Eagles lose to Commanders, Cowboys out

Each week during the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates on the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting after late games on Sunday afternoon and continuing through the remainder of the week (through Monday and Thursday). games or Saturdays, if applicable).

What just happened? What does it mean? What relevant factors (and perhaps the deciding factors) will play a prominent role as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to emerge? Everything will be explained and analyzed until the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, January 5th.

Here’s where things stand in Week 16 of the 2024 season:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (13-2), NFC North leaders: They began Week 16 in a three-way tie at the top of the conference and sat atop the standings after the Vikings’ win last Monday night. But after Philadelphia’s victory in Chicago and Philadelphia’s defeat in Washington, things are currently looking up again. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Vikings

NFL STATISTICS CENTER: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2), NFC East leaders: Tough Sunday. They snapped their 10-game winning streak, a chance to finish the division, and fell one game behind Detroit in the race for home-field advantage. Remaining schedule: against Cowboys, against Giants

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6), NFC South leaders: They embarrassed the Chargers in Week 15, meaning that – regardless of Atlanta’s triumph on Monday night – the Bucs remain atop the division. Seattle’s loss moved them up one spot, with Tampa Bay having a better record (6-3) in conference play than the Rams (5-5). Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

4. Los Angeles Rams (9-6), NFC West leaders: Win – they beat the Jets on Sunday, which also helped knock out the Cardinals – and they’re division champions. LA passed the Seahawks in Week 15 with their Week 9 win at Seattle. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2), Wild Card No. 1: Thanks to Seattle’s loss, they secured a spot in Week 15. Monday’s win over Chicago means the Vikes control their own destiny in the NFC North – win, and the division is theirs… and maybe the No. 1 seed, too -Seeds. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4), Wild Card No. 2: Being overwhelmed by Detroit and already losing once to Minnesota basically demotes the Pack to wild card status. Win against New Orleans this Monday and they’ll clinch a spot in the postseason. Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (10-5), No. 3 seed: Sunday’s win against the Eagles didn’t quite clinch a spot in the postseason – but it did keep them alive in the NFC East, eliminating both the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers from the playoffs. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6), in the hunt: Their loss to Green Bay in Week 15 left them not only out of the NFC West lead, but out of the projected field entirely. But like the Rams, a win would ultimately move Seattle to the top of the division. Remaining schedule: against Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-7), in the hunt: Rookie quarterback Michael Penix won his debut against the struggling Giants on Sunday. Catch the Bucs, swept by the Dirty Birds, and they’re back atop the NFC South. Remaining schedule: at Commanders vs. Panthers

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

AFC playoff image

Year – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1), AFC West Champions: QB Patrick Mahomes survived Saturday’s win over Houston, meaning KC will get the No. 1 pick if Buffalo loses on Sunday. Another Chiefs win also guarantees that the AFC’s path to the Super Bowl goes through Arrowhead, even if the Bills don’t cooperate. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Broncos

J – 2. Buffalo Bills (11-3), AFC East champions: Their Week 15 win in Detroit likely has more of an impact on their collective psyche than their playoff positioning. Pittsburgh’s recent losses make the Bills’ second place in the conference more comfortable…as does a very inviting final stretch. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

x – 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5), AFC North leaders: Rough Saturday. First, Kansas City’s win dropped them out of the race for the No. 1 seed. Then Pittsburgh missed the opportunity to win the division. It looks like they’re in a dogfight the rest of the way with Baltimore, which appears to have the more favorable schedule to complete the regular season. The Steelers retain first place in the division – for now – as they hold a one-game lead over the Ravens in AFC play, so not much at all. Remaining schedule: against Chiefs, against Bengals

J – 4. Houston Texans (9-6), AFC South champions: They’re dominating a weak division for the second year in a row, but they’re sitting almost in fourth place… which would mean a tough wild card matchup, most likely against an AFC North team. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Titans

x – 5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5), Wild Card No. 1: What a Christmas present. They secured their spot in the postseason, avoided the Pittsburgh AFC North title, are now well on their way to winning the division themselves… and may have regained the Super Bowl form they had at the start of the season have shown. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Browns

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6), Wild Card No. 2: By defeating the Broncos for the first time in 14 years, they prevented Denver from securing victory on Thursday, while also overtaking their division rivals and securing the season tiebreaker (by virtue of the win). Another win secures the field for Bolts. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-6), wild card No. 3: They had a win-and-in scenario Thursday to clinch their first postseason trip since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. Now they can no longer compete this weekend, but another win would give the Broncos a place in the playoffs. But if they lose to Cincinnati in Week 17, they’re in for big trouble. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8), in the hunt: Still technically alive after beating the Titans on Sunday… and ahead of Cincy based on a better record (6-5) in AFC games. Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8), in the hunt: Still technically alive after beating the Browns on Sunday. Remaining schedule: against Broncos, at Steelers

10. Miami Dolphins (6-8), in the hunt: After the Week 15 loss in Houston, it’s basically over. Remaining schedule: against 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

NFL playoff win scenarios for Week 16

Kansas City secures the No. 1 seed in the AFC with:

▶ Buffalo loss or draw

Green Bay secures the playoff spot with:

▶ Win or draw

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Eagles lose to Commanders, Cowboys out

Leave a Reply Cancel reply