NFL playoff picture after Week 16: Ravens close in on AFC’s top seed; NFC up for grabs

The Baltimore Ravens scored their most spectacular victory of the season Monday night time, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 33-19. Along with making them seem like worthy Super Bowl contenders, the victory places them in a unbelievable place in the AFC. At 12-3, they’re a recreation forward of Miami and have an opportunity to clinch the top spot subsequent week in a recreation towards these very Dolphins.

Meanwhile, the 49ers’ loss sends them to 11-4 and a three-way tie atop the NFC with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. The 49ers personal the tiebreaker over each, however with two video games to go, there’s nonetheless time for the Eagles or Lions to make a transfer.

As for the remainder of the NFL, Week 16 noticed loads of motion in the playoff picture. Let’s check out the place issues stand as we enter Week 17.

Listed odds to make the playoffs, safe the No. 1 seed and win the Super Bowl are all through The Athletic’s NFL betting mannequin, created by Austin Mock.

x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens delivered a message in San Francisco, not simply on the scoreboard with their blowout of the 49ers however with the best way they initiated the physicality all through the night time. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald may need labored his approach onto some quick lists for groups with head teaching vacancies.

Remaining schedule: vs. Miami Dolphins, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 69.5 % | To win Super Bowl: 17.2 %

The Ravens’ protection vs. the 49ers on Christmas:

◻️ 5 INT
◻️ 9 QB hits
◻️ 4 sackshttps://t.co/Hh2mfOm6AZ pic.twitter.com/XF8vaN0tuT

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 26, 2023

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins simply earned their first marquee victory of the season Sunday towards the Cowboys, they usually obtained it with a clutch, game-winning drive simply earlier than the buzzer. That’s enormous, not simply for a crew angling for seeding however because the Dolphins work to construct confidence earlier than the playoffs. Now they’re in a place to snatch the No. 1 seed if they will win Sunday in Baltimore.

Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Buffalo Bills

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 28.9 % | To win Super Bowl: 13.2 %

DOLPHINS CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH ON A WALK-OFF FIELD GOAL!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/ynIkpoMfGt

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 25, 2023

The Chiefs have misplaced 5 of eight, they usually’re 2-3 this season towards groups that at present have profitable data. While it might really feel reckless to jot down off quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ resume isn’t consultant of a crew that’s able to win 4 consecutive playoff video games.

Remaining schedule: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, at Los Angeles Chargers

Odds: To make playoffs: 98.1 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 9.1 %

The Jags are reeling with 4 consecutive losses, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s accidents are mounting by the week. Their offensive points over the previous two weeks will be defined by accidents and Lawrence’s scarcity of apply time, however the protection can be leaking by surrendering 29.5 factors per recreation through the skid. Then once more, the Bucs scored three touchdowns off turnovers, so it’s develop into a widespread meltdown.

Remaining schedule: vs. Carolina Panthers, at Tennessee Titans

Odds: To make playoffs: 65.9 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 1.2 %

GO DEEPER

NFL Week 16 takeaways: Browns, Joe Flacco do it once more; time to contemplate Lions contenders?

Quarterback Joe Flacco, who was sitting on his sofa watching soccer 5 Sundays in the past, has three consecutive 300-yard video games for the primary time in his profession. He hasn’t had a trio of 300-yard video games all through a complete season since 2016. Just a exceptional run.

Remaining schedule: vs. New York Jets, at Bengals

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 1.6 % | To win Super Bowl: 2.9 %

telling my children that is Santa Claus pic.twitter.com/eTloAPK2EK

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2023

Buffalo Bills

The Bills began their three-game profitable streak in Kansas City, they usually’re shaping up to be as harmful as any crew in the AFC. There’s additionally a chance we see the subsequent chapter of the Bills-Chiefs mini-rivalry in the wild-card spherical.

Remaining schedule: at New England Patriots, at Dolphins

Odds: To make playoffs: 90.3 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 4.7 %

QB keeper!

📺: @peacock#ProBowlVote | @JoshAllenQB pic.twitter.com/uy9yYWjbiJ

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2023

The Colts laid an egg with a 29-10 loss in Atlanta, and now they’re in a four-way tie with the Texans, Steelers and Bengals. The Colts will virtually definitely should win out and hope the tiebreakers work in their favor to succeed in the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.

Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Houston Texans

Odds: To make playoffs: 66.4 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 0.9 %

In the hunt

• Houston Texans (8-7)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
• Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
• Denver Broncos (7-8)
• Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)

Eliminated

• New York Jets (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (5-10)
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
• New England Patriots (4-11)

x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback Brock Purdy’s 4 interceptions will dominate the highlight in the wake of the 49ers’ one-sided defeat to the Ravens, however don’t ignore one other key side. After falling behind 23-12 with 12:07 remaining in the third quarter, Purdy was simply 8-of-14 passing for 107 yards and one interception over 4 scoreless possessions earlier than leaving with an harm. The 49ers’ concern has been their incapability to erase late deficits, they usually didn’t make a lot of a dent after they fell behind Monday night time.

Remaining schedule: at Washington Commanders, vs. Los Angeles Rams

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 74.3 % | To win Super Bowl: 25.5 %

Philadelphia Eagles

It’s well-established by now little or no will come simple for the Eagles, who haven’t received a recreation by greater than 8 factors since Week 7. While their remaining two regular-season tilts are towards non-playoff foes, they are going to be private towards former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and the Arizona Cardinals earlier than a rematch with the Giants. The high quality of the opponent received’t be elite, however they’ll be powerful video games that may function good playoff tuneups.

Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, at Giants

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 22.4 % | To win Super Bowl: 7.8 %

GO DEEPER

Eagles maintain off Giants to snap skid as DeVito benched

Detroit Lions

The Lions have lastly received the NFC North and can host a playoff recreation for the primary time in 30 years. They’ll even be looking out for their first postseason victory in 32 years — and simply their second in the Super Bowl period. And in a sadistically becoming approach, they could should undergo fan favourite Matthew Stafford to get it carried out.

Remaining schedule: at Dallas Cowboys, vs. Minnesota Vikings

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 2.9 % | To win Super Bowl: 5.2 %

What was as soon as an aspiration is now a actuality in Detroit.

This Lions crew is aware of find out how to win. It is aware of find out how to close video games. It is aware of higher than to go away issues to likelihood, writes @colton_pouncy.

And it doesn’t cease right here.

🔗: https://t.co/yXLvQCEtl4 pic.twitter.com/p5dDdcb35l

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 25, 2023

The Bucs have received 4 in a row however hadn’t essentially crushed a high quality opponent till delivering an announcement with a blowout towards the Jaguars. There received’t be excessive expectations for the Buccaneers — or whoever wins the NFC South — towards the NFC East runner-up, however a playoff berth in a rebuilding yr after a 4-7 begin must be considered as an enormous success in Tampa.

Remaining schedule: vs. New Orleans Saints, at Panthers

Odds: To make playoffs: 89.1 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 1.7 %

Baker and the Bucs have received 4 consecutive video games.

The NFC South standings:

◻️ Tampa Bay Bucs (8-7)
◻️ Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
◻️ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
e — Carolina Panthers (2-13) pic.twitter.com/TLyT0EalC4

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 25, 2023

Dallas Cowboys

With the loss Sunday in Miami, the Cowboys fell to 2-2 this season in one-possession video games, they usually’ve solely received a single time (Week 13 towards the Seahawks) after they’ve trailed after the primary quarter. Their lack of success in tightly contested video games will once more be a priority in the playoffs.

Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Commanders

Odds: To make playoffs: one hundred pc | To earn bye: 0.5 % | To win Super Bowl: 7.8 %

GO DEEPER

Cowboys insist confidence is excessive after second consecutive loss — each on the street

Los Angeles Rams

There was little motive to imagine the Rams could be in this place after they had been 3-6, however they’ve received 5 of six since their bye week and have a shot to play the position of spoilers if they will proceed this march into the playoffs.

Remaining schedule: at Giants, at 49ers

Odds: To make playoffs: 68.2 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 1.1 %

GO DEEPER

Puka Nacua reveals why he is in Offensive ROY dialog in prime time as Rams hold rolling

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks don’t rack up many fashion factors, however they’ve confirmed their capability to win close video games, together with game-winning drives from quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock in the final two outings. If they will get more healthy for the playoffs, this bodily crew that simply endured a stretch of powerful opponents goes to be an unenviable opponent.

Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals

Odds: To make playoffs: 70 % | To earn bye: 0 % | To win Super Bowl: 0.9 %

In the hunt

• Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
• Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
• Green Bay Packers (7-8)
• New Orleans Saints (7-8)
• Chicago Bears (6-9)

Eliminated

• New York Giants (5-10)
• Washington Commanders (4-11)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)

(Top photograph of Lamar Jackson:  Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

“The Football 100,” the definitive rating of the NFL’s greatest 100 gamers of all time, is on sale now. Order it right here.