week 16 Clinching Scenarios

Here are the official Week 16 clinching scenarios distributed by the NFL:
AFC
CLINCHED: Baltimore Ravens (11-3) – playoff berth
BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-3) at San Francisco (11-3); Christmas (Monday), 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC
Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

1. BAL win + CLE loss or tie OR
2. BAL tie + CLE loss

CLEVELAND BROWNS (9-5) at Houston (8-6); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Cleveland clinches playoff berth with:

1. CLE win + CIN loss + DEN loss or tie + BUF loss + MIA win or tie + IND loss or tie OR
2. CLE win + PIT loss or tie + BUF loss + MIA win or tie + DEN loss or tie OR
3. CLE win + PIT loss or tie + BUF loss + MIA win or tie + JAX loss + IND win OR
4. CLE win + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + JAX loss + IND win OR
5. CLE win + PIT loss or tie + BUF loss + KC win + IND win + JAX loss OR
6. CLE win + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + MIA win or tie + IND loss OR
7. CLE win + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + MIA win or tie + JAX loss OR
8. CLE win + CIN-PIT tie + BUF loss + IND win + JAX loss

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-5) vs. Las Vegas (6-8); Christmas (Monday), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Kansas City clinches playoff berth and AFC West division title with:

1. KC win OR
2. KC tie + DEN loss

MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-4) vs. Dallas (10-4); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Miami clinches AFC East division title with:

1. MIA win + BUF loss or tie OR
2. MIA tie + BUF loss

Miami clinches playoff berth with:

1. MIA win OR
2. MIA tie + JAX loss OR
3. MIA tie + IND loss + HOU loss OR
4. MIA tie + IND loss or tie + CLE loss OR
5. MIA tie + HOU loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR
6. MIA tie + CIN loss or tie + IND loss or tie

NFC
CLINCHED: San Francisco 49ers (11-3) – NFC West division title; Dallas Cowboys (10-4) – playoff berth; Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) – playoff berth
DETROIT LIONS (10-4) at Minnesota (7-7); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Detroit clinches NFC North division title with:
1. DET win or tie
Detroit clinches playoff berth with:
1. LAR loss or tie OR
2. SEA loss or tie
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-3) vs. Baltimore; Christmas (Monday), 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC
San Francisco clinches NFC’s No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and homefield advantage with:

1. SF win + PHI loss + DAL loss + DET loss

[Chazbo]

Hey Thomas,
Thanks for the info. How do teams do ATS that have to win this week(16) to have a chance to get into the play-offs?

[Chamblin]

Thanks

[Thomas]

Chaz I don't know a way to that buddy but if you want to look at an informative page about this weekends game look here, love their stuff

https://www.actionnetwork.com/nfl/nf...ng-primer-2023

[Chazbo]

Thanks Thomas