NFL playoff image after Week 16: Ravens shut in on AFC’s prime seed; NFC up for grabs

The Baltimore Ravens scored their most spectacular victory of the season Monday night time, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 33-19. Together with making them appear to be worthy Tremendous Bowl contenders, the victory places them in a incredible place within the AFC. At 12-3, they’re a recreation forward of Miami and have an opportunity to clinch the highest spot subsequent week in a recreation in opposition to these very Dolphins.

In the meantime, the 49ers’ loss sends them to 11-4 and a three-way tie atop the NFC with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. The 49ers personal the tiebreaker over each, however with two video games to go, there’s nonetheless time for the Eagles or Lions to make a transfer.

As for the remainder of the NFL, Week 16 noticed loads of motion within the playoff image. Let’s check out the place issues stand as we enter Week 17.

Listed odds to make the playoffs, safe the No. 1 seed and win the Tremendous Bowl are all through The Athletic’s NFL betting mannequin, created by Austin Mock.

x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens delivered a message in San Francisco, not simply on the scoreboard with their blowout of the 49ers however with the way in which they initiated the physicality all through the night time. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald may need labored his method onto some brief lists for groups with head teaching vacancies.

Remaining schedule: vs. Miami Dolphins, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 69.5 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 17.2 p.c

The Ravens’ protection vs. the 49ers on Christmas:

◻️ 5 INT
◻️ 9 QB hits
◻️ 4 sackshttps://t.co/Hh2mfOm6AZ pic.twitter.com/XF8vaN0tuT

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 26, 2023

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins simply earned their first marquee victory of the season Sunday in opposition to the Cowboys, and so they received it with a clutch, game-winning drive simply earlier than the buzzer. That’s large, not only for a staff angling for seeding however because the Dolphins work to construct confidence earlier than the playoffs. Now they’re ready to grasp the No. 1 seed if they’ll win Sunday in Baltimore.

Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Buffalo Payments

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 28.9 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 13.2 p.c

DOLPHINS CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH ON A WALK-OFF FIELD GOAL!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/ynIkpoMfGt

— FOX Sports activities: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 25, 2023

The Chiefs have misplaced 5 of eight, and so they’re 2-3 this season in opposition to groups that at the moment have profitable data. Whereas it could really feel reckless to jot down off quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ resume isn’t consultant of a staff that’s able to win 4 consecutive playoff video games.

Remaining schedule: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, at Los Angeles Chargers

Odds: To make playoffs: 98.1 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 9.1 p.c

The Jags are reeling with 4 consecutive losses, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s accidents are mounting by the week. Their offensive points over the previous two weeks could be defined by accidents and Lawrence’s scarcity of follow time, however the protection can also be leaking by surrendering 29.5 factors per recreation in the course of the skid. Then once more, the Bucs scored three touchdowns off turnovers, so it’s turn into a widespread meltdown.

Remaining schedule: vs. Carolina Panthers, at Tennessee Titans

Odds: To make playoffs: 65.9 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 1.2 p.c

GO DEEPER

NFL Week 16 takeaways: Browns, Joe Flacco do it once more; time to think about Lions contenders?

Quarterback Joe Flacco, who was sitting on his sofa watching soccer 5 Sundays in the past, has three consecutive 300-yard video games for the primary time in his profession. He hasn’t had a trio of 300-yard video games all through a complete season since 2016. Only a exceptional run.

Remaining schedule: vs. New York Jets, at Bengals

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 1.6 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 2.9 p.c

telling my children that is Santa Claus pic.twitter.com/eTloAPK2EK

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2023

Buffalo Payments

The Payments began their three-game profitable streak in Kansas Metropolis, and so they’re shaping as much as be as harmful as any staff within the AFC. There’s additionally a risk we see the subsequent chapter of the Payments-Chiefs mini-rivalry within the wild-card spherical.

Remaining schedule: at New England Patriots, at Dolphins

Odds: To make playoffs: 90.3 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 4.7 p.c

QB keeper!

📺: @peacock#ProBowlVote | @JoshAllenQB pic.twitter.com/uy9yYWjbiJ

— Buffalo Payments (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2023

The Colts laid an egg with a 29-10 loss in Atlanta, and now they’re in a four-way tie with the Texans, Steelers and Bengals. The Colts will nearly actually need to win out and hope the tiebreakers work of their favor to succeed in the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.

Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Houston Texans

Odds: To make playoffs: 66.4 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 0.9 p.c

Within the hunt

• Houston Texans (8-7)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
• Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
• Denver Broncos (7-8)
• Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)

Eradicated

• New York Jets (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (5-10)
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
• New England Patriots (4-11)

x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback Brock Purdy’s 4 interceptions will dominate the highlight within the wake of the 49ers’ one-sided defeat to the Ravens, however don’t ignore one other key facet. After falling behind 23-12 with 12:07 remaining within the third quarter, Purdy was simply 8-of-14 passing for 107 yards and one interception over 4 scoreless possessions earlier than leaving with an damage. The 49ers’ concern has been their incapability to erase late deficits, and so they didn’t make a lot of a dent after they fell behind Monday night time.

Remaining schedule: at Washington Commanders, vs. Los Angeles Rams

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 74.3 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 25.5 p.c

Philadelphia Eagles

It’s well-established by now little or no will come straightforward for the Eagles, who haven’t gained a recreation by greater than 8 factors since Week 7. Whereas their ultimate two regular-season tilts are in opposition to non-playoff foes, they are going to be private in opposition to former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and the Arizona Cardinals earlier than a rematch with the Giants. The standard of the opponent gained’t be elite, however they’ll be robust video games that can function good playoff tuneups.

Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, at Giants

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 22.4 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 7.8 p.c

GO DEEPER

Eagles maintain off Giants to snap skid as DeVito benched

Detroit Lions

The Lions have lastly gained the NFC North and can host a playoff recreation for the primary time in 30 years. They’ll even be looking for their first postseason victory in 32 years — and simply their second within the Tremendous Bowl period. And in a sadistically becoming method, they could need to undergo fan favourite Matthew Stafford to get it finished.

Remaining schedule: at Dallas Cowboys, vs. Minnesota Vikings

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 2.9 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 5.2 p.c

What was as soon as an aspiration is now a actuality in Detroit.

This Lions staff is aware of easy methods to win. It is aware of easy methods to shut video games. It is aware of higher than to go away issues to likelihood, writes @colton_pouncy.

And it doesn’t cease right here.

🔗: https://t.co/yXLvQCEtl4 pic.twitter.com/p5dDdcb35l

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 25, 2023

The Bucs have gained 4 in a row however hadn’t essentially crushed a top quality opponent till delivering an announcement with a blowout in opposition to the Jaguars. There gained’t be excessive expectations for the Buccaneers — or whoever wins the NFC South — in opposition to the NFC East runner-up, however a playoff berth in a rebuilding yr after a 4-7 begin needs to be considered as an enormous success in Tampa.

Remaining schedule: vs. New Orleans Saints, at Panthers

Odds: To make playoffs: 89.1 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 1.7 p.c

Baker and the Bucs have gained 4 consecutive video games.

The NFC South standings:

◻️ Tampa Bay Bucs (8-7)
◻️ Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
◻️ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
e — Carolina Panthers (2-13) pic.twitter.com/TLyT0EalC4

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 25, 2023

Dallas Cowboys

With the loss Sunday in Miami, the Cowboys fell to 2-2 this season in one-possession video games, and so they’ve solely gained a single time (Week 13 in opposition to the Seahawks) after they’ve trailed after the primary quarter. Their lack of success in tightly contested video games will once more be a priority within the playoffs.

Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Commanders

Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 0.5 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 7.8 p.c

GO DEEPER

Cowboys insist confidence is excessive after second consecutive loss — each on the street

Los Angeles Rams

There was little motive to consider the Rams could be on this place after they have been 3-6, however they’ve gained 5 of six since their bye week and have a shot to play the position of spoilers if they’ll proceed this march into the playoffs.

Remaining schedule: at Giants, at 49ers

Odds: To make playoffs: 68.2 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 1.1 p.c

GO DEEPER

Puka Nacua reveals why he is in Offensive ROY dialog in prime time as Rams hold rolling

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks don’t rack up many fashion factors, however they’ve confirmed their means to win shut video games, together with game-winning drives from quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock within the final two outings. If they’ll get more healthy for the playoffs, this bodily staff that simply endured a stretch of robust opponents goes to be an unenviable opponent.

Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals

Odds: To make playoffs: 70 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 0.9 p.c

Within the hunt

• Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
• Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
• Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-8)
• New Orleans Saints (7-8)
• Chicago Bears (6-9)

Eradicated

• New York Giants (5-10)
• Washington Commanders (4-11)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)

(Prime picture of Lamar Jackson:  Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Pictures)

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