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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Adam Stites

NFL standings, Week 16: All 4 AFC South teams lose

The Jacksonville Jaguars got an early Christmas present when the rest of their division fell flat on their face Sunday.

The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans — who entered the weekend in a three-way tie with the Jaguars for the division lead — lost to the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, respectively.

Jacksonville then followed suit with an embarrassing, blowout loss of its own against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For another week, all three teams in the AFC South remain tied.

With only two Christmas games left to play, here’s how the standings and playoff picture across the AFC look in Week 16:

AFC South

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-7
  2. Indianapolis Colts: 8-7
  3. Houston Texans: 8-7
  4. Tennessee Titans: 5-10

The Jaguars’ lead in the AFC South held only because the rest of the division blew their chance to make up ground.

AFC East

Jim Rassol / USA TODAY NETWORK
  1. (x) Miami Dolphins: 11-4
  2. Buffalo Bills: 9-6
  3. New York Jets: 6-9
  4. New England Patriots: 4-11

(x-clinched playoff berth)

The Bills keep trying to make things interesting, but the Dolphins haven’t opened the door. If Miami beats the Ravens next week, the race is over. If the Dolphins lose, the division could come down to a duel with the Bills in Week 18.

AFC North

Bob Self/Florida Times-Union
  1. (x) Baltimore Ravens: 11-3
  2. Cleveland Browns: 10-5
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-7
  4. Cincinnati Bengals: 8-7

(x-clinched playoff berth)

The razor close AFC North is down to a two-team race. While the Ravens just keep winning, the Browns won’t go away. If Baltimore can’t beat the 49ers on Monday night, the division race could come down to the wire.

AFC West

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
  1. Kansas City Chiefs: 9-6
  2. Las Vegas Raiders: 7-8
  3. Denver Broncos: 7-8
  4. Los Angeles Chargers: 5-10

The Chiefs only need one win to secure the division, but they continue to struggle down the stretch. With a Kansas City loss to the Raiders on Christmas, the AFC West still isn’t decided.

AFC Playoff Picture

Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports
  1. (x) Baltimore Ravens: 11-3
  2. (x) Miami Dolphins: 11-4
  3. Kansas City Chiefs: 9-6
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-7
  5. Cleveland Browns: 10-5
  6. Buffalo Bills: 9-6
  7. Indianapolis Colts: 8-7

In the hunt:

  • Houston Texans: 8-7
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-7
  • Cincinnati Bengals: 8-7
  • Las Vegas Raiders: 7-8
  • Denver Broncos: 7-8

(x = clinched playoff berth)

Only the Ravens, Dolphins, and Browns are mathematically in the hunt for the No. 1 seed with two weeks left.

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