We could know the identity of all 12 playoff teams by the end of Week 16.
We wouldn’t know exactly how all 12 of those teams would be seeded -- that can’t be determined until Week 17 -- but the NFL’s clinching scenarios for this week make it possible for every playoff spot to be filled up by the end of the week:
AFC
Patriots have clinched a first-round bye, Bengals have clinched a playoff berth.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (at New York Jets, Sunday)
New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with a win.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (at Denver, Monday)
Cincinnati clinches the AFC North with a win or a Steelers loss. Cincinnati clinches a first-round bye with a win.
DENVER BRONCOS (vs. Cincinnati, Monday)
Denver clinches the AFC West with a win and a Chiefs loss. Denver clinches a playoff spot with a win and either a Jets loss or a Steelers loss.
HOUSTON TEXANS (at Tennessee, Sunday)
Houston clinches the AFC South with a win and a Colts loss. Houston can also clinch the AFC South with a win even if the Colts win, as long as enough other games break the right way for Houston to clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over Indianapolis.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (vs. Cleveland, Sunday)
Kansas City clinches a playoff spot with a win and either a Jets loss or a Steelers loss.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (at Baltimore, Sunday)
Pittsburgh clinches a playoff spot with a win and a Jets loss.
NFC
Panthers have clinched a first-round bye, Cardinals have clinched the NFC West, Packers have clinched a playoff berth, Seahawks have clinched a wild card.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (at Atlanta, Sunday)
Carolina clinches home-field advantage throughout NFC playoffs with a win or a Cardinals loss.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (vs. Green Bay, Sunday)
Arizona clinches a first-round bye with a win.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (at Arizona, Sunday)
Green Bay clinches the NFC North with a win and a Vikings loss.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (vs. New York Giants, Sunday night)
Minnesota clinches a playoff spot with a win, or a Falcons loss, or a Seahawks win.
WASHINGTON (at Philadelphia, Saturday)
Washington clinches the NFC East with a win.