Until Week 15, the NFL playoff picture seemed like a distant notion, with no teams having sealed their spots in the postseason field until the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams did so Dec. 14.
In Week 16, things might become distinctly more concrete.
Nine teams have a chance to clinch playoff berths this week, though some of the scenarios carry contingencies that might not be fulfilled. But four franchises face straightforward win-and-in setups. Meanwhile, the Broncos can wrap up home-field advantage and the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win and a good bit of help.
Here’s everything on the table in Week 16.
NFL Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Denver Broncos Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Broncos clinch AFC West title and AFC’s No. 1 seed with:
- Broncos win + Chargers loss or tie + Patriots loss + Bills loss or tie
Broncos clinch AFC West with:
- Broncos win + Chargers loss or tie
- Broncos tie + Chargers loss
Buffalo Bills Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Bills clinch playoff berth with:
- Bills win + Colts loss or tie
- Bills win + Texans loss or tie
- Bills tie + Colts loss
- Bills tie + Texans loss
New England Patriots Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Patriots clinch playoff berth with:
- Patriots win or tie
- Colts loss or tie
- Texans loss or tie
Jacksonville Jaguars Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Jaguars clinch playoff berth with:
- Jaguars win + Colts loss or tie
- Jaguars win + Texans loss or tie
- Jaguars tie + Colts loss
- Jaguars tie + Texans loss
Los Angeles Chargers Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Chargers clinch playoff berth with:
- Chargers win + Colts loss or tie
- Chargers win + Texans loss or tie
- Chargers tie + Colts loss
- Chargers tie + Texans loss
Philadelphia Eagles Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Eagles clinch NFC East division title with:
- Eagles win
- Cowboys loss
- Eagles tie + Cowboys tie
Chicago Bears Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Bears clinch playoff berth with:
- Bears win + Lions loss or tie
- Bears tie + Lions loss
Green Bay Packers Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Packers clinch playoff berth with:
- Packers win + Lions loss or tie
- Packers tie + Lions loss
San Francisco 49ers Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
49ers clinch playoff berth with:
- 49ers win
- Lions loss
- 49ers tie + Lions tie
Seattle Seahawks Week 16 playoff clinching scenarios
Seahawks clinch playoff berth with:
- Seahawks win or tie
- Lions loss or tie