The NFL Week 16 schedule is coming and in the AFC and NFC the playoffs standings are getting tight in the division races and wild card picture, with the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos clinching spots while the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks are in position to make it.
The Dallas Cowboys won over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night and now they have the inside track to the NFC East title. The team returned the favor after losing to the Eagles at home on Thanksgiving and now they have 10 wins and they should be in as NFC East champs. The Eagles now need some help to make it in, as the Lions won and now have 10 wins to sit with the Packers on top of the NFC North division.
The Cardinals took care of business on Thursday and now they will have a huge matchup with the Seattle Seahawks this weekend and the winner likely takes the NFC West. The Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons are all alive in the NFC South race, while the Cards have clinched a playoff spot and the 49ers have been eliminated from the postseason race overall.
The AFC has three teams with division titles already and the AFC North is the lone division yet to be settled. The Bengals have the inside track because of their tie, as the Ravens and Steelers are 9-5 on the season. The Browns are out of it and in the other division races it's the Colts, Patriots and Broncos again in the AFC South, AFC East and AFC West, repeating the teams from last season.
The AFC wild Card race is dare we say, wild, as the Steelers and the Ravens are in with nine wins, while the Chiefs, Chargers and Bills all have eight wins, while the Texans and Dolphins have seven wins along with the Browns. In the NFC things are more clear, as the Eagles are the odd team out right now with the Packers and Seahawks in as the wild card teams.
The Patriots and the Broncos are battling for home field in the playoffs in the AFC, while the Colts have the chance to get it if they falter, but that is unlikely, plus the head to head records put them at a disadvantage. The NFC has the Cardinals in first, but they have no quarterbacks left and could limp into the playoffs. The Cowboys and the Lions have the chance to get home field as well. The Cardinals are trying to technically lock up home field through the Super Bowl, as the championship is being held at the University of Phoenix Stadium this season.
