The 2023 NFL Standings Heading into Week 16

Josh Frey   |  

Dec 19, 2023

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Week 15 of the NFL season is officially behind us.

Only three weeks remain before the playoff field is officially set, but there is still plenty of important football to be played. Over the final few weeks of the regular season, many teams will play multiple divisional games that could either help or end their playoff hopes. As we head into Week 16, here is an updated look at the NFL standings.

NFL Standings Heading into Week 16

AFC East

1. Miami Dolphins (10-4)
2. Buffalo Bills (8-6)
3. New York Jets (5-9)
4. New England Patriots (3-11)

It’s officially a two-horse race in the AFC East as the New York Jets were eliminated from playoff contention with their 30-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Dolphins have a home game against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, and with a win as well as a Bills loss, Miami can officially lock down the division title.

However, Buffalo is playing great football right now, and they just earned a dominant 31-10 win over those Cowboys this weekend. Now, the Bills head on the road to take on the Chargers. We could be cruising to a Week 18 matchup between Buffalo and Miami that decides this division.

AFC North

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-3)
2. Cleveland Browns (9-5)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

Cincinnati officially climbed out of last place in the AFC North with their win over the Minnesota Vikings this weekend, and they leapt up to the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff race. Jake Browning has picked up the torch left behind by Joe Burrow and run with it.

It’s a similar situation in Cleveland as Joe Flacco has revitalized the Browns offense, and they earned their second straight win by defeating the Bears. However, Baltimore continues to hold a two-game lead in the division because of a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday night.

AFC South

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)
2. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
3. Houston Texans (8-6)
4. Tennessee Titans (5-9)

It’s a three-way tie for the AFC South after Jacksonville lost to the Baltimore Ravens this weekend while both Indianapolis and Houston got back on track with wins. However, Jacksonville continues to hold the tie-breaker between the teams because of a 3-1 record against the Colts and Texans.

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)
2. Denver Broncos (7-7)
3. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)
4. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)

The Chargers are firmly at the bottom of the AFC West again after a franchise-imploding loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night while Kansas City’s control in the division is back to two games following their win over the Patriots and Denver’s loss to Detroit. There are still tiebreaking scenarios that can get the Broncos back into the race, but a lot needs to work in their favor over these final three weeks.

NFC East

1. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)
3. New York Giants (5-9)
4. Washington Commanders (4-10)

The Cowboys and Eagles sealed up playoff spots and immediately took their feet off the gas. The two teams are a combined 1-3 over the past two weeks, and that sole win came in a Cowboys victory over the Eagles to gain control of the division.

Philly has a significantly easier schedule down the stretch (Giants twice, Cardinals), so in all likelihood, they will find a way to win this division. After this three-game losing streak, though, which seed will they land in?

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (10-4)
2. Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
3. Green Bay Packers (6-8)
4. Chicago Bears (5-9)

If Darnell Mooney had an 11th finger, the Bears could have re-entered the NFC playoff race, but alas, he dropped a last-second Hail Mary pass from Justin Fields that likely extinguished any last-minute playoff hopes.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are in must-win territory if they want to win back-to-back division titles. They lost to Cincinnati last weekend while Detroit dominated the Broncos. This weekend, Minnesota’s three-week quest begins with a home game against the Lions.

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
2. New Orleans Saints (7-7)
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
4. Carolina Panthers (2-12)

Atlanta fell off the pace in the NFC South this weekend because of their loss to the Carolina Panthers while both New Orleans and Tampa Bay earned wins to maintain a two-way tie atop the division. The Buccaneers and Saints will meet in two weeks in Tampa Bay, which could settle this division once and for all.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
2. Los Angeles Rams (7-7)
3. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
4. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

San Francisco ended any mystery in the NFC West with their win over the Arizona Cardinals this weekend, and for the third time in the past five years, the 49ers will end the season as division champs. However, both Los Angeles and Seattle remain right in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race after each team got their seventh victory of the season.

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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.