Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks following the Week 16 games on Christmas Eve (Saturday):
AFC
y – 1. Buffalo Bills (12-3), AFC East champions: Overcame rough start and tougher kicking conditions and claimed third straight AFC East crown. Next week’s matchup against Cincinnati will be electric, with home-field advantage at stake. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Patriots
y – 2. Kansas City Chiefs (12-3), AFC West champions: Took care of business against the Seahawks. Two AFC West foes to wrap up the season and stay in play for the No. 1 seed, but earlier losses to Buffalo and Cincinnati are costly. Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Raiders
x – 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), AFC North leaders: Joe Burrow balled out again, this time against Bill Belichick’s Patriots defense. Again – next week against Buffalo is key, and so is the week after against Baltimore. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8), AFC South leaders: Currently hold AFC South lead after Titans lost to Texans. Week 18 matchup will be pivotal. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Titans
x – 5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5), wild card No. 1: Backup Tyler Huntley won again thanks to a Greg Roman rushing attack and stout defense, keeping the Ravens in contention for the AFC North title. They have a wild card spot thanks to the victory and losses by Jets and Patriots. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Bengals
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6), wild card No. 2: Play Monday night on the road against the Colts and can clinch a playoff berth with a victory. Hold head-to-head advantage over Miami. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Broncos
7. Miami Dolphins (8-7), wild card No. 3: A disastrous second half in Green Bay has put them in a more precarious position heading to Foxboro, but they also control their own destiny in the final two weeks. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Jets
8. New England Patriots (7-8), out of playoff field: Looked shell-shocked after…
..
