NFL Playoff Picture Week 15: Full AFC, NFC Outlook and Predictions

With three weeks remaining in the 2016 NFL season, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. 

Thursday night's action already allowed the Seattle Seahawks to punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Los Angeles Rams. And on Sunday, six more teams have the potential to clinch a playoff berth, either with victories or a series of losses and/or ties from other contenders. 

Heading into this weekend's action, here's a look at the current playoff picture as well as some information on how each team can wrap up a playoff berth:

AFC Seed	Team	Record
NFC Seed	Team	Record
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
	8-5	Miami Dolphins
	7-6	Baltimore Ravens
	7-6	Tennessee Titans
	6-7	Indianapolis Colts
	6-7	Buffalo Bills
	5-7-1	Cincinnati Bengals
	5-8	San Diego Chargers
1.	Dallas Cowboys	11-2
2.	Detroit Lions	9-4
3.	Seattle Seahakws	9-4-1
4.	Atlanta Falcons	8-5
5. (Wild Card)	New York Giants	9-4
6. (Wild Card)	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8-5
In The Hunt
	7-5-1	Washington Redskins
	7-6	Minnesota Vikings
	7-6	Green Bay Packers
	5-7-1	Arizona Cardinals
	5-8	New Orleans Saints
	5-8	Carolina Panthers
	5-8	Philadelphia Eagles

AFC Week 15 Clinching Scenarios

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New England Patriots

The New England Patriots can wrap up the AFC East and clinch a first-round bye with a win or tie against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. Even if the Patriots lose, they can clinch the AFC East if the Miami Dolphins lose or tie versus the New York Jets. 

The Patriots can also clinch a first-round bye despite a loss if the Dolphins lose or tie and either the Kansas City Chiefs win or the Pittsburgh Steelers lose or tie. 

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. 

If the Chiefs tie, they need either a Dolphins victory or a Broncos loss or tie. If Kansas City loses, it can still grab a playoff place with a Broncos loss and either a Ravens loss or tie, or a Steelers loss and tie. 

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders can also wrap up a spot in the playoffs with a win on Sunday over the San Diego Chargers. 

If the Raiders tie or lose, there are multiple scenarios in which they can still clinch the playoffs:

• Miami loss, Baltimore loss or tie and Denver loss
• Miami loss, Baltimore loss or tie and a Kansas City win or tie 
• Miami loss, Pittsburgh loss or tie and a Denver loss
• Miami loss, Pittsburgh loss or tie and a Kansas City win or tie

NFC Week 15 Clinching Scenarios

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Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have already clinched a playoff berth, but they can also wrap up a first-round bye with a win and a New York Giants loss or tie. Dallas would also clinch the bye with a tie and a Giants loss. 

Detroit Lions

If the Detroit Lions beat the New York Giants, and the Green Bay Packers lose or tie, Detroit clinches the NFC North title. If the Lions tie, they can still clinch with a Packers loss and a Minnesota Vikings loss or tie. 

If the Lions lose to the Giants, they have to continue fighting for their playoff lives in Week 16.

New York Giants

The Giants can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Lions and all of the following events:

• Redskins loss
• Vikings loss or tie
• Packers loss or tie

Other Contenders to Watch

Denver Broncos

The Broncos can't clinch anything this week, but they're currently clinging to the No. 6 seed in the AFC. 

Denver hosts New England on Sunday, in what will feel like a playoff atmosphere. While it technically isn't a must-win game for the Broncos, Denver needs to win to avoid putting itself in a potential must-win situation the following week in Kansas City. 

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins appear to have an easy matchup with the Jets on Saturday night, but there is still plenty of pressure on Miami to pull off the victory. 

If Miami were to lose, they could potentially fall two games behind the Broncos in the hunt for the No. 6 seed, which would put them in difficult must-win situations at Buffalo and against the Patriots in the final two weeks. 

All clinching scenarios prodivided by NFL Director of Communications Randall Liu