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NFL playoff picture 2020: Week 16 standings, bracket, scenarios and outlook for the postseason
Welcome to what could be the 2020 NFL season's most impactful weekend of playoff positioning. There are clinching scenarios for six more teams, on top of the seven that have already qualified, and already we're starting to see the end of some of the league's longest playoff droughts. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday clinched their first playoff appearance since 2007 by throttling the Detroit Lions 47-7. Later this weekend, the Cleveland Browns could secure their first postseason appearance since 2002, and both the Washington Football Team and Arizonza Cardinals could also clinch their first appearances since 2015. Here is the full postseason outlook and clinching scenarios that lie ahead.
Jacksonville Jaguars clinch No. 1 overall pick in 2021 NFL draft The Jaguars have had just one winning season since 2007, and they have lost 10 or more games nine times in the past 10 years. The Jaguars haven't had a franchise quarterback since Mark Brunell (1995 to 2003), who led them to four consecutive playoff appearances and two AFC Championship games. Since then, however, the Jaguars have made just three playoff appearances.
Playoff Leaders: American Football Conference No.1: *Kansas City (14 - 1)
No.2: zBuffalo (12 - 3) Wins tie break over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head win percentage. No.3: zPittsburgh (12 - 3)
No.4: Tennessee (10 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on best win percentage in division games. No.5: Miami (10 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis and Baltimore based on best win percentage in conference games. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Cleveland (Baltimore wins tie break over Cleveland based on head-to-head win percentage). No.6: Baltimore (10 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on head-to-head win percentage. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Cleveland (Baltimore wins tie break over Cleveland based on head-to-head win percentage). No.7: Cleveland (10 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on head-to-head win percentage.
National Football Conference
No.1: zGreen Bay (12 - 3)
No.2: zNew Orleans (11 - 4) Wins tie break over Seattle based on best win percentage in conference games. No.3: zSeattle (11 - 4)
No.4: Washington (6 - 9) Wins tie break over Dallas based on head-to-head win percentage. No.5: xTampa Bay (10 - 5)
No.6: Los Angeles Rams (9 - 6)
No.7: Chicago (8 - 7) Wins tie break over Arizona based on best win percentage in common games.
NFL Power Rankings Week 17: 1-32 poll, plus New Year's resolutions for each team
With one week of regular-season games remainimg, it's time for the NFL Power Rankings to look to the future. After a 2020 that was different from anything we've ever seen and chock full of challenges (on and off the field), we look ahead to (hopefully) better times in 2021.
Lamar Jackson becomes 1st QB in NFL history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons as Baltimore Ravens clinch playoff spot
Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons Sunday as the Ravens clinched a wild-card berth with their fifth straight victory, a 38-3 rout of the Cincinnati Bengals . The Ravens (11-5) secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will play at the AFC South champion next weekend in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The winner of the AFC South Tennessee Titans or the Indianapolis Colts will be determined later Sunday. Jackson, who also threw three touchdowns passes, became the second quarterback to win NFL MVP and reach the playoffs in his first three seasons in the league, joining Dan Marino. He now will seek his first postseason victory after consecutive one-and-done playoff appearances. The only other quarterback to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season was Michael Vick in 2006. Jackson has eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in two of his first three NFL seasons, setting the single-season record for quarterbacks last season with 1,206 yards.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson sets Super Bowl-era rookie receiving yards record
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson made the most of a game with little on the line between Minnesota and the Detroit Lions by etching his name in NFL history twice on Sunday afternoon. Entering Week 17 with 1,267 receiving yards, Jefferson needed 111 yards in the Vikings' season finale to set a new Super Bowl-era (since 1966) rookie record. He broke the mark established by Arizona's Anquan Boldin (1,377) in 2003 upon catching a 37-yard pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter. The first-rounder is now second all time behind Houston's Bill Groman, who holds the rookie record of 1,473 receiving yards set in 1960. Last month, Jefferson surpassed Moss' single-season mark of 69 catches in his rookie season. Sunday marked the former LSU star's seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season.
Playoff Leaders: American Football Conference No.1: *Kansas City (14 - 2)
No.2: zBuffalo (13 - 3). No.3: zPittsburgh (12 - 4)
No.4: zTennessee (11 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on best win percentage in division games. No.5: xBaltimore (11 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on head-to-head win percentage. Wins tie break over Cleveland based on head-to-head win percentage). No.6: xCleveland (11 - 5) Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on head-to-head win percentage. No.7: xIndianapolis (11 - 5)
National Football Conference
No.1: *Green Bay (13 - 3)
No.2: zNew Orleans (12 - 4) Wins tie break over Seattle based on best win percentage in conference games. No.3: zSeattle (12 - 4)
No.4: zWashington (7 - 9)
No.5: xTampa Bay (11 - 5)
No.6: xLos Angeles Rams (10 - 6)
No.7: xChicago (8 - 8) Wins tie break over Arizona based on best win percentage in common games.
* --:Clinched Division and Bye Z --:Clinched Division X --:Clinched Wild Card