Playoff scenarios for NFL Week 16
NFC playoff picture
Arizona (11-3)
Seed: First
Remaining games: Seattle, at San Francisco.
Outlook : Have clinched a playoff spot but will be hard-pressed to hold off the Seahawks for the West title. First-string QB Carson Palmer is out for the season and second-string Drew Stanton (knee) is out this week. Ryan Lindley will start Sunday.
Detroit (10-4)
Seed: Second
Remaining games: at Chicago, at Green Bay.
Outlook: Clinch a playoff spot with a victory or a loss by the Packers or Eagles. Can clinch the North and a first-round bye with two more victories. They also can clinch the NFC North, but probably not a bye, with a victory and a Packers loss. The Lions can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with two victories, two Cardinals losses and a Seahawks loss.
Dallas (10-4)
Seed: Third
Remaining games: Indianapolis, at Washington
Outlook: Win the East with two victories. A loss could have them out of the playoffs because the Cardinals, Lions, Seahawks and Packers have tie-breakers over them for the wild card.
New Orleans (6-8)
Seed: Fourth
Remaining games: Cleveland, at Tampa Bay
Outlook: The South is a mess, with either New Orleans, Carolina (5-8-1) or Atlanta (5-9) stumbling to the division title. New Orleans, which defeated Chicago on Monday night, 31-15, and Atlanta can win the division by winning out. They meet on Sunday.
Seattle (10-4)
Seed: Fifth
Remaining games: at Arizona, St. Louis
Outlook: Eliminated San Francisco last weekend and can win the West by winning out.
Green Bay (10-4)
Seed: Sixth
Remaining games: at Tampa Bay, Detroit
Outlook: Can win North and get a first-round bye with two victories. The finale is against Detroit, which has lost 23 straight at Green Bay.
Philadelphia (9-5)
Seed: Seventh, out of playoffs
Remaining games: at Washington, at N.Y. Giants
Outlook: Can win the East with two victories and a Cowboys loss.
AFC playoff picture
New England (11-3)
Seed: First
Remaining games: at N.Y. Jets, Bills.
Outlook: Clinched East. Can clinch home field throughout the playoffs with two victories or a win and a Broncos loss.
Denver (11-3)
Seed: Second
Remaining games: at Cincinnati, Oakland
Outlook: Clinched West. Can clinch a first-round bye with a win.
Indianapolis (10-4)
Seed: Third
Remaining games: at Dallas, at Tennessee
Outlook: Clinched South.
Cincinnati (9-4-1)
Seed: Fourth
Remaining games: Denver, at Pittsburgh
Outlook: Clinch North title with win, Steelers and Ravens losses.
Pittsburgh (9-5)
Seed: Fifth
Remaining games: Kansas City, at Cincinnati
Update: Can clinch a playoff spot with a win.
Baltimore (9-5)
Seed: Sixth
Remaining games: at Houston, Cleveland
Outlook: Clinch playoff spot with a victory and Steelers and Bengals losses, or with a victory and losses by the Chiefs and Chargers.