NFL Playoff Picture 2021: Ravens, Steelers, Raiders On Edge Of AFC Bracket In Week 16

When the Las Vegas Raiders (7-7) beat the Cleveland Browns (7-7) Monday night, it made a tight AFC playoff race even tighter. Thirteen of the conference’s 16 teams enter Week 16 either in the playoff picture or within a game of the postseason bracket.

Las Vegas is the AFC’s No. 10 seed with three games to play, trailing the No. 7 seed Buffalo Bills (8-6) for the final playoff spot. The No. 11 seed Miami Dolphins (7-7) and No. 13 seed Denver Broncos (7-7) are also a game out of the wild-card standings with their division hopes all but dead. Cleveland is the No. 12 seed and a game out of both the last wild-card spot and first place in the AFC North.

The No. 9 seed Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1) and No. 8 seed Baltimore Ravens are in contention for a wild-card berth and the division title. They are just behind the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6), who jumped up to the AFC’s No. 4 seed and first place in the AFC North by defeating Denver in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) and Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) are seeded No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, and at the top of the wild-card race. Indianapolis owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Buffalo.

The New England Patriots (9-5) are the No. 2 seed, though their lead atop the AFC East is somewhat tenuous. New England is one game ahead of Buffalo before the Patriots host the Bills on Sunday afternoon.

The Tennessee Titans (9-5) are the No. 3 seed with a one-game lead in the AFC South. The Titans own the tiebreaker over the Colts for the division title.

A seven-game winning streak has put the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) back atop the overall AFC standings and in the driver’s seat for a first-round playoff bye. Kansas City plays Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver to close out the season.

The Chiefs, Titans and Patriots all have a chance to clinch division championships in Week 16.