Week 16 NFL Preview

NEW YORK – Last week, the Denver Broncos (12-2) and Los Angeles Rams (11-3) became the first two teams to clinch a playoff spot this season. The Broncos and Rams will play in the two Week 16 games between clubs with at least 10 wins, as Denver hosts the AFC South leading Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX) and the Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks (11-3) on Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video).

Four of the five other teams with at least 10 wins this season – Buffalo (10-4), the Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), New England (11-3) and San Francisco (10-4) – are on the road in Week 16.

In addition to the NFC West, the NFC North and NFC South also have matchups this week between the teams with the two best records in their divisions. In the NFC North, the Chicago Bears (10-4) host the Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) on Saturday night (8:20 p.m. ET, FOX) and in the NFC South, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) visit the Carolina Panthers (7-7) in Week 16 (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX).

Here’s a look at each division race entering Week 16:

AFC East: The New England Patriots (11-3) lead the Buffalo Bills (10-4) by one game in the AFC East after Buffalo overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat New England, 35-31, in Week 15. The Patriots finished last in the division in 2024 and in 19 of the past 22 seasons (2003-24), at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place.

• The Patriots visit the Baltimore Ravens (7-7) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) in Week 16 and with a win or tie, can clinch their first playoff berth since 2021. 
• The Bills have won the AFC East in each of the past five seasons and at Cleveland (3-11) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), look to clinch their seventh-consecutive playoff berth.
• Last week, Buffalo became the sixth team all-time with at least 10 wins in seven straight seasons, joining the 2003-19 New England Patriots (17 consecutive seasons), 1983-98 San Francisco 49ers (16), 2015-24 Kansas City Chiefs (10), 2002-10 Indianapolis Colts (nine) and 1975-81 Dallas Cowboys (seven).

AFC North: The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) lead the Baltimore Ravens (7-7) after both teams earned Week 15 victories. Pittsburgh is set to visit Detroit (8-6) on Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) while the Ravens will host New England (11-3) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).

• The Steelers look to record their 22nd consecutive season with a .500-or-better record and surpass the Dallas Cowboys (21 consecutive seasons from 1965-85) for the longest such streak in NFL history.
• Pittsburgh and Baltimore will also meet in Week 18. Pittsburgh can secure its first AFC North division title since 2020 while Baltimore can win the division for the third-consecutive season.

AFC South: The Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) have won five consecutive games to take over first place in the AFC South, leading the Houston Texans (9-5) and Indianapolis Colts (8-6). The Jaguars, along with the Patriots, are in playoff position after selecting in the top-five in the 2025 NFL Draft. In six consecutive seasons (2019-24) and in 21 of the past 23 seasons (2002-24), a team that chose in the top five of the NFL Draft has qualified for the postseason.

• The Jaguars visit the Denver Broncos (12-2) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX) and can secure their first playoff berth since 2022. It has been 21 seasons (Week 17 of the 2004 season, Pittsburgh at Buffalo) since two teams on winning streaks of five-or-more games met in Week 16 or later.
• Last week, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence became the first player in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards, five touchdown passes, 50 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in a single game. 
• Houston, looking to become the fifth team since 1990 to begin 0-3 and qualify for the postseason, has won six consecutive games entering Week 16 against Las Vegas (2-12) (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). The Texans have won the AFC South in each of the past two seasons.
• Indianapolis, who hosts San Francisco (10-4) on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Week 16, searches for its first playoff berth since 2020 and is set to face Jacksonville in Week 17 and Houston in Week 18.

AFC West: The Denver Broncos (12-2) lead the AFC West after clinching a playoff spot for the second-consecutive season and have won 11 consecutive games in a season for the third time in franchise history (13 consecutive games in 1998 and 11 in 2012).

• The Broncos host the Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX) and look for their first 13-win season since 2013. 
• The Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), who visit Dallas (6-7-1) in Week 16 (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX), have at least 10 wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2006-07 and can qualify for the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time since four straight playoff appearances from 2006-09.

NFC East: There has been a new NFC East division champion in 20 consecutive seasons (2005-24). The Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) currently lead the Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) for first place in the division and with a win at Washington (4-10) on Saturday in Week 16 (5 p.m. ET, FOX), can become the first team to repeat as NFC East champions since they won four consecutive division titles from 2001-04.

NFC North: The Chicago Bears (10-4) lead the Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) and Detroit Lions (8-6) in the NFC North entering Week 16. The Packers defeated the Bears, 28-21, at home in Week 14 and will travel to Chicago in Week 16 (Saturday, 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX).

• The Bears can win the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2020.
• The Packers can secure their first division title since winning three consecutive NFC North titles from 2019-21. 
• The Lions, who host Pittsburgh (8-6) on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), look to win the division and qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

NFC South: The Carolina Panthers (7-7) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) are tied atop the NFC South and are set to meet twice in the final three weeks of the season (Week 16 at Carolina, Week 18 at Tampa Bay). The Buccaneers have won four consecutive division titles since 2021 while the Panthers are seeking their first NFC South title since 2015 and first playoff berth since 2017.

NFC West: The Los Angeles Rams (11-3, clinched playoff berth), Seattle Seahawks (11-3) and San Francisco 49ers (10-4) each enter Week 16 in a playoff spot. Two matchups between the three teams remain this season – the Rams visit the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football in Week 16 (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) and Seattle visits San Francisco in Week 18.

• The Rams qualified for the playoffs for the seventh time in nine seasons under head coach Sean McVay and can win the NFC West for the second-straight season. 
• The Seahawks can win the division for the first time since 2020 and reach the postseason for the first time since 2022. 
• The 49ers, who visit Indianapolis (8-6) on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), can win the NFC West for the third time in the past four seasons and qualify for the postseason for the fourth time in the past five years.