This is what the picture of the NFL playoffs looks like with Week 16Action completed:
AFC
and – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-4), AFC West champions: How it started? Three wins in his first seven games. How’s it going? Winners of eight in a row, the best running streak in the league and the first team in the conference to secure a playoff spot. Bolts’ surprising loss in Houston donation KC division crown for sixth consecutive season. The Chiefs are controlling the path to home advantage for the third time in four seasons, but they must keep the Titans in check. Remaining hours: In Bengals, in Broncos
2. Tennessee Titans (10-5), leaders of the AFC South: Beat the Niners It brought them one step closer to replay as division champions. The Kansas City blowout in week 7 gives the Titans a chance to reclaim the number one spot in the coming weeks. Remaining hours: vs Dolphins, in Texans
3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-6), leaders of the AFC North: After ending the sweep of the Ravens in spectacular fashion, are now one win away from securing the division crown for the first time since 2015. Cincy’s 7-3 record in conference games keeps them ahead of Buffalo. Remaining hours: vs. Chiefs, in Browns
4. Buffalo Bills (9-6), leaders of the AFC East: If they win, a probability given their schedule, especially in light of Sunday’s win in New England – Invoices will keep the division crown. Remaining hours: against hawks, against jets
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5. Indianapolis Colts (9-6), No. 1 wild card: Winners of nine of their last 12, they must finish with a better record than the Titans, who swept Indianapolis, to snatch the AFC South. But Christmas night victory in Arizona makes the Colts a good bet to move forward. Remaining hours: against Raiders, in Jaguars
6. New England Patriots (9-6), No. 2 wild card: Just a few weeks ago, they were at the top of the conference. But after giving up first place in the AFC East, they must stop bleeding. Remaining hours: vs Jaguars, in Dolphins
7. Miami Dolphins (8-7), wild card No. 3: The unlikely rise continues, their seven-game winning streak moving them above .500 for the first time since Week 1, and they move up four spots on the AFC field. courtesy of victory monday. Fins’ 5-5 record against AFC teams helps, and they have common playoff games over the Chargers. Remaining hours: on Titans, against Patriots
8. Baltimore Ravens (8-7), out of the playoff field: Miami’s win on Monday knocked them off the projected playoff field, probably a deserved fate given the Ravens’ four-game slide down the AFC mountain. Remaining hours: Against Rams, Against Steelers
9. Los Angeles Chargers (8-7), out of the playoff field: They were hit hard by COVID-19 last week, but that’s no excuse for losing to the Texans. A loss as damaging as any team has suffered this season as the Bolts lose control at a wild card spot. Remaining hours: vs. Broncos, in Raiders
10. Las Vegas Raiders (8-7), out of the playoff field: Sunday’s win over the Broncos was huge, but Vegas needs to keep its hand warm against a hotter Indy team in Week 17 and save a division with Bolts in Week 18. Remaining hours: in Colts, vs. Chargers
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7-1), out of the playoff field: They seemed lifeless in Kansas City. But the opportunity remains with Cleveland and Baltimore equally comatose ahead. Remaining hours: vs. Browns, in Ravens
12. Cleveland Browns (7-8), out of the playoff field: Only saving grace following Saturday’s loss in Green Bay is that their last two games are against rivals from the AFC North. Remaining schedule: on Steelers, vs. Bengals
13. Denver Broncos (7-8), out of the playoff field: Playoffs, time and quality of opponents who worked hard against him after crippling losses to Cincinnati and Las Vegas. Remaining hours: at Chargers, against Chiefs
NFC
and – 1. Green Bay Packers (12-3), NFC North champions: They have the best record in the league and remain on track to secure the No. 1 seed for the second year in a row after Christmas victory over Cleveland. It is possible for Pack to complete home-field advantage and first-round halftime in Week 17. Remaining hours: vs. Vikings, in Lions
and – 2. Dallas Cowboys (11-4), NFC East champions: They closed a playoff spot Thursday courtesy of The loss of San Francisco Y finished the division before hitting the field on Sunday night thanks to the force of the tiebreaker victory that removed Philadelphia from the equation. Dallas – 5-0 against competition from the NFC East – still has time to reel in the No. 1 spot. Remaining hours: vs. Cardinals, in Eagles
x – 3. Los Angeles Rams (11-4), leaders of the NFC West:Sunday win at Minnesota Y Arizona’s Christmas night loss to the Colts it puts Los Angeles at the top of the division, and it also allowed the Rams to close out their playoff spot. Week 3’s win over the Bucs is shaping up to be a major tiebreaker. Remaining hours: at Ravens, against 49ers
and – 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4), NFC South champions:Division champions for the first time since 2007 and still in the mix for the No. 1 seed, especially given the Bucs’ likelihood of reaching 13 wins considering their remaining opponents from the regular season. Remaining hours: in Jets, vs. Panthers
x – 5. Arizona Cardinals (10-5), No. 1 wild card: Other Second-half collapse under Kliff Kingsbury appears to be underway, Cards having lost three in a row and five of eight. Ironically, the Rams, the same team that displaced Arizona to the top of the NFC West, put the Cardinals on the playoff field Sunday by beating Minnesota. Remaining hours: at Cowboys, against Seahawks
6. San Francisco 49ers (8-7), wild card No. 2: I missed quite a few opportunities during Thursday’s loss at Nashville. They have some room for error, courtesy of a 6-5 conference record that includes wins over the Vikings and Eagles, but they may have to move on with rookie quarterback Trey Lance. Remaining hours: vs. Texans, at Rams
7. Philadelphia Eagles (8-7), wild card No. 3: The season-ending charge continues as they won for the fifth time in their last six games on Sunday by smoking the new york giants. The loss of the Saints in Week 11 could prove to be a fundamental tiebreaker. Remaining hours: in Washington, against Cowboys
8. Minnesota Vikings (7-8), out of the playoff field: Debilitating loss to Rams on Sunday he cleared Vikes from the wild-card position. Completing the seasonal sweep of Green Bay at Lambeau Field is a great question. The top record in conference games (5-5) beats Atlanta. Remaining hours: in Packers, against Bears
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-8), out of the playoff field: Still hanging around after escape the lions on sunday. But the 4-7 conference record and upcoming schedule are factors working against ATL, even though they have a win over the Saints in hand. Remaining hours: in Bills, vs Saints
10. New Orleans Saints (7-8), out of the playoff field: The exhausted COVID team looked lost on Monday and lost two places in the conference standings. Remaining hours: against Panthers, in Falcons
x – secured berth
and – assured division
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism