The Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 33-19 on Monday night for their most impressive win of the season. Not only does this win make them look like a Super Bowl contender, it also puts them in a great spot in the AFC. They sit one game ahead of Miami with a 12-3 record and a chance to clinch the top spot next week against the Dolphins.
Meanwhile, the 49ers’ loss moved them to an 11-4 record, tied with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions in the NFC’s top three. The 49ers have tiebreakers in both games, but with two games remaining there’s still time for the Eagles or Lions to make a move.
As for the rest of the NFL, things changed a lot in the playoffs in Week 16. Let’s see where things stand heading into Week 17.
Odds to make the playoffs, secure a No. 1 seed and win the Super Bowl are all passed CompetitorNFL betting model created by Austin Mock.
AFC Champions League playoff pictures
| seed | team | Record | Week 16 Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
x–1 |
12-3 |
W and SF |
|
|
x–2 |
11-4 |
W and DAL |
|
|
3 |
9-6 |
L and LV |
|
|
4 |
8-7 |
L and TB |
|
|
5 |
10-5 |
W VS. LOVE |
|
|
6 |
9-6 |
W to LAC |
|
|
7 |
8-7 |
L and ATL |
x – lock in a playoff spot | z – win the division championship
baltimore ravens
The Ravens sent a message in San Francisco, not just by beating the 49ers on the scoreboard, but by the physical way they waged it throughout the night. Defensive coordinator Mike McDonald may have made it onto the shortlist for some teams with head coaching vacancies.
Remaining schedule: vs. Miami Dolphins, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Win the bye: 69.5% | Win the Super Bowl: 17.2%
Ravens defense vs. 49ers on Christmas Day:
◻️ 5 intelligence
◻️ 9 QB hits
◻️ 4 bags https://t.co/Hh2mfOm6AZ pic.twitter.com/XF8vaN0tuT— NFL Sports (@TheAthleticNFL) December 26, 2023
miami dolphins
The Dolphins were coming off their first big win of the season against the Cowboys on Sunday, which they did with a clutch game-winning field goal before the final buzzer. That’s huge, not only for teams seeking a seed, but also for the Dolphins trying to build confidence ahead of the playoffs. Now, if they can win in Baltimore on Sunday, they have a chance to become the No. 1 seed.
Remaining schedule: Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Win the bye: 28.9% | Win the Super Bowl: 13.2%
The Dolphins secure a playoff spot with a buzzer-beating field goal!
📺：Fox pic.twitter.com/ynIkpoMfGt
— Fox Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 25, 2023
The Chiefs have lost five of eight games and are 2-3 this season against teams with current winning records. While giving up quarterback Patrick Mahomes might feel reckless, the Chiefs’ resume doesn’t represent a team that’s ready to win four straight playoff games.
Remaining schedule: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Odds: Make the playoffs: 98.1% | Earn a bye: 0% | Win the Super Bowl: 9.1%
The Jaguars have lost four straight as quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s injury continues to worsen this week. Their offensive issues over the past two weeks can be explained by injuries and Lawrence’s lack of practice time, but the defense has also had holes, giving up an average of 29.5 points per game during the decline. Then again, the Buccaneers scored three touchdowns off turnovers, so this has become a common meltdown.
Remaining schedule: Tennessee Titans vs. Carolina Panthers
Odds: Make the playoffs: 65.9% | Earn a bye: 0% | Win the Super Bowl: 1.2%
deeper
NFL Week 16 Highlights: Browns, Joe Flacco do it again; time to consider Lions contenders?
Quarterback Joe Flacco was sitting on his couch watching football five Sundays ago and had three consecutive 300-yard games for the first time in his career. He hasn’t had three 300-yard games in a full season since 2016. It was a truly remarkable performance.
Remaining schedule: vs New York Jets vs Bengals
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Earn a bye: 1.6% | Win the Super Bowl: 2.9%
Tell my kids this is Santa Claus pic.twitter.com/eTloAPK2EK
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2023
buffalo bill
The Bills start their three-game winning streak in Kansas City and are becoming as dangerous as any team in the AFC. It’s also possible we’ll see the next chapter of the Bills-Chiefs mini-rivalry in the wild-card round.
Remaining schedule: New England Patriots, Dolphins
Odds: Make the playoffs: 90.3% | Earn a bye: 0% | Win the Super Bowl: 4.7%
Quarterback keeper!
📺： @Peacock#ProBowlVote | @JoshAllenQB pic.twitter.com/uy9yYWjbiJ
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2023
The Colts lost 29-10 in Atlanta and are now tied with the Texans, Steelers and Bengals. The Colts are almost certain to win and hope the tiebreaker swings in their favor to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders vs. Houston Texans
Odds: Make the playoffs: 66.4% | Earn a bye: 0% | Win the Super Bowl: 0.9%
in hunting
• Houston Texans (8-7)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
• Cincinnati Tigers (8-7)
• Denver Broncos (7-8)
• Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)
Be eliminated
• New York Jets (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (5-10)
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
• New England Patriots (4-11)
NFC playoff pictures
| seed | team | Record | Week 16 Results |
|---|---|---|---|
|
z–1 |
11-4 |
L and BAL |
|
|
x–2 |
11-4 |
W vs New York |
|
|
z–3 |
11-4 |
W and MIN |
|
|
4 |
8-7 |
W and JAX |
|
|
x–5 |
10-5 |
L and MIA |
|
|
6 |
8-7 |
W and NO |
|
|
7 |
8-7 |
W versus 10 |
x – lock in a playoff spot | z – win the division championship
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback Brock Purdy’s four interceptions will be in the spotlight after the 49ers’ one-sided loss to the Ravens, but don’t overlook another key aspect. After trailing 23-12 with 12:07 left in the third quarter, Purdy completed just 8-of-14 passes for 107 yards and an interception in four scoreless games before leaving the game with an injury. The concern for the 49ers is that they haven’t been able to erase their latest deficit, and they didn’t make much of an impact when they fell behind on Monday night.
Remaining schedule: Washington Commanders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Win the bye: 74.3% | Win the Super Bowl: 25.5%
philadelphia eagles
Nothing has been easy so far for the Eagles, who haven’t won a game by more than eight points since Week 7. While their last two regular-season games were against non-playoff opponents, they will be personal against former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and the Arizona Cardinals before a rematch with the Giants. The opponent’s quality won’t be elite, but they will be a tough matchup, which will be a good tune-up for the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals vs. Giants
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Win the bye: 22.4% | Win the Super Bowl: 7.8%
deeper
Eagles hold off Giants offense as DeVito comes off the bench
detroit lions
The Lions have finally won the NFC North and will host the playoffs for the first time in 30 years. They will also be looking for their first playoff victory in 32 years and their second in the Super Bowl era. In a sadistic way, they might have to go through fan favorite Matthew Stafford to get it done.
Remaining schedule: Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Win the bye: 2.9% | Win the Super Bowl: 5.2%
What was once a wish is now a reality in Detroit.
This Lions team knows how to win. It knows how to shut down the game.writes that it is clearer than leaving it to fate @colton_pouncy.
And it doesn’t stop there.
🔗: https://t.co/yXLvQCEtl4 pic.twitter.com/p5dDdcb35l
— The Athlete (@TheAthletic) December 25, 2023
The Buccaneers have won four straight, but had not defeated a superior opponent before their blowout win against the Jaguars. One wouldn’t have high expectations for the Buccaneers — or whoever wins the NFC South — against the NFC East runner-up, but making the playoffs in a rebuilding year after a 4-7 start should be viewed as Considered a huge success in Tampa.
Remaining schedule: Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
Odds: Make the playoffs: 89.1% | Earn byes: 0% | Win Super Bowl: 1.7%
Baker and the Buccaneers have won four straight games.
NFC South standings:
◻️ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
◻️ Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
◻️ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
e — Carolina Panthers (2-13) pic.twitter.com/TLyT0EalC4— NFL Sports (@TheAthleticNFL) December 25, 2023
dallas cowboys
With Sunday’s loss in Miami, the Cowboys fell to 2-2 in one-game possessions this season, and they’ve only won one game after trailing in the first quarter (Week 13 against the Seahawks). Their lack of success in competitive games will once again be a problem in the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: Play against the Lions in Commander
Odds: Make the playoffs: 100% | Earn a bye: 0.5% | Win the Super Bowl: 7.8%
deeper
Cowboys insist confidence is high after losing second straight game – both games on the road
Los Angeles Rams
There was no reason to believe the Rams would be in this position when they were 3-6, but they’ve won five of six games since the bye week and if they can continue their playoff push, they have Opportunity plays the role of spoiler. Playoffs.
Remaining schedule: On the Giants, 49ers
Odds: Make the playoffs: 68.2% | Earn byes: 0% | Win Super Bowl: 1.1%
deeper
Puka Nacua shows why he’s in primetime offensive ROY talk, and Rams keep rolling
seattle seahawks
The Seahawks haven’t scored many style points, but they have proven their ability to win close games, including game-winning drives from quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock the past two games. If they can get healthier in the playoffs, this strong team that has just experienced a series of strong opponents will become an enviable opponent.
Remaining schedule: Cardinals vs. Steelers
Odds: Make the playoffs: 70% | Earn a bye: 0% | Win the Super Bowl: 0.9%
in hunting
• Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
• Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
• Green Bay Packers (7-8)
• New Orleans Saints (7-8)
• Chicago Bears (6-9)
Be eliminated
• New York Giants (5-10)
• Washington Commander(4-11)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)
(Top photo of Lamar Jackson: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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