Week 16 NFL Preview

NFL TEAMS PREPARE FOR FINAL STRETCH

Twelve games scheduled for Saturday, December 24 plus two games on Christmas Day 

Time is running out. With two weeks to go in the NFL regular season, it’s time for teams to make their final playoff push. 

Through the first 15 weeks, four postseason berths have been clinched. New England (AFC East, first-round bye) and Seattle (NFC West) have each won its division. Dallas and Oakland have both secured a playoff spot. And with two weeks left in the regular season, there are still 22 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LI. 

There are eight playoff spots up for grabs, including six division titles.

In the AFC, New England (12-2) can secure home-field advantage. Oakland (11-3) can clinch the AFC West and a first-round bye. Pittsburgh (9-5) can claim the AFC North division title. Houston (8-6) can win the AFC South. And Kansas City (10-4) and Miami (9-5) can each lock up a playoff berth. 

In the NFC, Dallas (12-2) can clinch the NFC East, a first-round bye and home-field advantage. Seattle (9-4-1) can earn a first-round bye. Atlanta (9-5) can claim the NFC South or a playoff berth. Detroit (9-5) can lock up the NFC North or a playoff berth. The New York Giants (10-4), Green Bay (8-6) and Tampa Bay (8-6) can each clinch a playoff berth. 

Week 16 kicks off on Thursday night when the Giants visit Philadelphia (8:25 PM ET, NBC/NFLN/Twitter) in an NFC East showdown. New York can clinch a playoff berth with a victory and still have a shot at winning the NFC East and earning home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. 

The action continues on Saturday as the majority of Week 16 games (12 games) will be played on Saturday, December 24 due to the Christmas holiday. There will be seven games played in the early afternoon window (1:00 PM ET) and four contests in the late afternoon slot (4:05 and 4:25 PM ET). The day concludes with a Christmas Eve game in primetime as Houston hosts Cincinnati (8:25 PM ET, NFLN). The Texans can lock up the AFC South with a win and a Tennessee loss. 

There will be two games on Christmas starting with Pittsburgh hosting Baltimore in a key AFC North battle (4:30 PM ET, NFLN). The Steelers can clinch the division with a victory. However, the Ravens can win the division with two wins in their final two games. The second Christmas game features an important AFC West matchup between Denver and Kansas City in primetime (8:30 PM ET, NBC). The Chiefs will earn a playoff berth with a victory or a Baltimore loss. 

The week concludes on Monday night (8:30 PM ET, ESPN) with Dallas hosting Detroit. The Cowboys, who have already secured a playoff berth, are closing in on clinching the NFC East, a first-round bye and home-field advantage. The Lions can lock up the NFC North with a win and a Green Bay loss. Some of the key games in Week 16: 

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-4) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-9) (Thursday, NBC/NFLN/Twitter, 8:25 PM ET)                

• The Giants have won eight of their past nine games and can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Thursday. New York can also advance to the postseason with a loss by either Detroit, Atlanta, Green Bay or Tampa Bay. ​

MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-5) at BUFFALO BILLS (7-7) (Saturday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Dolphins can clinch a playoff berth with a win and a Denver loss. Miami is in control for a postseason spot.
• The Bills are currently still alive for a playoff berth.
   

ATLANTA FALCONS (9-5) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-8) (Saturday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)                

• The Falcons can win the NFC South division title with a victory and a Tampa Bay loss. If both the Falcons and Buccaneers win, Atlanta can still secure a playoff berth with a Detroit loss or a Green Bay loss. The Falcons are in control for the division title.
• The Panthers are currently still alive for a playoff spot.
   

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (7-6-1) at CHICAGO BEARS (3-11) (Saturday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

• The Redskins are currently still alive for a postseason berth.  
   

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-7) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-6) (Saturday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)

• The Packers are in control for the NFC North division and can claim the title with wins in each of their final two games. Green Bay can secure a playoff spot this week with a win and losses by Washington and Tampa Bay combined with an Atlanta win.
• The Vikings are currently still alive for a postseason berth.
   

TENNESSEE TITANS (8-6) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-12) (Saturday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

• The Titans are in control for the AFC South division and can claim the title with wins in each of their final two games.
   

NEW YORK JETS (4-10) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-2) (Saturday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)

• The Patriots, who have already won the AFC East and have a first-round bye, can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and an Oakland loss. New England is in control for home-field advantage in the AFC.
   

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (7-7) at OAKLAND RAIDERS (11-3) (Saturday, CBS, 4:05 PM ET)

• The Raiders, who have already earned a playoff berth, can clinch the AFC West and a first-round bye with a win and a Kansas City loss. Oakland is in control for the division title and a first-round bye.
• The Colts are currently still alive for a postseason spot.
   

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-6) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-8) (Saturday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

• The Buccaneers can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by Green Bay, Washington and Detroit.
• The Saints are currently still alive for a postseason spot.
   

ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-8-1) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-4-1) (Saturday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)

• The Seahawks, who have already clinched the NFC West, can secure a first-round bye with a win and losses by both Detroit and Atlanta. Seattle is in control for a first-round bye.
   

CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-8-1) at HOUSTON TEXANS (8-6) (Saturday, NFLN, 8:25 PM ET)

• The Texans, who are in control for the AFC South, can clinch the division this week with a win and a Tennessee loss.
   

BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-6) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (9-5) (Sunday, NFLN, 4:30 PM ET)

• The Steelers can clinch the AFC North with a win.
• The Ravens can claim the division title with wins in each of the team’s final two games. 
   

DENVER BRONCOS (8-6) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-4) (Sunday, NBC, 8:30 PM ET)

• The Chiefs can secure a postseason berth with a win or a Baltimore loss.
• The Broncos are currently still alive for a playoff spot.
   

DETROIT LIONS (9-5) at DALLAS COWBOYS (12-2) (Monday, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET)

• The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East, a first-round bye and home-field advantage with a win or a New York Giants loss.
• The Lions, who are in control for the NFC North, can secure the division with a win and a Green Bay loss. Detroit can also lock up a playoff berth with a win and a Tampa Bay loss. The Lions can also advance to the postseason with losses by Washington and Tampa Bay combined with an Atlanta win.

2016 NFL STANDINGS

American Football Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
New England Patriots	12	2	0	.857	365	233	5-2-0	7-0-0	9-1-0	3-1-0	5W
Miami Dolphins	9	5	0	.643	315	314	6-1-0	3-4-0	6-4-0	3-1-0	2W
Buffalo Bills	7	7	0	.500	358	314	4-3-0	3-4-0	4-6-0	1-3-0	1W
New York Jets	4	10	0	.286	242	358	1-6-0	3-4-0	3-7-0	1-3-0	1L
North Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Pittsburgh Steelers	9	5	0	.643	341	276	4-2-0	5-3-0	7-3-0	3-1-0	5W
Baltimore Ravens	8	6	0	.571	306	263	6-2-0	2-4-0	7-3-0	4-0-0	1W
Cincinnati Bengals	5	8	1	.393	288	293	3-3-1	2-5-0	4-6-0	2-3-0	1L
Cleveland Browns	0	14	0	.000	220	408	0-7-0	0-7-0	0-10-0	0-5-0	14L
South Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Houston Texans	8	6	0	.571	250	294	6-1-0	2-5-0	6-4-0	5-0-0	2W
Tennessee Titans	8	6	0	.571	340	323	4-3-0	4-3-0	5-5-0	1-3-0	3W
Indianapolis Colts	7	7	0	.500	362	339	3-4-0	4-3-0	4-6-0	2-3-0	1W
Jacksonville Jaguars	2	12	0	.143	260	359	1-6-0	1-6-0	1-9-0	1-3-0	9L
West Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Oakland Raiders	11	3	0	.786	377	336	5-2-0	6-1-0	8-2-0	3-2-0	1W
Kansas City Chiefs	10	4	0	.714	319	274	5-2-0	5-2-0	7-3-0	4-0-0	1L
Denver Broncos	8	6	0	.571	299	258	4-3-0	4-3-0	5-5-0	1-3-0	2L
San Diego Chargers	5	9	0	.357	366	366	3-4-0	2-5-0	4-6-0	1-4-0	3L
				​

National Football Conference
East Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Dallas Cowboys	12	2	0	.857	366	258	6-1-0	6-1-0	8-2-0	3-2-0	1W
New York Giants	10	4	0	.714	272	250	7-1-0	3-3-0	7-3-0	3-1-0	2W
Washington Redskins	7	6	1	.536	345	343	4-3-0	3-3-1	5-5-0	3-2-0	1L
Philadelphia Eagles	5	9	0	.357	316	299	4-2-0	1-7-0	3-7-0	0-4-0	5L
North Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Detroit Lions	9	5	0	.643	301	285	6-1-0	3-4-0	7-3-0	3-2-0	1L
Minnesota Vikings	8	6	0	.571	363	339	5-2-0	3-4-0	6-4-0	3-1-0	4W
Green Bay Packers	7	7	0	.500	264	259	4-3-0	3-4-0	4-6-0	1-3-0	1L
Chicago Bears	3	11	0	.214	248	320	3-4-0	0-7-0	3-7-0	2-3-0	2L
South Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Atlanta Falcons	9	5	0	.643	469	358	4-3-0	5-2-0	7-3-0	3-1-0	2W
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8	6	0	.571	313	322	3-4-0	5-2-0	6-4-0	3-1-0	1L
New Orleans Saints	6	8	0	.429	406	392	3-4-0	3-4-0	5-5-0	1-3-0	1W
Carolina Panthers	6	8	0	.429	337	337	4-3-0	2-5-0	5-5-0	1-3-0	2W
West Division
Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Home	Away	Conf	Div	Streak
Seattle Seahawks	9	4	1	.679	298	235	7-0-0	2-4-1	5-4-1	2-1-1	1W
Arizona Cardinals	5	8	1	.393	340	325	4-3-1	1-5-0	4-5-1	2-1-1	2L
Los Angeles Rams	4	10	0	.286	197	328	1-5-0	3-5-0	3-7-0	2-2-0	5L
San Francisco 49ers	1	13	0	.071	264	434	1-6-0	0-7-0	1-9-0	1-3-0	13L

NFL WEEK 16 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 24-26

(All times local) 

Thursday, December 22	Saturday, December 24 (cont’d)
New York Giants at Philadelphia, 8:25 PM (NBC/NFLN/Twitter)	Indianapolis at Oakland, 1:05 PM
	San Francisco at Los Angeles, 1:25 PM
Saturday, December 24	Arizona at Seattle, 1:25 PM
Miami at Buffalo, 1:00	Cincinnati at Houston, 7:25 PM (NFLN)
Atlanta at Carolina, 1:00	Sunday, December 25
Washington at Chicago, 12:00 PM	Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 4:30 PM (NFLN)
San Diego at Cleveland, 1:00 PM	Denver at Kansas City, 7:30 PM (NBC)
Minnesota at Green Bay, 12:00 PM Tennessee at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
New York Jets at New England, 1:00 PM Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 12:00 PM	Monday, December 26 Detroit at Dallas, 7:30 PM (ESPN)