The Detroit Lions won a division championship for the first time since 1993 on Sunday. Dan Campbell's team won the NFC North title in dramatic fashion, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 30-24.
Winning the division ensures the Lions will play at least one postseason game at Ford Field, and Detroit could potentially get a bye through the NFC playoffs with home-field advantage. If the San Francisco 49ers lose to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, the Lions and Niners will be tied at 11-4 through two games.
The 49ers will own the tiebreaker, but if San Francisco loses another game and Detroit wins, the Lions will take the bye. It wasn't a likely scenario as you're about to see, but the Lions won their first division title in 30 years. Anything is possible.
As for the rest of the NFL, Week 16 saw plenty of movement in the playoff picture. Let's see where things stand with the three games coming up on Monday.
All the listed odds to make the playoffs, get the No. 1 seed, and win the Super Bowl. AthleticThe NFL betting model was developed by Austin Mock.
AFC playoff picture
| seed | group | Register | Week 16 results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
x–1 |
11-3 |
(TBD) vs. SF |
|
|
x–2 |
11-4 |
W vs. DAL |
|
|
3 |
9-5 |
(TBD) vs. Lv |
|
|
4 |
8-7 |
L vs. tuberculosis |
|
|
5 |
10-5 |
W vs. love |
|
|
6 |
9-6 |
W vs. LAC |
|
|
7 |
8-7 |
L vs. ATL |
x — winning playoff berth | won the z-section title
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has one playoff win on his resume, and the Ravens have averaged 13 points in his four outings, so this will be a question mark in a few weeks. But if Jackson plays well Monday in a win over the San Francisco 49ers, it should go a long way to allaying some of those concerns.
Rest of the schedule: At 49ers, vs. Miami Dolphins, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | To get a bye: 52.6 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 14.3 percent
Go deeper
NFL Week 16 Takeaways: Browns, Joe Flacco Do It Again; Time to consider Lions rivals?
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins got their first win of the season against the Cowboys on Sunday, and got it with a clutch, game-winning drive just before the buzzer. That's huge, not just for a team vying for a seeding, but for the Dolphins to build confidence ahead of the playoffs. A win Sunday in Baltimore puts them in position to clinch the No. 1 spot.
Rest of the schedule: At Ravens, vs. Buffalo Bills
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | Get pie: 32 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 12.7 percent
Dolphins clinch playoff berth on walk-off field goal!
📺: Fox pic.twitter.com/ynIkpoMfGt
— Fox Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 25, 2023
The Chiefs haven't beaten a team with a winning record since they beat the Dolphins in London on Nov. 5. They'll have a chance to eliminate that problem next Sunday against the Bengals, but is the quarterback overweight when it comes to backing up such success? The Chiefs are vulnerable entering the postseason.
Rest of the schedule: vs. Las Vegas Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 99.7 percent | To get pie: 11.9 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 12 percent
The Jags are reeling with four straight losses, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence's injuries are piling up by the week. Their offensive woes over the past two weeks can be explained by injuries and Lawrence's lack of practice time, but the defense has been leaky, surrendering 29.5 points per game during the skid. Again, the Bucs scored three touchdowns on turnovers, so it became a widespread meltdown.
Rest of the schedule: vs. Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 68.5 percent | Get pie: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 1.7 percent
Quarterback Joe Flacco, who was sitting on his couch watching football five Sundays ago, has played three consecutive 300-yard games for the first time in his career. He hasn't had a 300-yard game in a season since 2016. A remarkable run.
Rest of the schedule: vs. the New York Jets at the Bengals
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | Get pie: 3.5 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 2.6 percent
I tell my kids it's Santa Claus pic.twitter.com/eTloAPK2EK
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2023
Buffalo Bills
The Bills begin their three-game hitting streak in Kansas City and are shaping up to be as dangerous as any team in the AFC. There's also a chance to see the next chapter of the Bills-Chiefs mini-rivalry in the wild-card round.
Rest of the schedule: at New England Patriots, at Dolphins
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 90.1 percent | Get pie: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 4.9 percent
QB Keeper!
📺: @peacock#ProBowlVote | @JoshAllenQB pic.twitter.com/uy9yYWjbiJ
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2023
The Colts laid an egg in Atlanta, 29-10, and now they're in a four-way tie with the Texans, Steelers and Bengals. The Colts must win and hope the tiebreakers work in their favor to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Rest of the schedule: vs. Raiders vs. Houston Texans
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 66.3 percent | Get pie: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 1 percent
on the hunt
• Houston Texans (8-7)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
• Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
• Denver Broncos (7-8)
• Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)
Deleted
• New York Jets (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (5-10)
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
• New England Patriots (4-11)
NFC playoff picture
| seed | group | Register | Week 16 results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
z–1 |
11-3 |
(TBD) vs. BAL |
|
|
z–2 |
11-4 |
W vs. MIN |
|
|
x–3 |
10-4 |
(TBD) vs. NYG |
|
|
4 |
8-7 |
W vs. JAX |
|
|
x–5 |
10-5 |
L vs. MIA |
|
|
6 |
8-7 |
W vs. NO |
|
|
7 |
8-7 |
W vs. TEN |
x — winning playoff berth | won the z-section title
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners' six-game winning streak has come against some impressive opponents, and they've already knocked off the Cowboys and Eagles this season. A win over the Ravens would cement the 49ers as the team to beat in the playoffs.
Rest of the schedule: vs. Ravens, Washington Commanders, vs. Los Angeles Rams
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | Get bye: 91.8 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 26.5 percent
Detroit Lions
The Lions finally won the NFC North and are making a playoff appearance for the first time in 30 years. They'll be looking for their first postseason win in 32 years — and second in the Super Bowl era. And in a tragic way, they'll have to go through fan favorite Matthew Stafford to do it.
Rest of the schedule: At Dallas Cowboys, vs. Minnesota Vikings
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | Pie gain: 5.6 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 1.4 percent
What was once an aspiration is now a reality in Detroit.
This Lions team knows how to win. He knows how to close out games. It knows better than to leave things to chance, he writes @colton_bouncy.
It doesn't stop here.
🔗: https://t.co/yXLvQCEtl4 pic.twitter.com/p5dDdcb35l
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 25, 2023
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are a prime example of why discussing a team's ability to go undefeated in October is suffocating. No one could have predicted the three-game losing streak, which included consistency issues on offense (16.3 points per game) and an overhaul of the defensive coaching staff. The Eagles have three winnable games before the playoffs, but they'll have to brace themselves against better competition in January.
Rest of the schedule: vs. New York Giants, vs. Arizona Cardinals, at Giants
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | Pie gain: 6.1 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 6.4 percent
The Bucs have won four in a row, but don't need to beat a quality opponent until they make a statement against the Jaguars. The Buccaneers won't have high expectations against the NFC East runner-up — or whoever wins the NFC South — but a playoff berth in a rebuilding year after a 4-7 start should be seen as a huge win in Tampa.
Rest of the schedule: vs. New Orleans Saints at Panthers
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 87.5 percent | Get pie: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 1.3 percent
Baker and the Bucs have won four straight.
NFC South Standings:
◻️ Tampa Bay Bucks (8-7)
◻️ Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
◻️ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
E — Carolina Panthers (2-13) pic.twitter.com/TLyT0EalC4— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 25, 2023
Dallas Cowboys
With Sunday's loss at Miami, the Cowboys fell to 2-2 in one-possession games this season and have won just once (Week 13 against the Seahawks) when they trailed after the first quarter. Their lack of wins in tightly contested games will again be a concern in the playoffs.
Rest of the schedule: Vs. Lions, at Commanders
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 100 percent | Get pie: 0.5 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 7.5 percent
Go deeper
The Cowboys insist confidence is high after their second straight loss — both on the road
Los Angeles Rams
There was little reason to believe the Rams would be in this position when they were 3-6, but they have won five of six since their bye week. Playoffs.
Rest of the schedule: At Giants, at age 49
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 68.4 percent | Get pie: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 1.3 percent
Go deeper
Puga Nagua shows why he's in the Offensive ROY conversation in primetime as Rams roll
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks haven't scored many style points, but they've proven their ability to win close games, including game-winning drives by quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock in the past two outings. If they can stay healthy for the playoffs, this physical team will be an enviable opponent, withstanding tough opponents.
Rest of the schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals
Contradictions: To make the playoffs: 67.3 percent | Get pie: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 0.9 percent
on the hunt
• Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
• Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
• Green Bay Packers (7-8)
• New Orleans Saints (7-8)
• Chicago Bears (6-9)
• New York Giants (5-9)
Deleted
• Washington Commanders (4-11)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)
(Top photo by Jared Goff: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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