NFL playoff picture: Seahawks, Packers among 5 to clinch in Week 15
NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure positions for a shot at making it to Super Bowl LIV.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravens (y) | North | 12-2 |
| 2 | Patriots (x) | East | 11-3 |
| 3 | Chiefs (y) | West | 10-4 |
| 4 | Texans | South | 9-5 |
| 5 | Bills (x) | East | 10-4 |
| 6 | Steelers | North | 8-6 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
Despite another uninspiring offensive performance, the Patriots defeated the Bengals in Week 15 to stay glued to the No. 2 seed. New England is one game ahead of the Chiefs for the first-round bye, but Kansas City owns the tiebreaker if the two clubs finish with identical records.
The Texans gained some wiggle room atop the AFC South by fending off the Titans after the two teams entered action on Sunday with the same record. The Texans squandered a two-touchdown lead, but they bounced back in the fourth quarter and held on to give themselves an upper hand in the division.
The Bills dumped the Steelers on Sunday Night Football to punch their second postseason ticket in three years. There's still a chance for Buffalo to win the AFC East, but the Bills need to beat the Patriots in Week 16 to keep those hopes alive.
The Steelers remain in the second wild-card position after falling to the Bills. Pittsburgh's remaining games are against the Jets and Ravens.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Titans | South | 8-6 |
| 8 | Colts | South | 6-7 |
| 9 | Browns | North | 6-8 |
| 10 | Raiders | West | 6-8 |
Even after losing to the Texans, the Titans can still win the AFC South or enter the playoffs through a wild-card berth. Tennessee will square off with Houston again in its regular-season finale.
The Colts have been reeling lately, but a win on Monday Night Football against the Saints would get them back into the mix, and their schedule to close out the campaign is favorable.
The Browns and Raiders are technically still alive, but they must win out and receive substantial help.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seahawks (x) | West | 11-3 |
| 2 | Packers (x) | North | 11-3 |
| 3 | Saints (y) | South | 10-3 |
| 4 | Cowboys | East | 7-7 |
| 5 | 49ers (x) | West | 11-3 |
| 6 | Vikings | North | 10-4 |
The Seahawks, Packers, and 49ers clinched playoff berths in Week 15 after the Rams fell to the Cowboys. There's still a path for Seattle, Green Bay, San Francisco, and the Saints to get the No. 1 seed.
The Vikings gave themselves some cushion in the wild-card race by blowing out the Chargers as the Rams crumbled. Minnesota could still win the NFC North, but they must defeat the Packers in Week 16. The Vikings will clinch a playoff spot by winning one of their two remaining games.
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Rams | West | 8-6 |
| 8 | Eagles | East | 7-7 |
The Bears were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the Packers, leaving only two other NFC squads in contention to play in January.
The up-and-down Rams finish their schedule on the road against the 49ers and at home versus the Cardinals. Los Angeles needs to win both those games and have Minnesota go 0-2. Otherwise, the defending conference champions will watch the postseason from their couches.
The Eagles can't get in through the wild card, raising the significance of their divisional Week 16 clash with the Cowboys. Dallas owns the tiebreaker because it won the first encounter with Philadelphia earlier in the season. Now for a chance to extend their playoff streak to three years, the Eagles must win the rematch.