1. Carolina Panthers
Record: 14-0
Week 16 opponent: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 15 MVP: We’ve given it to him just about every week, but there’s perhaps no week in which Cam Newton has deserved it more than this one. His performance against the Giants was masterful: 345 passing yards, five interceptions, no interceptions, and an additional 100 yards rushing. He’s the first quarterback to ever do that.
One thing to know: The Giants believe that the Panthers threatened Odell Beckham Jr. during warm-ups with baseball bats and homophobic slurs.
2. New England Patriots
Record: 12-2
Week 16 opponent: at New York Jets
Week 15 MVP: Linebacker Jamie Collins had a day: a sack, a tackle for loss, and an interception returned for 51 yards.
One thing to know: The Patriots already have their first-round bye locked up.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Record: 12-2
Week 16 opponent: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 15 MVP: David Johnson had 40 (!) fantasy points on Sunday night, going off for 187 yards and three TDs, including the rushing TD of the season.
One thing to know: Tyrann Matthieu tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs.
4. Seattle Seahawks
Record: 9-5
Week 16 opponent: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 15 MVP: Russell Wilson is quietly vaunting himself into the MVP conversation, throwing three more touchdowns on Sunday along with no interceptions and 249 yards. The Seahawks are coming.
One thing to know: Marshawn Lynch is trying to return during Week 17, and is reportedly currently doing MMA training to “get the fight back”.
5. Green Bay Packers
Record: 10-4
Week 16 opponent: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 15 MVP: Rookie Damarious Randall had a 43-yard pick-six, the first of his career. He also had seven total tackles, so we’ll give it to him.
One thing to know: The Packers are underdogs against the Cardinals, just the second time this season and the fifth time in the past two years that they’ve been underdogs in a regular season game.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 9-5
Week 16 opponent: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 15 MVP: Antonio Brown continued his monster year, putting up 189 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: With the win, the Steelers moved into one of the Wild Card slots in the AFC.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 11-3
Week 16 opponent: at Denver Broncos
Week 15 MVP: Vontaze Burfict had seven tackles, a sack, tackle for loss, and an interception.
One thing to know: AJ McCarron won his first start, but a world separates the 49ers from the Broncos' defense he'll face in a huge Week 16 game.
8. Denver Broncos
Record: 10-4
Week 16 opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 15 MVP: Emmanuel Sanders had a day, with 181 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: The Broncos may have a quarterback controversy on their hands, with the playoffs around the corner, Peyton Manning getting healthy, and Brock Osweiler regressing.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 9-5
Week 16 opponent: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 15 MVP: Charcandrick West was steady, running for 76 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Make it eight straight wins for the Chiefs. With the Browns and Raiders on their schedule to finish the year, this could be the hottest team come the postseason.
10. Minnesota Vikings
Record: 9-5
Week 16 opponent: vs. New York Giants
Week 15 MVP: Teddy Bridgewater was just about flawless on Sunday, throwing four TDs and adding another one on the ground. He completed 17 of 20 passes for 231 yards, and was sacked just once.
One thing to know: The Vikings snapped a two-game losing streak with Sunday’s win, and could catch a big break on Sunday if the Giants are without Odell Beckham Jr.
11. New York Jets
Record: 9-5
Week 16 opponent: vs. New England Patriots
Week 15 MVP: We'll give it to the Jets secondary for coming up with four interceptions against the Cowboys.
One thing to know: The Jets are now on the outside looking in for the AFC Wild Card. They face, basically, a must-win game at home against the Patriots.
12. Washington Redskins
Record: 7-7
Week 16 opponent: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15 MVP: Captain Kirk is on fire lately, and it’s going to earn him a nice paycheck this off-season. Against the Bills (who may or may not have quit on Rex Ryan), Cousins threw four touchdowns and added another on the ground. No interceptions, too. You like that!
One thing to know: The Redskins can clinch the NFC East with a win against the Eagles on Sunday.
13. Houston Texans
Record: 7-7
Week 16 opponent: at Tennessee Titans
Week 15 MVP: Alfred Blue ran for 107 yards on 20 carries — his second 100-yard game of the season.
One thing to know: The Texans have the lead in the AFC South, but if Brian Hoyer doesn't pass concussion protocol, they'll have to finish out the season with Brandon Weeden under center.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: at Miami Dolphins
Week 15 MVP: We'll give it to linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who, according to PFF, has been one of the best linebackers over the last few weeks.
One thing to know: Matt Hasselbeck sounds spent, saying after Week 15, "I got nothing left." Andrew Luck still isn't near returning.
15. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 15 MVP: Jordan Matthews had a solid game against the Cardinals, despite the blowout. He caught eight passes for 159 yards, including a 77-yard TD.
One thing to know: The Eagles' road to the NFC East is more complicated, but the easiest scenario is this: if they win out, they win the division.
16. New York Giants
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 15 MVP: Lost amid the Odell Beckham shenanigans was Rashad Jenning's big day: the running back’s 107 yards and a touchdown were a big reason the Giants erased a 28-point deficit.
One thing to know: The Giants are going to need some serious help to win the NFC East now, but technically they are still alive. They need to win their two remaining games, and hope Washington loses both of theirs, to win the division.
17. Atlanta Falcons
Record: 7-7
Week 16 opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 15 MVP: Julio Jones scored his first touchdown in seven weeks. In total, he logged 118 yards on just nine catches.
One thing to know: Rookie pass rusher Vic Beasley revealed he’d been playing all season with a torn labrum, which may explain his underwhelming performances on the field.
18. Oakland Raiders
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 15 MVP: Amari Cooper broke out of a mini-slump for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
One thing to know: Veteran safety Charles Woodson announced he's going to retire after this season.
19. St. Louis Rams
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 15 MVP: Tavon Austin scored two touchdowns as the Rams won what could have been their final game in St. Louis.
One thing to know: Todd Gurley became the first Rams rookie to rush for over 1,000 yards since Jerome Bettis did it for in 1993 — when the team was in Los Angeles.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 15 MVP: Mike Evans had a big day against the Rams, hauling in nine catches for 157 yards.
One thing to know: Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Bucs are still optimistic entering the final two games of their season. They’re planning to use the next two weeks to build momentum for next season.
21. Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 5-9
Week 16 opponent: at New Orleans Saints
Week 15 MVP: Defensive tackle Jared Odrick had a sack, two tackles for losses, three hurries, and a batted pass that led to an interception while earning a +4.7 grade from PFF.
One thing to know: The Jaguars hung in the playoff race for awhile, but the loss to the Falcons put them two games behind the Colts for the AFC South lead.
22. Buffalo Bills
Record: 6-8
Week 16 opponent: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 15 MVP: Tyrod Taylor threw 235 yards and two touchdowns while adding 79 rushing yards.
One thing to know: Vocal wide receiver Sammy Watkins called out his team after the loss. The Bills' effort under Rex Ryan hasn't been encouraging.
23. New Orleans Saints
Record: 5-9
Week 16 opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 15 MVP: Drew Brees threw three touchdowns and 341 yards, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Lions on Monday night.
One thing to know: Monday night’s loss might’ve actually been a win for the Saints, who now own a top-10 draft pick. Check out the full order here.
24. Miami Dolphins
Record: 5-9
Week 16 opponent: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 15 MVP: The Dolphins' defensive line had no problem against San Diego's offensive line, recording a sack and eight tackles for losses.
One thing to know: Dolphins coach Dan Campbell doesn't like the "taste of crap" in his mouth.
25. Chicago Bears
Record: 5-9
Week 16 opponent: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 15 MVP: Undrafted rookie John Timu made the most of his first career start, leading the team with nine tackles.
One thing to know: Alshon Jeffery is battling a hamstring injury, and with little to play for except a good draft pick, the Bears might rest him the rest of the season.
26. Dallas Cowboys
Record: 4-10
Week 16 opponent: at Buffalo Bills
Week 15 MVP: Anthony Hitchens had ten total tackles on the day, so we’ll give it to him.
One thing to know: The Cowboys started their fourth different quarterback of the season against the Jets on Saturday night, but the Kellen Moore era doesn’t look to be a particularly good one. The former Boise State quarterback threw three picks in his debut.
27. Detroit Lions
Record: 5-9
Week 16 opponent: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 15 MVP: Golden Tate found the back of the end zone twice on Monday night, despite only racking up 45 yards. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein writes that he’s finally coming back into form, but it’s too little too late for the lowly Lions.
One thing to know: The Lions’ win on Monday night pushed them out of the top 10 in the upcoming draft. Time to bench some starters for the last two weeks?
28. San Diego Chargers
Record: 4-10
Week 16 opponent: at Oakland Raiders
Week 15 MVP: Danny Woodhead was a monster in the end zone, collecting 60 total yards and four touchdowns!
One thing to know: Did the Chargers play their final game in San Diego?
29. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 4-10
Week 16 opponent: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15 MVP: Despite the turnover at quarterback, Kamar Aiken has established himself as a leigitmate receiving threat, hauling in eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.
One thing to know: Oddly, it's the Ravens who could play spoiler to the Steelers' playoff hopes. They beat Pittsburgh in Week 4 and their Week 16 matchup has postseason implications.
30. Cleveland Browns
Record: 3-11
Week 16 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 15 MVP: Though he only had 29 receiving yards, Gary Barnidge again found the end zone, tying the Browns' record for single-season touchdowns by a tight end.
One thing to know: Browns left tackle Joe Thomas voiced support for the Browns' offense and Johnny Manziel after the loss to the Seahawks, saying the Browns can keep improving with more time together.
31. San Francisco 49ers
Record: 4-10
Week 16 opponent: at Detroit Lions
Week 15 MVP: Fullback Bruce Miller has been in the NFL since 2011, and on Sunday logged his first career touchdown. Congrats, Bruce!
One thing to know: Things are so bleak for the Niners that they put their kicker on the cover of the game-day program.