After an exhilarating and ultimately exhausting Sunday of Week 16 football, here's the latest NFL playoff picture.
Note: This post will be updated after the Pittsburgh-Houston and Oakland-Philadelphia games on Monday.
AFC
1. New England Patriots (12-3)
At the very least, the Patriots will have a first-round bye. They could clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as early as Monday, if the Steelers lose to the Texans. If the Steelers beat the Texans, the Patriots could still clinch the No. 1 seed with a win over the Jets or a Steelers loss to the Browns in Week 17.
If the season ended Sunday: The Patriots would face the lowest remaining seed out of the wild-card round.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)
The Steelers will clinch a first-round bye with a win over the Texans on Monday. The only way the Steelers would have to play wild-card weekend is if they lose in Houston then drop another game to the Browns in Week 17, and the Jaguars defeat the Titans. The AFC's No. 1 seed remains open, if the Steelers finish 2-0 and the Patriots lose to the Jets.
If the season ended Sunday: The Steelers would face the second-lowest remaining seed out of the wild-card round.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-5)
The Jaguars won the AFC South before even kicking off in San Francisco thanks to the Titans' loss to the Rams, but nothing else went right after that. They could still clinch a first-round bye, as noted above, but won't fall below the third seed.
If the season ended Sunday: The Jaguars would host the No. 6 Titans in the wild-card round.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)
The Chiefs won the AFC West with a win over the Dolphins, but they can't beat the Jaguars in a tiebreaker, per the ESPN Playoff Machine.
If the season ended Sunday: The Chiefs would host the No. 5 Ravens in the wild-card round.
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-6)
After Saturday's victory over the Colts, the Ravens are in the best situation among the AFC's wild-card candidates. They can clinch with a Week 17 victory over the Bengals. Even if they lose, they'll get one of the two wild-card spots if either the Bills or the Titans lose.
If the season ended Sunday: The Ravens would face the No. 4 Chiefs in the wild-card round.
6. Tennessee Titans (8-7)
Even after their third consecutive loss -- the latest at home to the Rams on Sunday -- all hope is not lost for the Titans. At the moment, Tennessee is ahead of the Chargers and Bills because of a superior conference record. The Titans will clinch a wild-card spot either by defeating the Jaguars or if both the Bills and Chargers lose in Week 17.
If the season ended Sunday: The Titans would face the No. 3 Jaguars in the wild-card round.
In the hunt:
Los Angeles Chargers (8-7): The Chargers need help to get into the playoffs. In addition to defeating the Raiders in Week 17, they'll need the Titans to lose to the Jaguars and the Ravens to defeat the Bengals.
Buffalo Bills (8-7): The Bills also need help. They’ll need to win at Miami in Week 17 and get losses from the Chargers and Titans.
NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
A win over the Oakland Raiders on Monday night would clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A loss would reset the stakes for Week 17: an Eagles win or a Vikings loss would secure the No. 1 seed for Philadelphia.
If the season ended Sunday: The Eagles would face the lowest remaining seed out of the wild-card round.
2. Minnesota Vikings (12-3)
The Vikings did their part to secure a first-round bye with a win Saturday night in Green Bay, but the Panthers' victory over the Buccaneers put it on hold. Minnesota will now need a Week 17 win over the Bears, or a Panthers loss to the Falcons, to ensure at least the No. 2 seed. To secure home field throughout the playoffs, the Vikings need a victory over the Bears and an 0-2 finish by the Eagles.
If the season ended Sunday: The Vikings would face the second-lowest remaining seed out of the wild-card round.
3. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
Congratulations to the Rams, who won the NFC West for the first time in 14 years. They win the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Saints but, according to the Playoff Machine, can't get higher than the third seed after losing to both the Eagles and Vikings in the regular season.
If the season ended Sunday: The Rams would host the No. 6 Falcons in the wild-card round.
4. New Orleans Saints (11-4)
The Saints clinched a playoff spot with their victory over the Falcons on Sunday, but the Panthers' win denied New Orleans the NFC South crown for now. They can secure the division with a Week 17 victory over the Buccaneers, but like the Rams, they can't advance higher than the No. 3 seed.
If the season ended Sunday: The Saints would host the No. 5 Panthers in the wild-card round.
5. Carolina Panthers (11-4)
The Panthers are in the playoffs and have the most seeding volatility of any team in the NFC. They could wind up anywhere between No. 2 and No. 5. Carolina will win the NFC South with a victory over the Falcons and a Saints loss to the Buccaneers in Week 17. In that scenario, the Panthers could elevate to a first-round bye if the Vikings lose to the Bears. At worst, they'll have the higher of the two wild-card seeds.
If the season ended Sunday: The Panthers would face the No. 4 Saints in the wild-card round.
6. Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
Sunday's loss to the Saints eliminated the Falcons from the NFC South race, but Atlanta can qualify for a wild-card berth with a Week 17 victory over the Panthers. Even if they lose, the Falcons can advance if the Seahawks lose to the Cardinals.
If the season ended Sunday: The Falcons would face the No. 3 Rams in the wild-card round.
In the hunt
Seattle Seahawks (9-6): They'll clinch a wild-card berth with a victory over the Cardinals and a Falcons loss to the Panthers.