The home stretch of the 2021 NFL season is here, as Week 16 kicked off Thursday night with a thriller in Nashville, then continued Sunday with big wins for the Bills, Eagles and Rams as well as the Cowboys and Chiefs clinching division crowns. The playoff picture is really taking shape. And both conferences are chock-full of some feisty battles for the 14 combined postseason spots. From the competition in the NFC West to the increasingly muddy race in the AFC North, there are lots of scenarios on the table as we venture closer to the new year.
Below, find an updated 2021 NFL playoff picture, featuring complete postseason standings (with tiebreakers already accounted for), a rundown of wild card contenders and projected opening-weekend playoff matchups for both the AFC and NFC:
AFC
On the brink
8. Chargers (8-7)
9. Raiders (8-7)
10. Steelers (7-7-1)
11. Dolphins (7-7)
12. Browns (7-8)
13. Broncos (7-8)
Out of the race
14. Jets (4-11)*
15. Texans (4-11)*
16. Jaguars (2-13)*
Note: * = officially eliminated. ** = officially clinched playoff berth.
Projected wild card matchups
- (No. 1 Chiefs on bye)
- No. 7 Ravens at No. 2 Titans
- No. 6 Patriots at No. 3 Bengals
- No. 5 Colts at No. 4 Bills
NFC
- Packers (12-3)**
- Rams (11-4)**
- Buccaneers (11-4)**
- Cowboys (10-4)**
- Cardinals (10-5)**
- 49ers (8-7)
- Eagles (8-7)
On the brink
8. Saints (7-7)
9. Vikings (7-8)
10. Falcons (7-8)
11. Washington (6-8)
Out of the race
12. Seahawks (5-10)*
13. Panthers (5-10)*
14. Bears (5-10)*
15. Giants (4-11)*
16. Lions (2-12-1)*
Note: * = officially eliminated. ** = officially clinched playoff berth.
Projected wild card matchups
- (No. 1 Packers on bye)
- No. 7 Eagles at No. 2 Rams
- No. 6 49ers at No. 3 Buccaneers
- No. 5 Cardinals at No. 4 Cowboys
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