by 
The NFL playoff race is winding down as we work our way through Week 16. The race for home field advantage will be a tight one between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, with the Cincinnati Bengals having an outside shot heading into next week’s showdown with the Bills.
The Baltimore Ravens are back in the playoffs after their win on Saturday – and are tied with the Bengals in the battle for the AFC North – while the Los Angeles Chargers will also be in the postseason after handling the Colts on Monday night. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the AFC South lead with two games to play – thanks to the Tennessee Titans continuing their free fall.
The NFC wild-card race appears to be coming to an end as all the teams vying for the two forfeited spots on Saturday open the door for the Packers. The New York Giants and Washington Commanders currently hold the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds in the playoffs.
Two weeks remain until the playoffs. Below is a division-by-division breakdown of the current standings and what each contender faces on the schedule the rest of the way.
AFC East
y-clinched division title
Buffalo Bills
What you should know: The Bills locked up the AFC East title with Saturday’s win over the Bears, and still hold the No. 1 seed in the conference with the head-to-head tiebreaker on the Chiefs. They clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and a Chiefs loss next week.
Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Patriots
Miami Dolphins
What you should know: Miami is No. 7 in the AFC and has a one-game lead over New York, New England and Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Jets
New England Patriots
What you should know: The Patriots’ playoff chances diminish with the loss to the Bengals. They are one of four teams tied at 7-8, but hold the conference record over the Titans and Steelers. They hold the division tiebreaker by sweeping the Jets.
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Bills
New York Jets
What you should know: The Jets are the No. 9 seed in the playoffs, losing the division record to the Patriots. They have the best winning percentage in regular season games against the Titans and a conference record tiebreaker over the Steelers.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Dolphins
AFC North
|
x-Bengals |
11 |
4 |
0 |
.733 |
85 |
|
x-ravens |
10 |
5 |
0 |
.667 |
49 |
|
Steelers |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.466 |
-55 |
|
e-Browns |
6 |
9 |
0 |
.400 |
– 20 |
x- took a playoff spot
e- eliminated from the playoffs
Cincinnati Bengals
What to know: The Bengals hold on to their AFC North lead with a win over the Patriots. Cincinnati is the No. 3 seed in the conference and needs a win over Buffalo to have home-court advantage.
Remaining schedule: vs. bills, vs. ravens
Baltimore Ravens
What you should know: The Ravens clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Falcons on Saturday and are currently No. 5 in the AFC standings. Baltimore has the tiebreaker against Cincinnati.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
What you should know: Steelers keep their playoff hopes alive with win over Raiders. Pittsburgh is the No. 11 seed in the AFC, losing conference records to the Patriots, Jets and Titans.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Browns
Cleveland Browns
What you should know: The Browns have been eliminated from the playoffs with the loss to the Saints.
Remaining schedule: at the Commanders, at the Steelers
AFC South
|
Jaguars |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
+22 |
|
Titans |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
-43 |
|
e-Colts |
4 |
10 |
1 |
.321 |
-109 |
|
e- Texas |
2 |
12 |
1 |
.167 |
-104 |
e – eliminated from the playoffs
Jacksonville Jaguars
What you should know: The Jaguars take over first place in the AFC South with a win over the Jets and the Titans’ loss to the Texans. Regardless of their Week 17 result, Jacksonville will play for the division title in Week 18 when they host the Titans.
Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Titans
Tennessee Titans
What you should know: The Titans fell out of the No. 7 seed and into the No. 10 seed in the AFC with the loss to the Texans. Tennessee loses a conference-record tiebreaker to the Patriots, and a joint-record tiebreaker to the Jets. They win the conference record over the Steelers.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts
What you should know: The Colts are eliminated from the playoffs and lost to the Chargers on Monday night.
Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Texans
Houston Texas
What you should know: The Texans have been eliminated from the playoffs and have the worst record in the NFL. They beat the Titans for their second win of the year.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Colts
AFC West
y- branched division title
e – eliminated from the playoffs
Kansas City Chiefs
What you should know: The Chiefs remain the No. 2 seed in the AFC, as the Bills own the tiebreaker for the top of the conference. They will get the top seed if they finish 2-0 and the Bills finish 1-1.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
What you should know: The Chargers clinched a postseason berth with the win over Indianapolis on Monday. They are in sole possession of the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
What you should know: The Raiders are still mathematically alive in the AFC playoffs after their loss to the Steelers. Las Vegas is No. 12 in the AFC, two games out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers vs. Chiefs
Denver Broncos
What you should know: The Broncos have been eliminated from the playoffs and were blown out by the Rams on Sunday.
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
NFC East
|
x- Eagles |
1. 3 |
2 |
0 |
.867 |
137 |
|
x- Cowboys |
11 |
4 |
0 |
.733 |
131 |
|
Giants |
8 |
6 |
1 |
.567 |
-28 |
|
Commanders |
7 |
7 |
1 |
.500 |
-28 |
x- took a playoff spot
Philadelphia Eagles
What you should know: The Eagles still control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, needing just one win in their final two games. A win (or a Cowboy loss) ends the NFC East and home-field advantage (or a Viking loss).
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, vs. Giants
Dallas Cowboys
What you should know: The Cowboys kept their slim NFC East hopes alive with Saturday’s win over the Eagles. Dallas must win and Philadelphia lose to win the division.
Remaining schedule: at Titans, at Commanders
New York Giants
What you should know: The Giants retain the No. 6 seed in the NFC with all of the wild card contenders vying for a playoff spot losing Saturday. New York clinch a playoff spot with a win next week.
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, at Eagles
Washington commanders
What you should know: The Commanders remain as the No. 7 seed in the NFC thanks to Seahawks and Lions losses. They are a half game back on both for the final playoff spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns vs. Cowboys
NFC North
|
y Vikings |
12 |
3 |
0 |
.800 |
+5 |
|
Lions |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
-9 |
|
Packers |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
– 21 |
|
e-bears |
3 |
12 |
0 |
.200 |
-90 |
y-clinched division title
e – eliminated from the playoffs
Minnesota Vikings
What you should know: The Vikings move one game behind the Eagles for the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win and a loss from Philadelphia. Minnesota must win and Philadelphia lose to gain home court advantage since the Eagles hold the tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: at the Packers, at the Bears
Detroit Lions
What you should know: The Lions remain the No. 9 seed in the NFC after losing to the Panthers, a half game behind the Commanders for the final playoff spot. Seattle holds the tiebreaker against Detroit.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Packers
Green Bay Packers
What you should know: The streaky Packers are the No. 10 seed in the NFC and are very much alive in the playoffs thanks to their win over the Dolphins on Sunday. They are currently one game behind the Commanders for the final playoff spot. If the Packers win and the Commanders lose once, Green Bay will earn a postseason berth.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, vs. Lions
Chicago Bears
What you should know: The Bears have been eliminated from the playoffs. They have the worst record in the NFC.
Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Vikings
NFC South
|
Buccaneers |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
-38 |
|
Panthers |
6 |
9 |
0 |
.400 |
-24 |
|
Saints |
6 |
9 |
0 |
.400 |
– 22 |
|
e-Falcons |
5 |
10 |
0 |
.333 |
-35 |
e – eliminated from the playoffs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What you should know: The Buccaneers lead the NFC South by one game after their OT win over Arizona on Sunday. They can wrap up the division next week with a win over Carolina.
Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Falcons
Carolina Panthers
What you should know: The Panthers need to beat the Buccaneers next week to stay alive in the NFC South race. Carolina holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay and will hold a three-way tiebreaker based on being undefeated against the Buccaneers and Saints.
Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, at Saints
New Orleans Saints
What you should know: The Saints lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Panthers and were swept by the Buccaneers, although they are also a game out of the division lead.
Remaining schedule: at Eagles, vs. Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
What you should know: The Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Ravens.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Buccaneers
NFC West
|
y-49ers |
11 |
4 |
0 |
.733 |
145 |
|
Seahawks |
7 |
8 |
0 |
.467 |
-14 |
|
e-Rams |
5 |
10 |
0 |
.333 |
-53 |
|
e-Cardinals |
4 |
11 |
0 |
.267 |
-83 |
y-clinched division title
e- eliminated from the playoffs
San Francisco 49ers
What you should know: The 49ers remain the No. 3 seed in the NFC with their win over the Commanders, and will at least be the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. They are still alive in the race for home court, but need the Eagles to lose and the Vikings to lose once to have a chance at that.
Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
What you should know: The Seahawks are still half a game out of the final wild card spot after their loss to the Chiefs. Seattle holds the tiebreaker with Detroit for the No. 8 seed and trails Washington by half a game for the No. 7 seed.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets vs. Rams
Arizona Cardinals
What you should know: The Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at the Falcons, at the 49ers
Los Angeles Rams
What you should know: The Rams are eliminated from the playoffs after Monday’s loss to the Packers. They crushed the Broncos on Sunday.
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Seahawks
