We are about a week away from the NFL playoff picture being finalized. Until then, teams continue to jockey for seeding in the AFC and NFC standings. Heading into Week 16, five teams have clinched playoff berths leaving seven spots up for grabs.
One of the most interesting races is in the AFC West where the Chiefs and Chargers are fighting for the division. The division winner will likely secure a first-round bye while the second-place team will play on the road on Wild Card weekend.
The Saints and Rams are battling for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. New Orleans would love to use the Superdome to their advantage during the postseason. If the Saints secure the No. 1 seed, they have a chance to play all their playoff games (including the Super Bowl) indoors, which is a plus for the New Orleans offense.
The Patriots are in danger of playing on Wild Card weekend but have a chance to jump back up to be one of the top two seeds. New England will need some help from Houston who controls their own destiny for a first-round bye.
Seattle and Dallas will both look to clinch playoff berths after squandering their Week 15 opportunities. The Seahawks will be no higher than the No. 5 seed since they cannot win the NFC West. The Cowboys would be inside the top four if they can win the NFC East.
Here’s a look at the current NFL playoff standings in the AFC and NFC. We will update this as the early and late games go final. Teams listed in bold would make the playoffs if the postseason started today. Teams in italics have already clinched a playoff berth.
NFC Playoff Standings
| TEAM | W | L | T |
| 1. New Orleans Saints | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| 2. L.A. Rams | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| 3. Chicago Bears | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| 4. Dallas Cowboys | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 5. Seattle Seahawks | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 6. Minnesota Vikings | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 7. Philadelphia Eagles | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| 8. Washington Redskins | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 9. Atlanta Falcons | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| 10. Carolina Panthers | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| 11. Green Bay Packers | 6 | 8 | 1 |
| 11. Tampa Bay Bucs | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 12. New York Giants | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 13. Detroit Lions | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 15. San Francisco 49ers | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| 16. Arizona Cardinals | 4 | 11 | 0 |
NFC Playoff Matchups Based on Current Standings
No. 1 New Orleans Saints (Bye)
No. 2 Los Angeles Rams (Bye)
No. 6 Minnesota Vikings vs. No. 3 Chicago Bears
No. 5 Seattle Seahawks vs. No. 4 Dallas Cowboys
AFC Playoff Standings
| TEAM | W | L | T |
| 1. Kansas City Chiefs | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| 2. New England Patriots | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| 3. Houston Texans | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| 4. Baltimore Ravens | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 5. L.A. Chargers | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| 6. Indianapolis Colts | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 7. Tennessee Titans | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 8. Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 9. Cleveland Browns | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 10. Miami Dolphins | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| 11. Denver Broncos | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| 12. Cincinnati Bengals | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| 13. Buffalo Bills | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 14. Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 15. New York Jets | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| 16. Oakland Raiders | 3 | 11 | 0 |
AFC Playoff Matchups Based on Current Standings
No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (Bye)
No. 2 New England Patriots (Bye)
No. 6 Indianapolis Colts vs. No. 3 Houston Texans
No. 5 L.A. Chargers vs. No. 4 Baltimore Ravens
Who Is in the NFL Playoffs?
| TEAM | CLINCHED |
| L.A. Rams | NFC West (No lower than No. 4 Seed) |
| New Orleans Saints | NFC’s No. 1 Seed |
| Chicago Bears | NFC North (No lower than No. 4 Seed) |
| Dallas Cowboys | NFC East & NFC No. 4 Seed |
| New England Patriots | AFC East (No lower than No. 4 Seed) |
| L.A. Chargers | Playoff Spot |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Playoff Spot |
| Seattle Seahawks | NFC Wild Card Spot |
| Houston Texans | Playoff Spot |
Comments
NFL Playoff Picture 2019: Standings & Matchups Week 16