Week 15 saw three AFC teams clinch their divisions, while a number of contenders fell out of the postseason race. The NFC playoff picture became a lot clearer after Sunday's results, and the next two weeks are critical for a number of teams.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Y- Patriots | East | 11-3 |
| 2 | Y- Broncos | West | 11-3 |
| 3 | Y- Colts | South | 10-4 |
| 4 | Bengals | North | 9-4-1 |
| 5 | Steelers | North | 9-5 |
| 6 | Ravens | North | 9-5 |
X- Clinched Playoff Berth Y- Clinched Division Title Z- Clinched Bye
In the Hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Chiefs | West | 8-6 |
| 8 | Chargers | West | 8-6 |
| 9 | Bills | East | 8-6 |
| 10 | Texans | South | 7-7 |
| 11 | Dolphins | East | 7-7 |
| 12 | Browns | North | 7-7 |
The Baltimore Ravens slid into the sixth playoff spot in the AFC with a 20-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Baltimore has a tough schedule remaining as the Ravens will face the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns over the next two weeks, games that will surely shape the playoff race.
In the event of a tie, the Pittsburgh Steelers hold an advantage over the Ravens due to their superior divisional record.
The San Diego Chargers fell out of a playoff position after losing 22-10 to the Denver Broncos. It was a critical loss for the Chargers, and their next two games feature two teams above .500: the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs snapped their three-game losing streak with a 31-13 win over the Oakland Raiders. Kansas City faces the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers in back-to-back games that will have a big effect on the AFC playoff standings.
The Buffalo Bills kept their slim playoff chances alive with a victory over the Green Bay Packers. Buffalo will have to win its remaining two games to stay in the hunt, squaring off against the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.
For the Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, the formula remains simple: they must win their remaining two games to stay in the AFC playoff race.
The New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars have all been eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X- Cardinals | West | 11-3 |
| 2 | Lions | North | 10-4 |
| 3 | Cowboys | East | 10-4 |
| 4 | Saints | South | 6-8 |
| 5 | Seahawks | West | 10-4 |
| 6 | Packers | North | 10-4 |
X- Clinched Playoff Berth Y- Clinched Division Title Z- Clinched Bye
In the Hunt
The Dallas Cowboys seized top spot in the NFC East with a 38-27 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Eagles | East | 9-5 |
| 11 | Panthers | South | 5-8-1 |
| 14 | Falcons | South | 5-9 |
The Detroit Lions took over the NFC North lead with a 16-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, benefiting greatly from the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Buffalo Bills. Detroit and Green Bay have identical 10-4 records, but the Lions edge out the Packers due to a superior head-to-head record.
If the Lions beat the Chicago Bears next week and the Packers lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit will clinch the NFC North title.
The New Orleans Saints hold a half game lead over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South with their victory against the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
The Seattle Seahawks continued their march towards a playoff spot, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 17-7. If Seattle beats the Arizona Cardinals next week, the Seahawks will assume the NFC West lead.
Arizona clinched a playoff spot on Sunday night because the Eagles-Cowboys game did not end in a tie.
The New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all been eliminated from playoff contention.