NFL Playoff Picture 2022: Patriots, Jets, Jaguars Control Postseason Destiny In Week 16

The New England Patriots, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars are the first three teams out of the AFC playoff picture entering Week 16. All three teams control their own destiny over the final three weeks of the 2022 season.

Despite their shocking loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, the Patriots will be in the final NFL playoff picture if they win their final three games. The Jets and Jaguars would also make the playoffs with three straight victories, though it'll be impossible for both teams to accomplish the feat. New York hosts Jacksonville on Thursday night to kick off the Week 16 schedule.

The Patriots and Jets are both 7-7 and a game behind the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers for the last two AFC wild-card berths. The Jaguars are 6-8 and two games out of the wild-card standings, but they only trail the Tennessee Titans by a game for first place in the AFC South.

New England will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. After a pivotal home matchup against the Dolphins in Week 17, the Patriots will end the season on the road against the Buffalo Bills. A three-game winning streak would guarantee New England the same record as Miami, at worst, and the Patriots would own the better conference record for the wild-card tiebreaker.

New York also controls its own playoff destiny because it has the opportunity to hand Miami another loss. The Jets are set to conclude the season with games in Seattle and Miami. Because the Jets already defeated the Dolphins earlier this season, New York would own the tiebreaker over Miami with another head-to-head win.

The Jaguars are in a similar situation in trying to catch the Titans. Jacksonville defeated Tennessee in Week 14. If both the Jaguars and Titans win out, their Week 18 matchup will become a de facto AFC South championship game. Jacksonville will visit the one-win Houston Texans in between playing the Jets and Titans.

Even though they have the worst record in the group, the Jaguars are arguably playing better than both the Patriots and Jets. Jacksonville has won three out of its last four games, and all of those wins have come against teams that are in the latest playoff picture. The Jaguars stunned the Dallas Cowboys with a 40-34 overtime victory in Week 15.

Trevor Lawrence has thrown 14 touchdown passes and one interception in the last six games.

Three different quarterbacks have taken snaps for the Jets in recent weeks. Zach Wilson has been in and out of the lineup because of injuries and poor play. It remains to be seen if it'll be Wilson, Mike White or Joe Flacco under center during New York's final playoff push.

Mac Jones has more interceptions than touchdown passes after leading the Patriots to the playoffs as a rookie. New England has lost three out of its last four games. Sunday's defeat in Las Vegas because of an inexplicable lateral by Jakobi Meyers that was turned into a Raiders touchdown might be what ultimately keeps the Patriots out of the final playoff picture.

The Patriots own the tiebreaker over the Jets in the event that the rivals are fighting over the final wild-card berth.