NFL Playoff Scenarios 2016-17: Wild-Card Race, Postseason Bracket After Week 16

We haven’t quite reached the end of Week 16, but we are beginning to get a better idea of what the pending playoff picture is going to look like.

The Miami Dolphins won their 10th game of the season in an overtime contest against the Buffalo Bills. If the Denver Broncos lose on Sunday, Miami will be in the postseason. The Green Bay Packers won their fifth game in a row, which sets up a battle with the Detroit Lions for the NFC North title in Week 17.

The Lions, who play the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, currently sit at 9-5 but have a head-to-head loss to the Packers on their resume.

There are a handful of games remaining in the week, but let’s take a look at what the playoff picture currently looks like. We’ll examine the teams currently at the top of each conference and some of the top playoff-related storylines of the week.

Teams at the Top

In case you’re new to the nuances of the NFL postseason, things work like this. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each conference receive a bye for the opening week. Right now, the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders would be those teams.

The No. 4 seed in each conference then hosts the No. 6 seed in the Wild Card Round. No. 5 then plays No. 6.

Notable Storylines

Titans Lose Game, Mariota

The Tennessee Titans had been one of the more surprising teams over the back half of the season. Coming into Week 16, they had compiled eight wins and were tied with the Houston Texans atop the AFC South.

Unfortunately, the Titans couldn’t take care of business against the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday afternoon, ultimately losing 38-17. Had the Titans won, they could have forced a Week 17 game with the Texans that would have decided the division.

Now, the Texans will have to lose to the Cincinnati Bengals for that game to be for the AFC South crown.

Even worse than losing the game, though, is the fact the Titans also lost starting quarterback Marcus Mariota to what appears to be a serious injury.

#Titans coach Mike Mularkey says at his press conference that QB Marcus Mariota has a fractured fibula. He’s out for the season.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, …

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