NFL Playoff Photo: Which teams can clinch a spot in Week 16?

Two NFL playoff spots were decided in Week 15 and a few more could be settled by the end of Week 16.

The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams are already in the playoffs in their respective conferences. The Broncos need help to win the AFC West division this week, while the Rams have a key matchup against the Seattle Seahawks that could determine who wins the NFC West division to start the week.

The Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers each have make-or-break storylines in the AFC. The Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers face make-or-break scenarios in the NFC.

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Denver wins the division title with a win and a Chargers loss or a tie and a Chargers loss. They could win the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a Chargers win, loss or tie, a Patriots loss and a Bills loss or tie.

The Bills clinch a playoff spot with a win and an Indianapolis Colts loss or tie or a Houston Texans loss or tie. The Bills can enter with a tie and a Colts loss or a Texans loss. The Patriots secure a spot with a win or tie or a Colts loss or tie or a Texans loss or tie. Likewise for the Jaguars, they will enter with a win and a Colts loss or tie or a Texans loss or tie. A Jaguars tie works too, but they need a Colts loss or a Colts tie with a Texans loss.

The Chargers will enter the playoffs with a win and a loss or a tie for the Colts or a win and a loss or a tie for the Texans. Los Angeles could tie the game and go in with a Colts loss or a Colts tie and a Texans loss.

It will be a little less complicated in NFC.

The Eagles clinch an NFC East title with a Dallas Cowboys win or loss or if they tie and Dallas ties for the second time. The Bears clinch a spot with a win and a loss or a tie for the Detroit Lions or a tie and a loss for the Lions. The Packers can clinch with a win and a Lions loss or tie, or they could draw and a Lions loss.

The 49ers can win and get in. Otherwise, they need a loss in Detroit. The 49ers can tie and the Lions can tie and San Francisco will be in the game. The Seahawks will advance to the playoffs with a win or tie or if the Lions lose or tie.

Here’s how the schedule will play out.

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Thursday December 18, 2025

• Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (8:15 p.m. ET)

Saturday December 20, 2025

Sunday December 21, 2025

• Buffalo Bills @ Cleveland Browns (1 p.m. ET)
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys (1 p.m. ET)
• Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET)
• Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET)
• New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET)

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs toward the end zone to score against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

• Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants (1 p.m. ET)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET)
• Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET)
• Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET)
• Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions (4:25 p.m. ET)
• Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans (4:25 p.m. ET)
• New England Patriots @ Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET)

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Monday December 22, 2025

• San Francisco 49ers @ Indianapolis Colts (8:15 p.m. ET)