Pats on course for first-round bye
Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks heading into Week 16.
AFC
1. y-New England Patriots (11-3): AFC East champion. Fresh off their huge (if controversial) win at Pittsburgh, it’s all about cementing the top seed. A win over the Bills on Sunday, combined with losses by the Steelers and Jaguars, will clinch home-field advantage for New England. The Patriots will head into the final weekend with at least a first-round bye if they beat Buffalo and either Pittsburgh or Jacksonville loses. 2. y-Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3): AFC North champion. Despite all of the adversity in the wake of their loss to New England, the Steelers can snatch a bye by beating the Texans on Christmas if the Jags first lose on Sunday. However, if Jacksonville wins and Pittsburgh doesn’t, the Steelers will drop to the No. 3 seed. 3. x-Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4): AFC South leader. They’ll be AFC South champions for the first time by beating the 49ers on Sunday, though that could also happen before kickoff if Tennessee loses. And the Jags remain viable for a bye (and even home-field advantage) if they keep winning and get help. 4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-6): AFC West leader. They’ve never won the AFC West in consecutive seasons. That will change with one more win or one more Chargers loss. 5. Tennessee Titans (8-6): Wild card No. 1. The only upside of their current two-game skid is that losses to NFC teams are the least penal in the tiebreaker hierarchy. The Titans can guarantee their first playoff trip since 2008 by beating the Rams and hoping both the Bills and Ravens falter. 6. Buffalo Bills (8-6): Wild card No. 2. Desperately chasing the franchise’s first postseason berth since 1999, the Bills must overcome the hurdle that is a trip to New England. A loss could be devastating. Baltimore’s Charmin-soft schedule is an impediment in the tiebreaker department. But the Ravens finish at home against the Colts and Bengals and are just waiting to take advantage of missteps by the Titans or Bills.
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-6), Los Angeles Chargers (7-7), Miami Dolphins (6-8), Oakland Raiders (6-8)
NFC
1. yz-Philadelphia Eagles (12-2): NFC East champion. Despite losing QB Carson Wentz, they’ve maintained the NFL’s best record. One more win or Minnesota loss will keep the Eagles at Lin- coln Financial Field through January.
2. y-Minnesota Vikings (11-3): NFC North champion. The dream is to become the first team to play a Super Bowl on its home field. The Vikings need a lot of help to get the No. 1 seed. Minnesota must win this weekend and hope Carolina loses to ensure a first-round bye.
3. Los Angeles Rams (10-4): NFC West leader. One more win (or loss by the Seahawks) will give the Rams their first NFC West championship since 2003. L.A. could also back into a playoff berth this weekend if the Lions, Panthers and Falcons all lose. 4. New Orleans Saints (10-4): NFC South leader. Beat the Falcons on Sunday, and the Saints are playoff bound.
Couple that with a Carolina loss, and New Orleans wins the highly competitive NFC South. But a loss means trouble in a tightly packed division. 5. Carolina Panthers (10-4): Wild card No. 1. They could still get a bye. They could still fall out of the field entirely. But top the spiraling Buccaneers on Sunday, and Carolina’s ensured of a playoff spot.
6. Atlanta Falcons (9-5): Wild card No. 2. As underwhelming as they’ve been, the Falcons have managed to win most of their key games, include defeats of all three 8-6 clubs chasing them for the final wild-card spot. But if Atlanta beats the Saints and Panthers to finish the season, it retains the NFC South title. Nearer term, the Dirty Birds will secure an opportunity to return to the Super Bowl this weekend with a win at New Orleans. In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-6), Detroit Lions (8-6), Dallas Cowboys (8-6) x-clinched playoff berth y-clinched division z-clinched first-round bye