Unusually, four games have already been played ahead of the Sunday afternoon schedule as the NFL opted to push its traditional Thursday Night Football matchup back by a day to give fans a festive treat with Christmas falling on Friday.
The New Orleans Saints routed the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 on Christmas Day, before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinched a first playoff spot—for the first time since 2007—a day later as they thrashed the Detroit Lions 47-7.
Saturday’s other two games also had major playoffs implications, with the Arizona Cardinals suffer a surprise 20-12 loss at home against the San Francisco 49ers, while Ryan Fitzpatrick inspired the Miami Dolphins to a dramatic 26-25 win in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
In total, five teams can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday. In the early slate of games —kickoffs at 1 p.m. ET—the Cleveland Browns can return to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years with a win in New Jersey against the 1-13 New York Jets, if the Baltimore Ravens fail to win at home against the New York Giants.
Should Baltimore win, Cleveland would still clinch a playoff spot if the Indianapolis Colts lose in Pittsburgh in another early game. The Colts, for their part, can secure a playoff spot if they beat the Steelers and the Ravens don’t win against the Giants.
Elsewhere in the 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs can secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win at home against the Atlanta Falcons.
The late afternoon games are just as important from a playoff standpoint, with the Washington Football Team and the Los Angeles Rams both chasing a postseason berth.
Washington can clinch a first NFC East division title and a first postseason berth since 2015 if it defeats Carolina at home—the NFL has flexed the game from the 1 p.m. slot to 4:05 p.m.—and the Giants lose in Baltimore.
The Rams, meanwhile, will punch a postseason ticket if they win in Seattle against the Seahawks in the second 4:25 p.m. kickoff.
The Green Bay Packers host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday Night Football and can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win, while the Titans will clinch the AFC South title with a win in Green Bay if the Colts lose in Pittsburgh in the afternoon.
Week 16 schedule (All time ET)
Sunday, December 27
New York Giants @ Baltimore Ravens—1 p. m. , FOXCincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans—1 p. m. , FOXChicago Bears @ Jacksonville Jaguars—1 p. m. , CBSAtlanta Falcons @ Kansas City Chiefs—1 p. m. , FOXCleveland Brown @ New York Jets—1 p. m. , CBSIndianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers—1 p. m. , CBSDenver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers—4:05 p. m. , CBSCarolina Panthers @ Washington Football Team—4:05 p. m. , CBSPhiladelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys—4:25 p. m. , FOXLos Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks—4:25 p. m. , FOXTennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers—8:20 p. m. , NBC
Monday, December 28
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots—8:15 p. m. , ESPN
Week 16 TV coverage
As usual, the Sunday afternoon games are split across CBS and FOX Sports with NBC carrying Sunday Night Football and ESPN broadcasting Monday Night Football.
Week 16 live stream
Live stream for the Sunday afternoon games is available via CBS and FOX’s digital platforms, which include apps on Apple and Android devices as well as via connected TVs. Similarly, NFL Network’s game pass will be available via connected TVs and on mobile devices.
NBC and ESPN will offer live stream of Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football on their respective digital platforms and fans can also live stream games via NFL Game Pass.
