Dec 21, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) and tight end Heath Miller (83) celebrate after Brown scored a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
A hectic Week 16 is over, and we now have a clearer idea of the NFL playoff picture.
Below are playoff scenarios for every team still mathematically alive, as well as my own playoff predictions as to which teams will make the final six in each conference.
Here are the current AFC standings:
1. New England Patriots (12-3)
2. Denver Broncos (11-4)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4-1)
4. Indianapolis Colts (10-5)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
6. San Diego Chargers (9-6)
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (9-6), Houston Texans (8-7), Kansas City Chiefs (8-7).
New England has clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, Denver has won the AFC West; Indianapolis the AFC South; Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have both clinched playoff berths.
AFC PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
DENVER (vs. Oakland) clinches the second seed in the AFC with:
– DEN win
– CIN loss
– CIN tie and IND win
PITTSBURGH (vs. Cincinnati) clinches the AFC North and the third seed in the AFC with:
– PIT win
CINCINNATI (vs. Pittsburgh) clinches the AFC North and the third seed with:
– CIN win/tie
The Bengals can clinch the second seed in the AFC with:
– CIN win and DEN loss
– CIN tie and DEN loss and IND tie/loss
SAN DIEGO (vs. Kansas City) clinches a wild card berth with:
– SD win/tie
– SD tie and BAL loss/tie
BALTIMORE (vs. Cleveland) clinches a wild card berth with:
– BAL win and SD loss/tie
– BAL tie and SD loss
KANSAS CITY (vs. San Diego) clinches a wild card berth with:
– KC win and BAL loss and HOU loss/tie
HOUSTON (vs. Jacksonville) clinches a wild card berth with:
– HOU win and BAL loss and SD loss.