The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers both qualified for the NFL playoffs with wins Sunday. Next week, they will play for division titles at home.
The Steelers (10-5) beat Kansas City 20-12 to secure at least a wild-card berth. They will win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati next Sunday. The Bengals (9-4-1) host Denver (11-3) on Monday night.
Green Bay topped Tampa Bay 20-3 and heads to Lambeau Field for next Sunday’s showdown with Detroit for the NFC North crown. Both are 11-4 after the Lions won 20-14 at Chicago.
With their wins in Week 16, the Falcons (6-9) and Panthers (6-8-1) set up a winner-take-all game for the NFC South next Sunday at Atlanta. Carolina beat Cleveland 17-13, and Atlanta defeated New Orleans 30-14.
New England earned an AFC first-round bye with its 17-16 victory at the New York Jets.
Still alive in the AFC are Baltimore (9-6), whose loss to Houston (8-7) also kept the Texans in contention; Kansas City (8-7); and San Diego (9-6), which won Saturday night at San Francisco.
The NFC is less muddled. Arizona (11-3) already is in heading into the Sunday night game against Seattle. The Seahawks qualify by winning, while the Cardinals take the NFC West with a victory in prime time. That would also give Arizona home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
And remember, the Super Bowl will be played in the Cardinals’ stadium Feb. 1.
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