NFL playoff picture: Patriots, Bears, 49ers clinch postseason spots, Panthers take charge of NFC South

Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks through the conclusion of Sunday Night Football in Week 16. This week featured the Philadelphia Eagles clinching the NFC East for the second straight season, the elimination of the Dallas Cowboys from the postseason race, and the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks clinching playoff berths.

(* Clinched playoff spot)

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at Carolina Panthers, at San Francisco 49ers

NFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario: The Seahawks are in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage in the NFC. Two victories to close out the season — at Panthers and at 49ers — will give them the NFC West crown, a first-round bye and home-field throughout the conference playoffs.

Notable odds: Seattle has a 50% chance of holding onto the No. 1 seed and a 54% probability of winning the NFC West, according to The Athletic’s playoff predictor. That’s how big Thursday night’s victory was for Sam Darnold and company.

2. Chicago Bears (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at San Francisco 49ers, vs. Detroit Lions

Notable odds: The Bears have secured a playoff berth via the Lions’ loss to the Steelers Sunday. Chicago’s overtime win over the Packers also puts them in firm control of the NFC North, holding an 92% probability of winning the division. The Bears also have a 12% chance at the No. 1 overall seed, according to The Athletic.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)*: Remaining schedule — at Buffalo Bills, vs. Washington Commanders

Notable odds: The Eagles, back-to-back champs of the NFC East, have a less than 1% shot at clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7): Remaining schedule — vs. Seattle Seahawks, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notable odds: A big win over the Bucs moved Carolina into first place in the NFC South. The Panthers bumped up to 43% to win the division, according to The Athletic. They still have to play at Tampa Bay in the regular season finale.

5. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at Atlanta Falcons, vs. Arizona Cardinals

Playoff-clinching scenarios: The Rams are already in the postseason field, however they’ll need some help to secure the NFC West crown and the conference’s No. 1 seed. L.A. needs, per RamsWire, to:

Beat Falcons and Cardinals

Have Seahawks lose to Panthers and beat 49ers

Have 49ers beat Colts and Bears, and lose to Seahawks

Have Bears lose to 49ers and NOT tie Lions

Notable odds: The Rams’ odds of clinching the No. 1 seed fell from 53% to 20% after Thursday night’s thrilling defeat in Seattle, per The Athletic.

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)*: Remaining schedule — at Indianapolis Colts, vs. Chicago Bears, vs. Seattle Seahawks

Notable odds: The 49ers clinched a postseason position via the Lions’ loss Sunday. They also have 21% shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference.

NFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario: The Niners are still in play for the division crown and the top seed in the conference. If they win out to close the regular season, the big prize belong to San Francisco. Victories vs. the Colts on Monday and vs. the Bears in Week 17 would would set up a titanic regular-season finale against the Seahawks if Seattle wins its next game. In that scenario, the winner of the Week 18 finale would walk away with the No. 1 seed and division title.

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1): Remaining schedule — vs. Baltimore Ravens, at Minnesota Vikings

Notable odds: The Packers’ shot at the NFC North title dropped to 10%, according to The Athletic, after Saturday night’s overtime defeat in Chicago.

Still in the NFC picture

8. Detroit Lions (8-7): Remaining schedule — at Minnesota Vikings, at Chicago Bears

Notable odds: Playoff hopes are on life support at 6%, per The Athletic, after Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8): Remaining schedule — at Miami Dolphins, vs. Carolina Panthers

Notable odds: While the loss to the Panthers drops Tampa Bay out of playoff position for the time being, the Bucs still have a 58% shot at winning the NFC South, per The Athletic. That’s because they face Carolina one more time and will hold the tiebreaker if they win that game.

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at Kansas City Chiefs, vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Notable odds: The Broncos remain the favorite to secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed, at 43%, according to The Athletic, even after losing to the Jaguars. Denver is 76% to win the AFC West.

2. New England Patriots (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at New York Jets, vs. Miami Dolphins

Notable odds: The Patriots punched their playoff ticket by beating the Ravens on Sunday night. They are 82% likely to win the AFC East, per The Athletic, and they have a 37% shot at the No. 1 seed.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4): Remaining schedule — at Indianapolis Colts, vs. Tennessee Titans

Playoff-clinching scenarios:

Colts loss or tie vs. 49ers

Notable odds: The Jags are in firm control of the AFC South, with an 81% chance to win the division, per The Athletic. Sunday’s win over the Broncos also keeps Jacksonville in the running for the No. 1 seed at 11%.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6): Remaining schedule — at Cleveland Browns, vs. Baltimore Ravens

Notable odds: The Steelers are in firm control of the AFC North, with a 91% chance of winning the division, according to The Athletic.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4): Remaining schedule — vs. Houston Texas, at Denver Broncos

Playoff-clinching scenarios:

Colts loss or tie vs. 49ers

Notable odds: The Chargers suddenly control their own path to an AFC West title if they win out, including at the Broncos in the season finale. LA is also alive for the No. 1 seed at 3%, according to The Athletic.

6. Buffalo Bills (11-4): Remaining schedule — vs. Philadelphia Eagles, vs. New York Jets

Playoff-clinching scenarios:

Colts loss or tie vs. 49ers

Notable odds: While Buffalo’s chances at catching up to New England to win the division title are still slim (19% according to The Athletic), the Bills are a virtual lock to make the playoffs.

7. Houston Texans (10-5): Remaining schedule — at Los Angeles Chargers, vs. Indianapolis Colts

Notable odds: The Texans are a near lock to make the playoffs but have just a 21% chance of winning the AFC South, per The Athletic.

Still in the AFC picture

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6): Remaining schedule — vs. San Francisco 49ers, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, at Houston Texans

Notable odds: The Colts have just a 3% shot at the playoffs, according to the Athletic.

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8): Remaining schedule — at Green Bay Packers, at Pittsburgh Steelers

Notable odds: The Ravens’ playoff hopes took a big hit with Sunday night’s loss to the Patriots. They’re now at 10% to make the postseason, according to The Athletic.

Already eliminated

AFC

Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

NFC

New Orleans Saints (5-10)

Washington Commanders (4-10)

NFL playoff picture: Patriots, Bears, 49ers clinch postseason spots, Panthers take charge of NFC South

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