NFL playoff picture 2016: Jets loss gives Steelers wild card spot, Texans clinch AFC South
The Jets are out and the Steelers are in the postseason, while the Texans clinched the AFC South division.
The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the final wild card spot in the AFC by beating the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Not only did they need to beat the Browns, but they also needed the New York Jets to lose to the Buffalo Bills, which happened when Rex Ryan struck a crucial blow against his former team.
Going into Sunday, the AFC South division hadn't been clinched and none of the teams in it were bidding for a wild card berth. The Houston Texans needed a win or an Indianapolis Colts loss to clinch, or they could have clinched the strength of victory tiebreaker.
Clinching that tiebreaker was a near certainty, though, as the Colts needed nine different things to happen to sneak into the playoffs.
Before the Texans wrapped up their dominating win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they had already been awarded the division crown. The New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons, which clinched the strength of victory tiebreaker for Houston.
As far as seeding goes, there were a few battles to watch. The New England Patriots were trying to lock up the top seed with a win over the Miami Dolphins, but they were unable to get the win. The Cincinnati Bengals needed a win over the Baltimore Ravens and a Denver Broncos loss to secure a first-round bye. Cincinnati handled Baltimore and the Broncos play in the late afternoon.
Due the Patriots’ loss, Denver can clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win over the Chargers.
The only things happening on the NFC side include a battle for the top seed between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals and a battle for the NFC North division between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Panthers, who lost their first game of the season in Week 16, can clinch the top seed and home-field advantage with a win, while the Cardinals can clinch it with a win and a Panthers loss. Both teams play in the afternoon.
Both the Vikings and Packers have clinched playoff spots, but the two will play each other under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football for the NFC North crown. The winner takes the division and the third seed in the conference, which means it will host a wild card playoff game.
Here are the current standings after the early games on Sunday:
AFC
1. (z) New England Patriots (12-4)
2. (y) Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)
3. (x) Denver Broncos (11-4)
4. (y) Houston Texans (9-7)
5. (x) Kansas City Chiefs (10-5)
6. (x) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
NFC
1. (z) Carolina Panthers (14-1)
2. (z) Arizona Cardinals (13-2)
3. (x) Green Bay Packers (10-5)
4. (y) Washington (9-7)
5. (x) Seattle Seahawks (9-6)
6. (x) Minnesota Vikings (10-5)
(z) - First-round bye
(y) - Division winner
(x) - Playoff berth
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