How the playoffs would line up if the NFL season ended today:
If the season ended after Week 15.
AFC
Top Seed with bye: Denver Broncos* (12-2)
First round matchups:
No. 2 New England Patriots (11-3) vs. No. 7 Houston Texans (9-5)
No. 3 Jacksonville (10-4) vs. No. 6 Buffalo Bills (10-4)
No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
NFC
Top Seed with bye: Los Angeles Rams* (11-3)
First round matchups:
No. 2 Chicago Bears (10-4) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)
No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) vs. No. 6 San Francisco (10-4)
No. 4 Tampa Bay (7-7) vs. Seattle (11-3)
∗Clinched playoff berth
What Patriots can clinch in Week 16:
New England can secure a playoff berth with:
- A win over Baltimore
- OR EITHER
- A Colts loss/tie OR a Texans loss or tie
Patriots can be eliminated from race for top seed if:
- Broncos win and Patriots lose
Week 16 Games
Thursday, Dec. 18
L.A. Rams at Seattle, 8:15 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 20
Philadelphia at Washington, 5 p.m.
Green Bay at Chicago, 8:20 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21
Buffalo at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Miami, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
L.A. Chargers at Dallas, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Jacksonville at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
Las Vegas at Houston, 4:25 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Detroit, 4:25 p.m.
New England at Baltimore, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 22
San Francisco at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m.
