Week 16 is over, and the NFL playoff race is heating up. Surprising contenders and intriguing potential matchups are beginning to fill out the bracket, giving fans a taste of what this year’s path to Super Bowl 60 could look like.
With so much still to be decided, the NFL playoff picture is shifting weekly, but let’s take a peek at where things stand now. Here’s a look at the current NFL postseason bracket, plus a look at which teams are rising and falling in PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor.
Week 16 NFL Standings and Playoff Picture
AFC Playoff Picture
- Denver Broncos*, 12-3
2. New England Patriots*, 12-3
3. Jacksonville Jaguars, 11-4
4. Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-6
5. Los Angeles Chargers, 11-4
6. Buffalo Bills, 11-4
7. Houston Texans, 10-5
In the Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts, 8-7
9. Baltimore Ravens, 7-8
Eliminated
10. Kansas City Chiefs, 6-9
11. Miami Dolphins, 6-9
12. Cincinnati Bengals, 5-10
13. New York Jets, 3-12
14. Tennessee Titans, 3-12
15. Cleveland Browns, 3-12
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-13
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Seattle Seahawks*, 12-3
2. Chicago Bears*, 11-4
3. Philadelphia Eagles*, 10-5
4. Carolina Panthers, 8-7
5. San Francisco 49ers*, 11-4
6. Los Angeles Rams*, 11-4
7. Green Bay Packers, 9-5-1
In the Hunt
8. Detroit Lions, 8-7
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-8
Eliminated
9. Minnesota Vikings, 7-8
11. Dallas Cowboys, 6-8-1
12. Atlanta Falcons, 6-9
13. New Orleans Saints, 5-10
14. Washington Commanders, 4-11
15. Arizona Cardinals, 3-12
16. New York Giants, 2-13
NFL Teams on the Rise
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have proven to be a resilient bunch, and they have been impressive in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach. Late-game heroics by Caleb Williams helped Chicago pull out a 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. The victory extended the Bears’ lead over the Packers in the NFC North.
With the Lions’ loss to the Steelers, Chicago has officially clinched a playoff berth. According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Bears now have a 93.0% chance of winning the division.
Carolina Panthers
Who would’ve thought the Carolina Panthers would be sitting atop the NFC South heading into Week 17? That’s exactly where they are after knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. With the win, Carolina improves to 8-7, while Tampa Bay drops to 7-8. There’s just one game separating these teams, but it was a massive win for the Panthers.
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Heading into the week, Carolina had a 31.5% chance of making the playoffs and winning the NFC South. Now, those odds have jumped to 60.8%.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The race for the AFC North crown is extremely tight. The Steelers entered Week 16 with a one-game lead over the Ravens. Mike Tomlin’s squad improved to 9-6 with a dramatic victory over the Lions. That potentially puts the pressure on Baltimore to keep pace, with its final three games against New England, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh.
With the win over Detroit, the Steelers now have an 81.7% chance of winning the AFC North and making the playoffs. If the Patriots beat the Ravens, Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North next week by avoiding defeat. If Baltimore wins, the division will be decided in Week 18.
NFL Teams on the Decline
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are approaching the danger zone. After losing to Chicago, they have fallen to 9-5-1 on the season.
While that keeps them in the current NFC playoff picture, the Detroit Lions are on the heels of the 8-6 teams. Every game is a must-win for Green Bay the rest of the way. As it stands, the Packers have an 82.7% chance of making the playoffs, but their odds to win the NFC North have plummeted to 6.7%.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s been a back-and-forth fight between the Buccaneers and Panthers in the NFC South. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Sunday’s loss in Carolina was a gut punch.
Entering Week 16, the Bucs had a 68.5% chance of reaching the postseason and winning the division. With the loss, they now have just a 39.2% chance of getting into the dance. The two teams have a rematch in Week 18, which could end up having winner-takes-all stakes.
Detroit Lions
The Lions squandered a huge opportunity to keep pace in the NFC playoff picture, losing on their home field to the Steelers. The loss leaves Detroit at 8-7 and on the outside of the playoffs, looking in. Heading into the matchup, the Lions had a 21.7% chance of reaching the postseason and a 3.5% chance of winning the NFC North. The loss dropped those odds to 5% and 0%, respectively.
