NFL Playoff Picture Week 15: Latest AFC, NFC Standings and Bracket Scenarios
With the NFL preparing for Week 15, just three weeks remain until the postseason picture is secure and the pursuit of Super Bowl LI begins.
Even with such little time left in the regular season, there are still numerous questions left to be answered as we take a look at the current standings around the league:
| AFC East | |||
| New England Patriots | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Buffalo Bills | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| New York Jets | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| AFC North | |||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| AFC South | |||
| Tennessee Titans | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Houston Texans | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2 | 11 | 0 |
| AFC West | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Oakland Raiders | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Denver Broncos | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| San Diego Chargers | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| NFC East | |||
| Dallas Cowboys* | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| New York Giants | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Washington Redskins | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| NFC North | |||
| Detroit Lions | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| NFC South | |||
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Carolina Panthers | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| NFC West | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1 | 12 | 0 |
2016 Playoff Picture
| 1. | New England Patriots | 11-2 |
| 2. | Kansas City Chiefs | 10-3 |
| 3. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-5 |
| 4. | Houston Texans | 7-6 |
| 5. (Wild Card) | Oakland Raiders | 10-3 |
| 6. (Wild Card) | Denver Broncos | 8-5 |
| In The Hunt | ||
| Miami Dolphins | 8-5 | |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7-6 | |
| Tennessee Titans | 7-6 | |
| Indianapolis Colts | 6-7 | |
| Buffalo Bills | 6-7 | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-7-1 | |
| San Diego Chargers | 5-8 | |
| 1. | Dallas Cowboys | 11-2 |
| 2. | Detroit Lions | 9-4 |
| 3. | Seattle Seahakws | 8-4-1 |
| 4. | Atlanta Falcons | 8-5 |
| 5. (Wild Card) | New York Giants | 9-4 |
| 6. (Wild Card) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8-5 |
| In The Hunt | ||
| Washington Redskins | 7-5-1 | |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-6 | |
| Green Bay Packers | 7-6 | |
| Arizona Cardinals | 5-7-1 | |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-8 | |
| Carolina Panthers | 5-8 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5-8 |
AFC Week 15 Clinching Scenarios By Team
New England Patriots: With a win in Week 15 over the Denver Broncos, the Patriots could clinch the AFC East crown and a first-round bye in the postseason. If they lose, they can still clinch the division with a Miami Dolphins loss or tie to the New York Jets.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers lose or the Kansas City Chiefs win alongside a Dolphins loss or tie, the Patriots could also clinch a first-round bye if they fall to Denver.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs can clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. If they tie, they will need either a Dolphins loss or a Broncos loss or tie. If Kansas City loses, they will need a Broncos loss and a Baltimore Ravens loss or tie or a Broncos loss and a Steelers loss or tie.
Oakland Raiders: The Raiders can make a playoff clincher easy in Week 15 if they defeat the San Diego Chargers. There are four different clinching scenarios if they tie: a Dolphins loss, a Broncos loss, a Broncos and Dolphins tie or a Dolphins tie and a Chiefs win.
If they lose, they can get in on one of four different combinations as well:
- Dolphins loss, Steelers loss or tie and a Broncos loss
- Dolphins loss, Steelers loss or tie and a Chiefs win or tie
- Dolphins loss, Ravens loss or tie and Broncos loss
- Dolphins loss, Ravens loss or tie and a Chiefs win or tie
NFC Week 15 Clinching Scenarios By Team
Dallas Cowboys: While the Cowboys already clinched a playoff berth, they have a chance to claim a division title, a first-round bye and even home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
The Cowboys will win the NFC East and get a first-round bye if they defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants lose or tie or if they tie and the Giants lose.
They can clinch home-field advantage if they win and the Giants and Lions tie on Sunday.
Detroit Lions: The Lions could clinch their first division title since 1993 with a win over the Giants and a Green Bay Packers loss or tie. They could also clinch the NFC North with a tie if the Packers lose and the Minnesota Vikings lose or tie.
Seattle Seahawks: Even after getting romped by the Packers in Week 14, the Seahawks can secure the NFC West with a win or tie and an Arizona Cardinals loss or tie.
New York Giants: The Giants need the most help out of anyone to clinch a playoff berth. New York will have to beat the Lions and get a loss from the Washington Redskins, a loss or tie from the Vikings and a loss or tie from the Packers.
If any of those three teams win, the Giants will have to wait at least another week.
Clinching scenarios courtesy of NFL Director of Communications Randall Liu
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