With the NFL post-season race heating up, we break down the slate of games in the AFC. Which of Week 16’s matchups will affect the playoff picture?
If the season ended today…
1) Denver Broncos (11-3)
2) New England Patriots (10-4)
3) Cincinnati Bengals (9-5)
4) Indianapolis Colts (9-5)
5) Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
6) Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
Who has clinched:
Denver: The Broncos clinched a playoff berth with their victory over the Titans in Week 14.
Indianapolis: The Colts locked up the AFC South division title with Tennessee’s loss to the Broncos.
Kansas City: The Chiefs booked a ticket to the tournament with their emphatic win over the Raiders in Week 15.
Who can clinch in Week 16?
Denver: The Broncos can clinch the AFC west division title and a first-round bye with a win over the Texans combined with a Chiefs’ loss. If that plays out, Denver can wrap up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if the Patriots are defeated in Baltimore.
New England: The Patriots will lock up the AFC East title for the fifth straight season with a win over the Ravens or if the Dolphins fall to the Bills in Orchard Park. If the Bengals and Colts both lose in addition to a New England victory, the Pats clinch a first-round bye. If New England loses? They can still lock up a post-season berth with a Bengals loss.
Cincinnati: The Bengals can don the AFC North crown on Sunday with a victory against the Vikings and a Ravens loss. If Baltimore is victorious over the Patriots, Cincinnati can still clinch a playoff spot with a win and a Dolphins loss.
Baltimore: The Ravens can lock down the sixth seed in the AFC with a big home win over Tom Brady and the Pats combined with losses from both the Dolphins and the Chargers.
Miami: The Dolphins can jump into the sixth seed and clinch a berth with a win and losses from both Baltimore and Cincinnati.
Week 16’s AFC game to watch
Patriots at Ravens:
A rematch of last season’s AFC Championship, the clash between Baltimore and New England has massive implications for both teams and the rest of the conference.
The Ravens haven’t lost since a Week 11 overtime defeat at the hands of the Chicago Bears and control their own playoff destiny heading into the final two weeks of the season. A win over Tom Brady’s crew would bring Baltimore within a win of the post-season and could launch the Ravens into the No. 2 seed should they go on to beat the Bengals in Week 17.
Coming off a stinging loss to division rival Miami, the Patriots can lock up the AFC East title with a win and can even clinch a first-round bye with the right combination of results. The Patriots have lost their last two games against the Ravens and another setback for this unpredictable team would be devastating for New England’s home-field aspirations.
The rest of the relevant Week 16 games
Colts at Chiefs:
If the season were to end today, this would be one of the four wild card matchups (except the Colts would be the home team). This potential post-season preview will provide a good look at where each of these teams stand heading into January. The Chiefs have been rolling over the last two weeks, scoring 101 total points, while the Colts have struggled to prove they’re a legitimate contender.
Dolphins at Bills:
The red-hot Dolphins’ playoff hopes hang in the balance when Miami heads north to take on the Bills. A win in a tough environment will keep the Dolphins alive heading into the final game of the season but a loss, coupled with a Ravens’ victory, would be the final nail in Miami’s coffin.
Vikings at Bengals:
With Baltimore hot on the Bengals’ tail in the AFC North, Cincinnati needs to rebound from the debacle in Pittsburgh last Sunday or they could find themselves in second place in their division, as the Ravens currently hold the tiebreaker over the Bengals. It helps that Cincinnati is hosting the Vikings this weekend—Andy Dalton and company are 6-0 at home this season.
Broncos at Texans:
Denver had a shot to lock up the AFC West and a first-round bye last week but they were completely outplayed by the Chargers. Now the Broncos face continued pressure from all sides as the streaking Chiefs have a shot at the division title while the Patriots hold the tiebreaker over Denver should the Broncos drop another game. A loss, though unlikely, would be devastating for Denver.
Raiders at Chargers:
At 7-7, the Chargers sit behind both the Ravens and the Dolphins in the lineup for the sixth seed in the AFC. San Diego has to win its final two games and need both Miami and Baltimore to lose out to get into the post-season.
Steelers at Packers:
This game has bigger implications for the NFC playoff picture than the AFC, but the Steelers haven’t yet been mathematically eliminated. A loss at Lambeau, however, would end Pittsburgh’s season.
