Week 16 continues after Saturday’s excitement, with the Eagles clinching the NFC East and the Bears seizing the NFC North lead via an overtime victory over the Packers. Sunday’s 12-game lineup (early games underway, kicked off 30 minutes ago) features potential clinches for teams like the Broncos, Patriots, Bills, and 49ers. We’ve updated with the latest clinching scenarios from USA Today and live game notes.
Below is the full preview of Sunday’s games, including clinch scenarios, key matchups, betting odds (as of Dec 21 morning averages from FanDuel/DraftKings), and predictions. For live scores and updates, check ESPN or NFL.com.
Key Clinch Scenarios for Week 16
Here are the key clinch scenarios for the NFL Playoff picture for you.
AFC
- Denver Broncos: Clinch AFC West and No. 1 seed with win + Chargers loss/tie + Patriots loss + Bills loss/tie. Clinch West with win + Chargers loss/tie or tie + Chargers loss.
- Buffalo Bills: Clinch playoff berth with win + Colts loss/tie or win + Texans loss/tie or tie + Colts loss or tie + Texans loss.
- New England Patriots: Clinch playoff berth with win/tie or Colts loss/tie or Texans loss/tie.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Clinch playoff berth with win + Colts loss/tie or win + Texans loss/tie or tie + Colts loss or tie + Texans loss.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Clinch playoff berth with win + Colts loss/tie or win + Texans loss/tie or tie + Colts loss or tie + Texans loss.
NFC
- Chicago Bears: Clinch berth with Lions loss/tie (Bears already played Saturday).
- San Francisco 49ers: Clinch playoff berth with win or Lions loss or tie + Lions tie.
Sunday Week 16 Games Preview
(Note: Early 1:00 PM ET games are ongoing—monitor live scores for updates.)
1:00 PM ET Games (Ongoing)
- Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins (CBS)
Clinch Impact: Dolphins stay in WC hunt with win; Bengals boost North odds.
Key Matchup: Joe Burrow vs. Dolphins’ secondary.
Odds: Dolphins -2.5, O/U 47.5
Prediction: Dolphins 28, Bengals 24 – Miami wins at home. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (FOX)
Clinch Impact: Bucs clinch NFC South with win.
Key Matchup: Baker Mayfield vs. Panthers’ defense.
Odds: Bucs -7, O/U 44
Prediction: Bucs 30, Panthers 17 – Tampa locks up the division. - Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns (CBS)
Clinch Impact: Bills clinch berth with win + help from Colts/Texans games.
Key Matchup: Josh Allen vs. Browns’ pass rush.
Odds: Bills -10, O/U 41.5
Prediction: Bills 31, Browns 14 – Buffalo dominates. - Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys (FOX)
Clinch Impact: Chargers clinch berth with win + help.
Key Matchup: Justin Herbert vs. Cowboys’ secondary.
Odds: Chargers -4, O/U 46.5
Prediction: Chargers 28, Cowboys 20 – LA secures a spot. - New Orleans Saints at New York Jets (FOX)
Clinch Impact: None significant (both eliminated).
Key Matchup: Aaron Rodgers vs. Saints’ defense.
Odds: Jets -6.5, O/U 39.5
Prediction: Jets 27, Saints 17 – New York cruises. - New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (FOX)
Clinch Impact: None (both out).
Key Matchup: Sam Darnold vs. Giants’ front.
Odds: Vikings -3.5, O/U 43
Prediction: Vikings 24, Giants 20 – Minnesota at home. - Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers (CBS)
Clinch Impact: Colts need win for WC; Steelers stay in North race.
Key Matchup: Anthony Richardson vs. Steelers’ defense.
Odds: Steelers -2.5, O/U 43
Prediction: Steelers 23, Colts 20 – Pittsburgh edges it.
4:05/4:25 PM ET Games
- Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals (4:05 PM ET, FOX)
Clinch Impact: None (both fading).
Key Matchup: Kirk Cousins vs. Cardinals’ secondary.
Odds: Falcons -3, O/U 46
Prediction: Falcons 27, Cardinals 23 – Atlanta wins on the road. - Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos (4:05 PM ET, FOX)
Clinch Impact: Broncos clinch West/No. 1 seed with win + help; Jaguars clinch berth with win + help.
Key Matchup: Trevor Lawrence vs. Broncos’ defense.
Odds: Broncos -3.5, O/U 44
Prediction: Broncos 26, Jaguars 21 – Denver stays strong. - Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions (4:25 PM ET, CBS)
Clinch Impact: Lions stay in WC hunt; Steelers boost North odds.
Key Matchup: Jared Goff vs. Steelers’ pass rush.
Odds: Lions -3, O/U 47
Prediction: Lions 27, Steelers 24 – Detroit keeps hopes alive. - Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans (4:25 PM ET, CBS)
Clinch Impact: Texans boost WC with win.
Key Matchup: C.J. Stroud vs. Raiders’ defense.
Odds: Texans -14.5, O/U 45
Prediction: Texans 31, Raiders 14 – Houston rolls.
Sunday Night Football: 8:20 PM ET
- New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens (NBC)
Clinch Impact: Patriots clinch berth with win/tie + help; Ravens clinch North with win + Steelers loss.
Key Matchup: Lamar Jackson vs. Pats’ defense.
Odds: Ravens -3, O/U 45.5
Prediction: Ravens 27, Patriots 24 – Baltimore in primetime.
What are your picks for the Sunday slate? Drop them in the comments, and follow SportsBrackets.net for live updates, the full 2026 NFL playoff bracket, and more Week 16 coverage!
