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Updated NFL standings, Week 16: Chiefs, Rams, Jaguars win divisions

By John Buhler

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 24: Defensive end Chris Jones
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 24: Defensive end Chris Jones /
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So many divisions were clinched in Week 16, it was amazing. Merry Christmas to the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs! Here are the NFL standings.

A lot of great things happened in the NFL on Christmas Eve. Some teams that won earned playoff berths, while others clinched division titles. Even teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars could still lose and win their division.

Jacksonville, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams all clinched division titles. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints also clinched playoff berths. Keep in mind that the wild NFC South has yet to be decided.

Entering Christmas Day, nine of 12 teams have punched their playoff tickets. Six teams are fighting for two more spots in the final week of the season. Will it be the Atlanta Falcons or the Seattle Seahawks getting in as the sixth team in the NFC? Which of these two teams in the AFC makes it in?: the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, the Los Angeles Chargers or the Tennessee Titans.

Here are the updated NFL standings heading into the two games on Monday in Week 16.

x-clinched playoff berth
y-clinched division title
z-clinched first-round bye

AFC East

  1. y-New England Patriots (12-3)
  2. Buffalo Bills (8-7)
  3. Miami Dolphins (6-9)
  4. New York Jets (5-10)

The New England Patriots have clinched the AFC East division title for the ninth straight season. Buffalo is still in the mix for one of two wild card spots in the AFC. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets.

AFC North

  1. y-Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)*
  2. Baltimore Ravens (9-6)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-9)
  4. Cleveland Browns (0-15)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won the AFC North division title. Baltimore is still in the mix for one of two wild card spots in the AFC. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Cincinnati Bengals and the going to be winless Cleveland Browns.

AFC South

  1. y-Jacksonville Jaguars (10-5)
  2. Tennessee Titans (8-7)
  3. Houston Texans (4-10)*
  4. Indianapolis Colts (3-12)

Even with a road loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Jaguars have clinched the AFC South for the first time. The last time they won a division, they partied like it was 1999 in the old AFC Central. Tennessee is still in play for a wild card berth. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts.

AFC West

  1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (9-6)
  2. Los Angeles Chargers (8-7)
  3. Oakland Raiders (6-8)*
  4. Denver Broncos (5-10)

Kansas City has won the AFC West in back-to-back seasons. The Chargers are still in play for a wild card berth in the AFC. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos.

If the season ended today, here would be the six teams making the AFC playoffs. New England would be the No. 1 seed and have home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. The Patriots own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Pittsburgh, who would get a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed.

Jacksonville will host a home playoff game as the No. 3 seed. Kansas City will host a home playoff game as the No. 4 seed. Baltimore would make the trek to Arrowhead to play the Chiefs as the No. 5 seed. Tennessee would face division rival Jacksonville in back-to-back weeks as the No. 6 seed. The Titans have a better conference record over the Bills and Chargers for that last spot in the AFC.

NFC East

  1. z-Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)*
  2. Dallas Cowboys (8-7)
  3. Washington Redskins (7-8)
  4. New York Giants (2-13)

Philadelphia has won the NFC East and has clinched a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants.

NFC North

  1. y-Minnesota Vikings (12-3)
  2. Detroit Lions (8-7)
  3. Green Bay Packers (7-8)
  4. Chicago Bears (5-10)

Minnesota has won the NFC North. Eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC North are the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.

NFC South

  1. x-New Orleans Saints (11-4)
  2. x-Carolina Panthers (11-4)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)

The Saints completed the season sweep of the Panthers are in first place in the NFC South. Carolina can win the division with a win in Week 17 and a Saints’ loss. Atlanta is a game back of both and would make the NFC playoffs with a win or a Seattle Seahawks loss. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFC West

  1. y-Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
  2. Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (5-10)

Los Angeles has clinched the NFC West. Seattle is still alive for the last playoff spot in the NFC, but needs to win and see the Falcons lose to get in. Eliminated from playoff contention are the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.

If the season ended today, here would be the six teams and seedings of the NFC playoffs. Philadelphia would be the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage. Minnesota would get a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed.

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Los Angeles would get the No. 3 seed, who has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints, who would be the No. 4 seed. Carolina would be the No. 5 seed and would face division rival New Orleans on wild card Sunday. Atlanta edges out Seattle for the last spot in the NFC, as the Falcons beat the Seahawks earlier in the season. The Falcons would travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup.

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