NFL Playoff picture 2016: Pre-Week 16 Saturday games

The NFL will play the majority of their Week 16 slate of games on Saturday, with a lot of playoff implications on the line in the penultimate weekend of the regular season. There are numerous teams who can lock up a playoff berth this weekend, as well as teams who can lock themselves into a specific playoff seed. Before we get to the games and start trying to track who has earned what, it is time to reset the current playoff picture heading into the Saturday games.

Thursday night featured an NFC East contest with the New York Giants visiting the Philadelphia Eagles. New York went into the game with a win clinching a playoff berth for themselves, but missed out when the Eagles came away with the 24-19 victory. The Giants are still in a position to claim the Wildcard position if the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or Atlanta Falcons lose this weekend, but they could have had it all sewed up on their own.

Below you will find the current playoff pictures for both the AFC and NFC. You can check out the clinching scenarios for the weekend by clicking on the “related” link below as well.

AFC Playoff Picture (through Week 16 Thursday Night Football)

1. New England Patriots (12-2) - AFC East champions; Home-field advantage clinched

2. Oakland Raiders (11-3) - AFC West leader; Playoff berth clinched

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) - AFC North leader

4. Houston Texans (8-6) - AFC South leader

5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) - Wildcard 1

6. Miami Dolphins (9-5) - Wildcard 2

In the hunt:

Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
Tennessee Titans (8-6)
Denver Broncos (8-6)
Indianapolis Colts (7-7)
Buffalo Bills (7-7)

Eliminated:

Cincinnati Bengals (5-8-1)
San Diego Chargers (5-8)
New York Jets (4-9)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)
Cleveland Browns (0-14)

NFC Playoff Picture (through Week 16 Thursday Night Football)

1. Dallas Cowboys (12-2) - NFC East champions; Home-field advantage clinched

2. Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1) - NFC West champions

3. Atlanta Falcons (9-5) - NFC South leaders

4. Detroit Lions (9-5) - NFC North leaders

5. New York Giants (10-5)* - Wildcard 1

6. Green Back Packers (8-6) - Wildcard 2

In the hunt:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
Washington Redskins (7-6-1)
Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
New Orleans Saints (6-8)
Carolina Panthers (6-8)

Eliminated:

Arizona Cardinals (5-8-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (6-9)*
Los Angeles Rams (4-10)
Chicago Bears (3-11)
San Francisco 49ers (1-13)

* Teams completed Week 16 schedule on Thursday Night Football