NFL Playoffs 2016: Bengals/Broncos Game Affects Entire AFC – Who Is In And Who Is Out After Week 16
The 2016 NFL Playoffs are halfway decided with the entire NFC now set and in place. Well, the teams are set, but some of the seeds could change depending on what happens in the final week of the season. There is still one more game in Week 16, and the outcome of the contest between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos could affect just about everything in the AFC side of the playoffs.
Cincinnati is 11-3 going into the Monday Night Football game and Denver is sitting at 10-4. They’re both playing for the number two seed in the AFC, but just about all the other teams still vying for a playoff spot or higher seeding has something on the line.
Like playoff implications? @nflnetwork research dept says check out MNF tonight. pic.twitter.com/EOWvxdwJiY
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Depending on what happens on Monday night, the Bengals, Broncos, Colts, Chiefs, Texans, and Jets could all be affected by the outcome. That’s five of six teams currently on pace to get a playoff spot as of Monday afternoon and one that is still in the hunt.
The New England Patriots are the number one seed in the AFC as of now, and the outcome of the game won’t really affect them much. The Pittsburgh Steelers are still alive and hoping to get in by way of winning in Week 17 and getting some help.
As the standings shown by CBS Sports prove, there is still a lot to be determined. Before Monday night’s game, here are the AFC playoff standings.
- New England Patriots (12-3) – First-round bye
- Cincinnati Bengals (11-3) – Clinched AFC North
- Denver Broncos (10-4) – Not yet clinched playoff spot
- Houston Texans (8-7) – Not yet clinched playoff spot
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-5) – Clinched playoff spot
- New York Jets (10-5) – Not yet clinched playoff spot
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) – Still in the hunt
- Indianapolis Colts (7-8) – Still in the hunt
If the Bengals win, the Colts are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and the Texans will win the AFC South. Going through all the tiebreakers from the season, the Texans would be above the Colts even if both end up 8-8, according to ESPN.
A win by Cincinnati would also drop the Broncos down to the sixth seed in the AFC, with the Chiefs moving up to number three and the Jets moving up to number five. If the Steelers then win in Week 17 and the Broncos lose their season finale to the San Diego Chargers, then Pittsburgh would be in the playoffs and Denver would be out entirely.
Should the Broncos win on Monday night, things are a bit simpler. Denver would jump into the number two spot and clinch a playoff berth. Cincinnati would fall to number three with the Chiefs and Jets staying in place with some things to be determined next week.
Over in the NFC, things are much simpler and all the teams are now in place, but the seeds can still change a bit depending on what happens in Week 17. As of Monday afternoon, the NFC playoff standings are as follows.
- Carolina Panthers (14-1) – First-round bye
- Arizona Cardinals (13-2) – First-round bye
- Green Bay Packers (10-5) – Clinched playoff spot
- Washington Redskins (8-7) – Won NFC East
- Minnesota Vikings (10-5) – Clinched playoff spot
- Seattle Seahawks (9-6) – Clinched playoff spot
Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers could have locked up home-field advantage on Sunday, but the Atlanta Falcons spoiled that and their perfect season. Now, they need a win or tie in Week 17 to lock it up, or they can get it with an Arizona loss.
The Cardinals can get home-field advantage with a win in Week 17 and a loss by the Panthers.
In the NFC North, the division title is up for grabs between the Packers and Vikings. If the Vikings win, they are the NFC North champs. If the Packers win or tie, they are the NFC North champs.
The 2016 NFL Playoffs start in a couple weeks, but the seeds and teams are coming down to the final week of the regular season. A lot is still left to be determined, and the outcome of Monday night’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos will tell a lot.
[Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images]
