Week 16 playoff implications guide: AFC wild-card race heating up
theScore breaks down the playoff ramifications of every meaningful matchup in Week 16, as well how results can impact the race for the No. 1 overall pick.
According to FiveThirtyEight, the Panthers and Browns have a less-than-one-percent chance of making the playoffs, so both will be considered eliminated from postseason contention along with the Falcons, Buccaneers, Giants, Lions, 49ers, Cardinals, Bengals, Bills, and Jaguars.
Redskins at Titans (Sat)What's at stake?: This is a do-or-die game for both teams, as a loss means their postseason hopes are done. A division title is highly unlikely for either the Titans and Redskins, so wild-card contenders in each conference will be keeping a close eye on this matchup. The Vikings, in particular, need a Redskins loss to clinch this week.
Rooting for Titans win: Eagles, Cowboys, Vikings
Rooting for Redskins win: Colts, Dolphins, Ravens, Steelers
What's at stake?: The 11-3 Chargers have already locked up at least a wild-card spot, but L.A. should have far grander ambitions with the AFC West and the conference's No. 1 seed still up for grabs. The 8-6 Ravens can still win their division or end up as a wild-card, but they can also essentially be kicked from the postseason completely if they lose one and the Colts and Steelers win out. Baltimore can actually be eliminated in Week 16 if Indy, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee win and they lose to the Chargers.
Rooting for Ravens win: Chiefs, Texans
Rooting for Chargers win: Colts, Steelers, Dolphins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat's at stake?: Minnesota sits at 7-6-1 and is on course to capture the final NFC playoff spot. However, with the Eagles and Redskins refusing to die, the Vikings need to beat the Lions and have both NFC East teams lose to clinch this week.
Rooting for Lions win: Eagles, Redskins
Buccaneers at CowboysWhat's at stake?: Dallas' five-game win streak was snapped by Indy, but the NFC East leaders are still in great position to win the division. A victory over the Bucs gives the Cowboys the division crown, while a loss opens the door for the Eagles and Redskins.
Rooting for Buccaneers win: Eagles, Redskins
Texans at EaglesWhat's at stake?: The defending champs are facing down the prospect of not evening getting a shot at retaining their title. The Eagles' best bet is as a wild-card, though a Dallas collapse would mean the NFC East title could still be within their grasp. A loss, coupled with several other results going against them, would eliminate the Eagles this week. For Houston, the AFC South is all but wrapped up, but it still needs to likely win out to keep New England from regaining a bye - the Jaguars in Week 17 shouldn't be too much of a challenge. The Texans are the biggest threat to the AFC-leading Chiefs and Chargers, so both will be hoping for a Philly upset.
Rooting for Texans win: Cowboys, Redskins, Vikings
Rooting for Eagles win: Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers
Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat's at stake?: The Colts have turned around their season like few teams before them, bouncing back from 1-5 to sit at 8-6 with two games to play. Indy needs to take care of its business against the lowly Giants and hope one of the Ravens and Steelers lose this week to set up a potential win-and-you're-in game against the Titans in Week 17.
Rooting for Giants win: Titans, Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins
Jaguars at DolphinsWhat's at stake?: The Jaguars have, of course, long been eliminated from contention, but the 7-7 Dolphins are holding on to small wild-card hopes - plus a near-impossible shot at winning the AFC East. Miami needs to win both its last games and pray for another miracle.
Rooting for Jaguars win: Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Colts, Patriots
Bills at PatriotsWhat's at stake?: New England usually rules December, but back-to-back losses mean it'll win fewer than 12 games for the first time since 2009. The AFC East isn't mathematically secure, but it might as well be. A first-round bye is far less certain. The 9-5 Patriots sit one game behind the Texans and need the AFC South team to slip up. A shock loss and a Houston win would have New England playing on wild-card weekend.
Rooting for Bills win: Texans, Ravens, Steelers, Dolphins
Rams at Cardinals
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat's at stake?: The Rams are the kings of the NFC West for a second straight year, but they still have home-field advantage to play for. The Saints sit a game ahead and the Bears a game behind, so Sean McVay and Co. could end up as the No. 1 seed or be playing on wild-card weekend as the No. 3 seed. L.A. controls its fate, but with Cam Newton out for Week 17 against New Orleans, the Rams need the Steelers to take down the NFC leaders. Also, the Cardinals can still lose the No. 1 overall pick to the Raiders if they win either of their remaining games and Oakland loses out.
Rooting for Cardinals win: Bears, Raiders, Saints
Bears at 49ersThe Rams and Bears sit in similar situations, with the division wrapped up, a lowly NFC West outfit on deck, and the bye still to play for. New Orleans almost certainly isn't losing twice, so the Bears need the Rams' struggles to continue. Notably, Chicago has the head-to-head tiebreaker over L.A.,
Rooting for 49ers win: Rams, Saints
Steelers at SaintsWhat's at stake?: The Saints are in the driver's seat for the NFC's top seed and need just one more win in the final two weeks to keep the Rams and Bears at bay. Meanwhile, the Steelers are still trying to secure their postseason place, either through the division - which they're favored to win - or as a wild-card. A Ravens loss is the most important outside factor, but the Steelers should also be keeping an eye on the other AFC wild-card contenders. If the Ravens, Colts, and Titans all win and the Steelers lose, Big Ben and Co.'s chances will plummet.
Rooting for Steelers win: Rams, Bears
Rooting for Saints win: Ravens, Colts, Titans, Dolphins
Peter G. Aiken / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat's at stake?: According to FiveThirtyEight, the Seahawks enter Week 16 with a 96 percent chance of playing in January. Even a loss to Kansas City and all other NFC wild-card hopefuls winning doesn't severely impact Seattle's chances. Pete Carroll's team needs a lot to go wrong to get bounced. The 11-3 Chiefs have neither secured the division crown or a first-round bye thanks to the 11-3 Chargers. KC has to match L.A.'s results while also making sure not to fall into the clutches of the Texans.
Rooting for Chiefs win: Vikings, Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins
Rooting for Seahawks win: Chargers, Texans
What's at stake?: The Broncos were eliminated by last week's loss and the Raiders feel like they've been done since the Khalil Mack trade. However, this game still has meaning due to the fight between Oakland and Arizona for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft - which the Cardinals are currently favored to secure.
Rooting for Raiders win: Cardinals
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