Week 15 NFL Playoff Picture: Latest AFC, NFC Wild-Card Scenarios, Bracket Predictions

With four weeks to go in the NFL regular season, four teams have clinched their spots in the upcoming playoffs. The other 10 spots remain up for grabs.

The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles are all heading to the playoffs. The Chiefs (AFC West) and Bills (AFC East) have already clinched their respective division titles, while the Lions and Eagles are still trying to stave off divisional foes.

Meanwhile, a lot of teams will be playing their most important games of the season in the near future. Wins and losses in December and January often decide playoff fates.

Before the Week 15 action resumes Sunday, here's a look at the playoff picture for each conference, along with predictions for how the races will unfold.

AFC Playoff Picture, Clinching Scenarios

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 01: Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) celebrates a touchdown with Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (86) during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans on December 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Bye: No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (12-1, clinched AFC West)

No. 2 Buffalo Bills (10-3, clinched AFC East) vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos (8-5)

No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)

No. 4 Houston Texans (8-5) vs. No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-7), Miami Dolphins (6-7), Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)

The Steelers are on the cusp of reaching the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. They can clinch this week if they go on the road and beat the Eagles. However, Pittsburgh would also clinch with a tie or if either Miami (at Houston) and Indianapolis (at Denver) both lose/tie.

The Texans can secure their second consecutive AFC South title this week if they beat the Dolphins at home and the Colts also lose to the Broncos.

AFC Predictions

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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to Patrick Mahomes #15 during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

1. Kansas City

2. Buffalo

3. Houston

4. Pittsburgh

5. Los Angeles

6. Baltimore

7. Denver

These seven teams are all currently in playoff positions, and the five that have not yet clinched should hold off the trio of the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals down the stretch.

Denver should beat Indianapolis at home on Sunday, which will be a big game for the AFC wild-card picture. So even though the Colts have a light schedule after that, they won't be able to make up ground to overtake either the Broncos or the Texans (in the AFC South).

The Chargers have lost two of their past three games, but they should get back on track. As long as they win one of their next two (home matchups vs. the Buccaneers and Broncos), they should finish strong, as their final two contests are against the Patriots and Raiders.

The Ravens also have two tougher matchups (Steelers in Week 16 and Texans in Week 17) and a pair of lighter games (Giants in Week 15 and Browns in Week 18). So Baltimore should play well enough to hold on.

NFC Playoff Picture, Clinching Scenarios

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 8: Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after scoring a touchdown in second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 8, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Falcons 42-21. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Bye: No. 1 Detroit Lions (12-1, clinched playoff berth)

No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (11-2, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 7 Washington Commanders (8-5)

No. 3 Seattle Seahawks (8-5) vs. No. 6 Green Bay Packers (9-4)

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (11-2)

In the hunt: Los Angeles Rams (8-6), Atlanta Falcons (6-7), Arizona Cardinals (6-7), San Francisco 49ers (6-8), New Orleans Saints (5-8), Dallas Cowboys (5-8), Chicago Bears (4-9), Carolina Panthers (3-10)

Closing in on their second playoff berth in three seasons, the Vikings can clinch their spot with a home win over the Bears this week. Minnesota would also clinch with a tie or if Seattle loses/ties in its home matchup vs. Green Bay.

The Eagles can clinch their second NFC East title in three seasons if they beat the Steelers at home and the Commanders lose/tie in their road matchup vs. the Saints. Philadelphia would also clinch with a tie and a Washington loss.

NFC Predictions

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on in the tunnel prior to an NFL Football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 12, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

1. Detroit

2. Philadelphia

3. Los Angeles

4. Tampa Bay

5. Minnesota

6. Green Bay

7. Washington

The most noteworthy prediction here is that the surging Rams will overtake the Seahawks to win the NFC West title. Meanwhile, Washington will finish strong enough to hold off Seattle for the final wild-card berth.

Since a 1-4 start to the season, Los Angeles has won seven of nine games coming out of its Week 6 bye. The Rams extended their active winning streak to three with a 12-6 victory over the 49ers on Thursday night to open the Week 15 action.

Los Angeles should win again next week against the Jets. But the Rams' biggest remaining matchup is a Week 18 battle against the Seahawks in L.A.

That regular-season finale could potentially decide the NFC West title. And if that's the case, it's hard to pick against the Rams at the moment.