NFL playoff picture: Rams fall from first to sixth

Heading into Week 16, the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams were the number one seeds in their respective conference. Both teams lost, proving that a lot can still change in the NFL standings. Fourteen teams have already been eliminated from postseason contention, though, and time is running out for the teams in the bubble to make a playoff push. So, how does the NFL playoff picture stack up heading into Week 17?

AFC standings

1. Denver Broncos, 12-3, AFC West
2. New England Patriots, 12-3, AFC East
3. Jacksonville Jaguars, 11-4, AFC South
4. Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-6, AFC North
5. Los Angeles Chargers, 11-4, AFC West
6. Buffalo Bills, 11-4, AFC East
7. Houston Texans, 10-5, AFC South
8. Indianapolis Colts, 8-7, AFC South
9. Baltimore Ravens, 7-8, AFC North
10. Kansas City Chiefs, 6-9, AFC West (eliminated)
11. Miami Dolphins, 6-9, AFC East (eliminated)
12. Cincinnati Bengals, 5-10, AFC North (eliminated)
13. New York Jets, 3-12, AFC East (eliminated)
14. Tennessee Titans, 3-12, AFC South (eliminated)
15. Cleveland Browns, 3-12, AFC North (eliminated)
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-13, AFC West (eliminated)

NFC standings

1. Seattle Seahawks, 12-3, NFC West
2. Chicago Bears, 11-4, NFC North
3. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-5, NFC East
4. Carolina Panthers, 8-7, NFC South
5. San Francisco 49ers, 11-4, NFC West
6. Los Angeles Rams, 11-4, NFC West
7. Green Bay Packers, 9-5-1, NFC North
8. Detroit Lions, 8-7, NFC North
9. Minnesota Vikings, 7-8, NFC North (eliminated)
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-8, NFC South
11. Dallas Cowboys, 6-8-1, NFC East (eliminated)
12. Atlanta Falcons, 6-9, NFC South (eliminated)
13. New Orleans Saints, 5-10, NFC South (eliminated)
14. Washington Commander, 4-11, NFC East (eliminated)
15. Arizona Cardinals, 3-12, NFC West (eliminated)
16. New York Giants, 2-13, NFC East (eliminated)

AFC playoff teams

Even after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Broncos are still in first place in the AFC. They need nine more sacks over the last two weeks of the season to tie the single-season sack record. Before the loss, Denver was on an 11-game winning streak. Many were doubting Jacksonville before the game, but their win in Denver proves that they can compete with anybody. Trevor Lawrence is on a hot streak. The former first overall pick has nine total touchdowns over the last two weeks and can be considered one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs.

The New England Patriots are in second place in the AFC. The biggest critique against them is that they’ve had a somewhat easy path to this point because they’ve been facing bad teams and backup quarterbacks all season long. Even so, the Patriots have been doing what it takes to win games, and some of their injured stars are returning to the fold.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially clinched Mike Tomlin’s 19th straight non-losing season with their Week 16 win that secured a two-game lead in their division. They are lined up well to make the playoffs, but that won’t be any...