Week 16 NFL Playoff Clinching Scenarios: Dolphins, Chiefs, Lions, and Browns Could All Lock Up Postseason Berths This Week

In Week 16, there are six NFL teams who have a playoff-clinching scenario this week. Four of those teams can clinch postseason berths, while the other two are looking to lock up a division or a No. 1 seed after locking up a playoff spot last week.

Below are all of the Week 16 NFL playoff-clinching scenarios that are in play across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday this week.

Playoff Clinching Scenarios | Week 16 Update

Note that this article was originally published on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 12 p.m. before Saturday’s games began. The results of this week’s games are below and will continue to be updated throughout the day.

After their victory over the Vikings, the Lions have clinched the NFC North.
After their victory over the Cowboys, the Dolphins have clinched a playoff berth.

Saturday Games Update
Steelers (8-7) defeated Bengals (8-7)
Bills (9-6) defeated Chargers (5-10)

1 p.m. ET Games Update
Browns (10-5) defeated Texans (8-7)
Falcons (7-8) defeated Colts (8-7)
Seahawks (8-7) defeated Titans (5-10)
Lions (11-4) defeated Vikings (7-8)
Packers (7-8) defeated Panthers (2-13)

4 p.m. ET Games Update
Buccaneers (8-7) defeated Jaguars (8-7)
Bears (6-9) defeated Cardinals (3-12)
Dolphins (11-4) defeated Cowboys (10-5)

Sunday Night Football Update
Patriots (4-11) defeated Broncos (7-8)

Christmas Day Update
Raiders (7-8) defeated Chiefs (9-6)
Eagles (11-4) defeated Giants (5-10)
Ravens (12-3) defeated 49ers (11-4)

Keep reading below to see the playoff-clinching scenarios for the NFL entering Week 16. Any scenarios that remain active will be in bold font, while any scenarios that are no longer active will be in standard formatting.

And head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to test various scenarios and see how they change both the playoff picture and the current NFL playoff bracket.

All the NFL Playoff Clinching Scenarios for Week 16

Baltimore Ravens Playoff Clinching Scenarios

The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff berth last week but have two scenarios this week for locking up the AFC North division title:

1. Baltimore win + Cleveland Brown loss or tie OR
2. Baltimore tie + Cleveland loss

Cleveland Browns Playoff Clinching Scenarios

The Browns could join the Ravens in the playoff this week, but they need quite a lot of things to go their way. The following eight scenarios would see the Browns clinch a playoff berth this week:

1. Cleveland win + Cincinnati Bengals loss + Denver Broncos loss or tie + Buffalo Bills loss + Miami Dolphins win or tie + Indianapolis Colts loss or tie OR
2. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh Steelers loss or tie + Buffalo loss + Miami win or tie + Denver loss or tie OR
3. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Buffalo loss + Miami win or tie + Jacksonville Jaguars loss + Indianapolis win OR
4. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Denver loss or tie + Jacksonville loss + Indianapolis win OR
5. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Buffalo loss + Kansas City Chiefs win + Indianapolis win + Jacksonville loss OR
6. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Denver loss or tie + Miami win or tie + Indianapolis loss OR
7. Cleveland win + Pittsburgh loss or tie + Denver loss or tie + Miami win or tie + Jacksonville loss OR
8. Cleveland win + Cincinnati-Pittsburgh tie + Buffalo loss + Indianapolis win + Jacksonville loss

Kansas City Chiefs Playoff Clinching Scenarios

The Chiefs are in the somewhat strange spot of all-or-nothing this week. They can either clinch the division or nothing due to the various records and tiebreakers of the teams involved. The following two scenarios would see the AFC West title heading to Kansas City again this season:

1. Kansas City win OR
2. Kansas City tie + Denver loss

Miami Dolphins Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Editor’s Note: The Dolphins have clinched a playoff berth.

The Dolphins have a total of eight playoff-clinching scenarios this week. The first two scenarios will see them clinch the AFC East, while the other six will see them clinch a Wild Card playoff berth.

MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor

Miami clinches AFC East division title with:

1. Miami win + Buffalo loss or tie OR
2. Miami tie + Buffalo loss

Miami clinches a playoff berth in the following scenarios:

1. Miami win OR
2. Miami tie + Jacksonville loss OR
3. Miami tie + Indianapolis loss + Houston loss OR
4. Miami tie + Indianapolis loss or tie + Cleveland loss OR
5. Miami tie + Houston loss or tie + Cincinnati loss or tie OR
6. Miami tie + Cincinnati loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie

Much like the Dolphins, the Lions also have two sets of clinching scenarios, one for the division and one for a Wild Card berth. In total, there are just three scenarios for the Lions this week, and they are all fairly simple.

Detroit Lions Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Editor’s Note: The Lions have clinched the NFC North.

Detroit clinches the NFC North division title with:

1. Detroit win or tie

Detroit clinches playoff berth with:

1. Los Angeles Rams loss or tie OR
2. Seattle loss or tie

San Francisco 49ers Playoff Clinching Scenarios

The San Francisco 49ers already have a playoff spot, and the AFC West locked up. Now, they are looking to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a week to spare.

There is only one set of scenarios that would ensure the 49ers a Wild Card Weekend bye this week:

1. San Francisco win + Philadelphia loss + Dallas loss + Detroit loss

Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!