AFC playoff picture, Week 16: Bills, Patriots headline weekend

The AFC is simple to figure. Seven teams are fighting for six spots in the AFC playoff picture.

Going into Week 16, the Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs and Bills have clinched spots. The Texans can do so on Saturday, which we will get into below. For now, here’s how the AFC Playoff picture looks with two weeks left to play:

1. Baltimore Ravens (12-2)
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
4. Houston Texans (9-5)
5. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
—
7. Tennessee Titans (8-6)

Want $250 to bet on the AFC?

On Saturday, three of the aforementioned teams are in action. The Texans are on the road to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Should Deshaun Watson and Co. pull out a victory, they clinch the AFC South title for the second straight season. With a loss, Houston will remain in the No. 4 seed and would also clinch if…

The Titans lose to the New Orleans Saints in Nashville. Tennessee lost to Houston last week and the two teams play each other at NRG Stadium come Week 17. Should the Texans beat the Buccaneers, Tennessee can only finish as the sixth seed. If Houston loses and the Titans take down the road-favored Saints, they pull into a tie with first place up for grabs the final Sunday of the season.

Also on Saturday, the Bills visit the Patriots. New England can clinch the AFC East and a top-three seed by handling Josh Allen for the second time this year. The first meeting came in Week 4, with New England winning 16-10. Buffalo can’t finish worse than the fifth seed, but could win the division by winning out and the Patriots losing in Week 17 to the Miami Dolphins.

Read: Matt Patricia Has One More Year Left in Detroit

If New England does lose, the Chiefs will be an interested party. Kansas City is playing on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. If the Patriots fall to Buffalo and the Chiefs beat the Bears, they suddenly move into the No. 2 seed and would clinch a first-round bye with a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17 at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City has already clinched the AFC West and can’t fall any lower than the fourth seed.

Finally, the AFC North. The Ravens simply need to win one of their final two games to clinch home-field advantage for the first time in franchise history. They play in Cleveland against the Browns this Sunday before hosting the Steelers. Speaking of Pittsburgh, the Steelers can’t clinch a spot this week, but would move a step closer by beating the Jets in New York. Even if Pittsburgh wins and Tennessee loses, the Steelers would still need to beat the Ravens in Week 17, or see the Texans beat the Titans.