NFL Week 16 playoff scenarios: Bills can clinch AFC East, Eagles can claim NFC one seed

The NFL regular season is moving to Week 16 and more of the playoff picture is coming into focus.

By Kevin Nogle@KevinNogle Dec 20, 2022, 2:37pm EST

The 2022 NFL season is down to just three weeks remaining in the regular season. Teams are beginning to clinch their respective divisions, claim their spot in the postseason tournament, or find themselves eliminated from the playoffs. As we move into Week 16, more and more clinching scenarios are starting to come into play.

What teams can clinch this weekend? We take a look at all of the clinching scenarios for this upcoming week. Heading into the Week 16 scheduled, the AFC playoff picture is currently:

1 - Buffalo Bills (11-3, AFC East leader)^
2 - Kansas City Chiefs (11-3, AFC West champion)+
3 - Cincinnati Bengals (10-4, AFC North leader)
4 - Tennessee Titans (7-7, AFC South leader)
5 - Baltimore Ravens (9-5, Wild Card 1)
6 - Los Angeles Chargers (8-6, Wild Card 2)
7 - Miami Dolphins (8-6, Wild Card 3)

^Clinched playoff berth
+Clinched division title

Over in the NFC, the current standings are:

1 - Philadelphia Eagles (13-1, NFC East leader)^
2 - Minnesota Vikings (11-3, NFC North champion)+
3 - San Francisco 49ers (10-4, NFC West champion)+
4 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8, NFC South leader)
5 - Dallas Cowboys (10-4, Wild Card 1)^
6 - New York Giants (8-5-1, Wild Card 2)
7 - Washington Commanders (7-6-1, Wild Card 3)

^Clinched playoff berth
+Clinched division title

AFC Clinching Scenarios:

Baltimore Ravens:
Clinch playoff berth with:

Ravens win and Dolphins loss/tie and Patriots loss/tie OR
Ravens win and Dolphins loss/tie and Jets loss/tie OR
Ravens win and Patriots loss/tie and Jets loss/tie OR
Ravens tie and Patriots loss and Jets loss OR
Ravens tie and Patriots loss and Dolphins loss and Chargers win OR
Ravens tie and Patriots loss and Dolphins loss and Jets tie OR
Ravens tie and Patriots loss and Jets tie and Chargers win OR
Ravens tie and Patriots tie and Jets loss and Dolphins loss OR
Ravens tie and Patriots tie and Jets tie and Dolphins loss and Chargers win OR
Patriots loss and Jets loss and Browns loss/tie and Raiders loss/tie and Titans loss/tie and Chargers win

Buffalo Bills
Clinch AFC East division title with:

Bills win OR
Dolphins loss/tie

Cincinnati Bengals
Clinch playoff berth with:

Bengals win/tie OR
Jets loss/tie

Los Angeles Chargers
Clinch playoff berth with:

Chargers win and Raiders loss/tie and Patriots loss and Jets loss OR
Chargers win and Raiders loss/tie and Patriots loss and Jets tie and Dolphins loss OR
Chargers win and Radiers loss/tie and Patriots tie and Jets loss and Dolphins loss

NFC Clinching Scenarios:

New York Giants
Clinch playoff berth with:

Giants win and Commanders loss and Lions loss OR
Giants win and Commanders loss and Seahawks loss OR
Giants win and Lions loss and Seahawks loss

Philadelphia Eagles
Clinch NFC East division title with:

Eagles win/tie

Clinch homefield advantage and playoff bye with:

Eagles win OR
Eagles tie and Vikings loss/tie

AFC Elimination Scenarios:

Previously eliminated:
Denver Broncos
Houston Texans

Cleveland Browns
Eliminated with:

Browns loss OR
Browns tie and Chargers win/tie and Dolphins win/tie OR
Browns tie and Chargers win/tie and Jets win/tie OR
Browns tie and Chargers win/tie and Patriots win/tie OR
Ravens win/tie and Chargers win and Dolphins win

Indianapolis Colts
Eliminated with:

Colts loss/tie OR
Jaguars win/tie OR
Titans win/tie

Las Vegas Raiders
Eliminated with:

Raiders loss and Chargers win/tie and Dolphins win/tie OR
Raiders loss and Chargers win/tie and Jets win/tie OR
Raiders loss and Chargers win/tie and Patriots win/tie OR
Raiders tie and Chargers win and Dolphins win OR
Raiders tie and Chargers win and Patriots win and Dolphins tie

New York Jets
Eliminated with:

Jets loss and Chargers win and Patriots win and Dolphins win and Ravens win/tie OR
Jets loss and Chargers win and Patriots win and Dolphins win and Browns win/tie

Pittsburgh Steelers
Eliminated with: