The big winners in Week 16 were the Saints, Patriots, Cowboys, Seahawks and Ravens. The big losers were the Steelers, Dolphins, Chiefs and Texans.
But wait. Then the Texans became winners hours later, earning a playoff berth as they headed back to Houston on Sunday following a last-second 32-30 loss at Philadelphia that handed the AFCs No. 2 seed behind Kansas City to the Patriots as if they need any help when the playoffs arrive. Houston sneaked in when Pittsburgh lost 31-28 at New Orleans, though the Texans still could wind up a wild card in the, well, wild AFC South.
Heres a road map as we head into the final week of the schedule.
NFC
New Orleans (12-3) secured home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs by beating Pittsburgh, dropping the Steelers into second place behind Baltimore in the AFC North. The Saints wont be playing outdoors again the Super Bowl, should they get there, will be inside at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Chicago (11-4) needs to be ready next week at Minnesota (9-6). For one, the Bears have a shot at the second overall slot and a first-round bye with a win and a loss by the Rams (12-3), who are at home for San Francisco. For another, they could deny their division rival a postseason spot; a Vikings win gets them a wild card.
But a Vikings loss and an Eagles win at Washington gets the defending champions (8-7) back into the postseason.
Seattle (9-6) appears destined to play at Dallas in the first round. The Seahawks beat the Cowboys in Week 3 for their first win of what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
Theyve rebuilt so quickly that Pete Carroll is in the running for Coach of the Year.
AFC
For a decade now, the New England Patriots have owned the AFC East, and they had a huge weekend.
The Patriots clinched their 10th straight division title when they beat Buffalo 24-12. They got an added bonus when Houston fell to drop out of the second seed in the conference, which New England grabbed with a shot at the top spot.
They are 7-0 in Foxborough the leagues only undefeated team in its own building and 3-5 on the road.
We didnt have our best day in the passing game. But it felt good to win. At this time of year, whatever it takes to win, thats what youve got to do, Tom Brady said.
Baltimore (9-6), fresh off its victory at the Chargers on Saturday night, has a half-game lead on Pittsburgh (8-6-1), which has lost four of five. The Ravens will take the North with a home win against Cleveland next week. The Steelers host Cincinnati and need help to get into the postseason from their hated enemy, the Browns.
