NFL Playoff Picture: Updated Bracket After Sunday Night Football
By Josh Hill
![Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs for a first down as Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro (73) and ]a57#2 defend during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F6da312a9d370b6aa3e7eecfcbf0b1f383f0c896f3bb199439c8b426d94cf52db.jpg "Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs for a first down as Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Mauro (73) and ]a57#2 defend during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports")
The NFL Playoff picture is starting to take shape, as more teams have clinched and the number of open spots is quickly dwindling.
Things are getting tight in the NFL playoff picture, despite and that goes for all teams in the conversation — even those who have clinched already. Last weekend the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals all clinched playoff spots and the window got even tighter this weekend.
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Starting on Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers all punched their playoff tickets by either winning or having someone they needed to lose do so. Seattle not only won, but they took over the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture, needed just a win next week to make it official.
Detroit wasn’t the only NFC team to punch their ticket this weekend though, in fact they weren’t even the only NFC North team to punch their ticket. With a decisive win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot and stay in the hunt for the NFC North crown next week.
Here’s a look at the current NFL Playoff picture through the Week 16’s Sunday Night Football game:
The Lions and Packers will be going at it head-to-head with the division title on the line next Sunday, as will the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. The winner of those two games will clinch the NFC North and NFC South, respectively, with the Arizona Cardinals already having locked up the NFC West.
Over in the AFC, there is a de facto playoff game between the Steelers and Bengals in Week 17 with the winner sealing up the AFC North crown. Cincinnati Bengals fans are worried about missing the playoffs altogether, which is possible if they lose both this week and then again next week against the Steelers.
Over in the AFC, the Broncos, Patriots and Colts all clinched last week but the Pittsburgh Steelers winning their matchup meant that the Miami Dolphins are officially out of the playoff picture. The Cleveland Browns are also out of the playoffs with the AFC Wild card slots being filled by the Chargers and Steelers.
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