Updated 2012 Team Win-Loss Record Predictions for Each NFL Team, Week 15

The last three weeks of the NFL season bring a lot of pressure for teams looking to earn a playoff berth, and teams like the Chicago Bears are at the point where one more loss could cost them a shot at the postseason.

Looking across the landscape of the NFL, it's easy to identify those teams that are ascending as well as those in a decline. Finishing the season strong plays a major role in a team's ability to make noise in the playoffs. That's why the New England Patriots have to be one of the Super Bowl favorites at this point in the season.

So, these next three weeks will set the stage for the playoffs. Teams will either rise to the occasion and earn a spot, or they'll head home in disappointment.

The following slides will take a look at each NFL team and will also feature predictions regarding how they will finish for the season as we head into the final stretch.

New England Patriots

Current Record: 9-3

Projected Record: 13-3

Playoff Picture: No. 1 Seed in AFC

The New England Patriots looked like the best team in the AFC this past weekend. However, they still need some help in order to land the top seed in the AFC. The Houston Texans are still holding onto the top spot, but they have two games remaining against the Indianapolis Colts.

New England has played its best football of the season over the past few weeks. Tom Brady and the offense are firing on all cylinders and the defense is greatly improved. In fact, it's the play of the defense that actually has the potential to lead this team to a Super Bowl appearance.

The addition of Aqib Talib has, thus far, stabilized the secondary. However, he's a bit of a wildcard, so the Patriots should try to keep a backup plan in place.

This week, New England takes on the San Francisco 49ers. They must pull out a win in this game if they hope to land the top seed in the AFC.

Houston Texans

Current Record: 11-1

Projected Record: 13-3

Playoff Picture: No. 2 Seed in AFC

Can you say wake up call? The Houston Texans were delivered a strong message by the New England Patriots on Monday after a 42-14 loss in Foxborough. Houston now knows that they'll need to go through Tom Brady and the Patriots if they hope to make a Super Bowl appearance.

The Texans remain as one of the top teams in the league, but some of their weaknesses have been exposed. A loss like this can either shake a team's confidence or give them motivation to improve.

Houston needs to quickly get refocused, as they have two upcoming games against the Indianapolis Colts. They can expect the Colts to give them a run for their money, as these games are a chance for them to make a statement. There's also a chance that the Colts take over the top spot in the AFC South if they run the table.

Denver Broncos

Current Record: 10-3

Projected Record: 13-3

Playoff Picture: No. 3 Seed in AFC

Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos have rattled off eight straight wins, and have winnable games remaining on the schedule. This team shouldn't have much of a problem winning the remaining games which come against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.

Baltimore is the only remaining team that the Broncos will face with a winning record, and they just made a major staff change by firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

That schedule gives the Broncos an outside chance of moving into one of the two top spots in the AFC playoff race. Earning a first-round bye would be huge for a team with veteran players at several key positions.

Baltimore Ravens

Current Record: 9-4

Projected Record: 10-6

Playoff Picture: No. 4 Seed in AFC

The Baltimore Ravens are going through a rare late-season staff change, as John Harbaugh has fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. This move was made in an attempt to establish consistency on the offensive side of the ball. The offense's struggles have been magnified more this season because the defense isn't playing at its typically high level.

Jim Caldwell, who is taking over for Cameron, has never been a primary play-caller for a team. Most of his experience has come as the head coach or quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts.

Baltimore is in real trouble if Caldwell can't quickly get the hang of things, and this change shows that the Ravens are really desperate for a spark. In their last two games, they suffered disappointing losses to a Ben Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh Steelers and a Washington Redskins team that didn't have Robert Griffin III in overtime.

Indianapolis Colts

Current Record: 9-4

Projected Record: 11-5

Playoff Picture: No. 5 Seed in AFC

Eventually the Indianapolis Colts will pay for their high number of turnovers and tendency to have to come from behind late in games. Andrew Luck has done a great job orchestrating late-game comebacks in the past two weeks, however, it is because of his interceptions that the Colts were down in the first place.

It's easier to pull off come-from-behind wins against the likes of the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions. But it won't be so easy against playoff teams or the Houston Texans, and the Colts still have two games left against their division rivals.

Those two games will show just how seriously the Colts should be taken. None of their last seven victories have come against a team with a winning record. So, it's safe to say they had a pretty easy schedule.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Current Record: 7-6

Projected Record: 9-7

Playoff Picture: No. 6 Seed in AFC

The Pittsburgh Steelers are lucky that most of the AFC consists of below-average teams. Otherwise, they'd be on the outside looking in regarding the playoff race. Still, many will point to Ben Roethilsberger's injury as the reason they dropped a few games.

However, this team dropped winnable games against the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans early in the season, and that was with Big Ben. Those two losses could come back to haunt the Steelers, as they are far from having a playoff spot sealed.

The big game remaining on their schedule comes against the Cincinnati Bengals in two weeks. That game could very well decide who gets the final playoff spot in the AFC.

In order to earn a playoff spot, the Steelers need a healthy Roethlisberger, and they must find a way to avoid making mistakes. The margin for error is very thin for the rest of the season, as even one more loss could knock Pittsburgh out of the playoff picture.

Cincinnati Bengals

Current Record: 7-6

Projected Record: 9-7

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Cincinnati Bengals' playoff hopes took a major hit this past weekend, when dropped passes and mental errors lead to Cincinnati allowing the Dallas Cowboys to score a come-from-behind win. Losing a game like this in the middle of a playoff race hurts.

One positive to take away from this game was the continued strong play of the defense. This unit struggled early in the season, but has only allowed 12 points per game in the last five contests. That defense will need to keep up this type of production if the Bengals want to make a charge.

They also need their young quarterback Andy Dalton to do a better job of protecting the football. He's been turnover prone during the past two weeks, and Cincinnati will have a tough time closing out the season if Dalton continues to turn the ball over.

The big game for the Bengals comes in two weeks, when they face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That game could determine who gets the final playoff spot in the AFC.

Miami Dolphins

Current Record: 5-8

Projected Record: 7-9

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Miami Dolphins are in a real slump after losing five of of their last six games. A lot of the problems are coming on the offensive side of the ball. Ryan Tannehill looks to have hit the rookie wall, as his completion percentage and yardage total have been on the decline.

However, the Dolphins have a chance to end the season on a positive note. They have games remaining against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots. It's possible that they win at least two of those remaining games.

This season has gone better than expected, especially when it comes to the development of Tannehill. No matter what, Miami should head into the offseason feeling good about the future.

San Diego Chargers

Current Record: 5-8

Projected Record: 8-8

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

With games remaining against the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders, the San Diego Chargers have a good chance to finish the season strong. Actually, there's a strong possibility that they win each of their remaining games.

However, the overall inconsistency of this franchise over the years means we can't be too sure about anything.

San Diego's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers this past weekend showed what type of potential they have as a team. The defense had a strong performance, and Philip Rivers protected the football.

The fact that they couldn't play this type of football on a more consistent basis all season is why Norv Turner will be looking for a new job next season.

New York Jets

Current Record: 6-7

Projected Record: 6-10

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The New York Jets are in an unenviable position, as the team has performed terrible all season, but somehow, has tallied six wins. This means that they'll have a lower draft choice and will have a tougher time re-stocking the talent pool.

Of course, the biggest issue facing this team is the horrid play of Mark Sanchez. To make matters worse, the Jets guaranteed his contract for next season. This means that New York is basically stuck with another season of Sanchez.

New York's remaining schedule features games against the Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. There's a chance that they will add a few more wins to their total with that schedule, and they still have an outside chance of earning a playoff berth.

Buffalo Bills

Current Record: 5-8

Projected Record: 6-10

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

At the beginning of the season, the Buffalo Bills were hoping that they had added enough talent in the offseason to make a playoff run. However, the combination of a slow start by the defense and turnover issues on offense quickly ended that feeling.

Buffalo's roster is filled with talent, but they lack talent at key positions. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a serviceable quarterback, but he is too turnover prone to be a long-term starter. His inconsistent play is a major reason why the Bills' season will finish with disappointment.

Their remaining schedule doesn't play out particularly well for a strong finish. They have to face the Seattle Seahawks, travel to take on the Miami Dolphins and deal with division rival the New York Jets.

Cleveland Browns

Current Record: 5-8

Projected Record: 6-10

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Cleveland Browns' ability to tally five wins already this season is a surprise. This is because the roster consists, in large part, of first- or second-year players. However, those younger players have performed at a high level.

Cleveland's offense has been much more explosive this season thanks to the additions of Brandon Weeden, Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin. That increased production, as well as the solid play of the defense, is why the Browns' should have some optimism heading into next season.

The rest of Cleveland's schedule features tough games against the Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the game against the Redskins could be more manageable if Robert Griffin III is unable to play.

I'm sure there weren't many who predicted that Cleveland would produce a three-game winning streak this season.

Tennessee Titans

Current Record: 4-9

Projected Record: 6-10

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Tennessee Titans team takes a lot after their young quarterback, Jake Locker. They're made up of mostly inexperienced players, struggle with consistency and make mistakes in pressure situations. However, they also possesses the explosiveness to produce game-changing plays.

This team will continue this type of play as long as Locker continues his extreme highs and extreme lows. The quarterback needs to be the player that the rest of the team turns to in order to provide stability.

Tennessee should be able to get wins against the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, but they will have a hard time against the Green Bay Packers. However, the up and down play of the team means anything can happen.

Oakland Raiders

Current Record: 3-10

Projected Record: 4-12

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Oakland Raiders weren't expected to have much success this season, but nobody expected them to struggle this much. A lot of the problems are a result of Darren McFadden's inability to get on track. He just hasn't produced the explosive plays that we're used to seeing.

That lack of a running game and poor play on defense erased what has been a solid season by quarterback Carson Palmer. He has been the only player on the offensive side of the ball to play with any type of consistency.

Fortunately for the Raiders, they have a chance to win each of their last three games. The matchups against the Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers provide an opportunity to finish the season on a high note.

However, there will be a lot of disappointment if Oakland is unable to pick up at least one more victory.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Current Record: 2-11

Projected Record: 2-14

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The fact that Chad Henne's presence in the lineup provided a lift to the team shows just how poorly Blaine Gabbert was playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. At this point, Jacksonville is battling with the Kansas City Chiefs for the right to pick No. 1 overall in the 2013 draft.

It's always mentioned that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and the Jaguars only prove that point to be true.

However, Jacksonville has also had a lot of issues on the defensive side of the ball. Their inability to generate pressure on the quarterback has been a real problem.

It's that inconsistent quarterback play and lack of a pass rush that makes it unlikely that Jacksonville registers another win this season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Current Record: 2-11

Projected Record: 2-14

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

Unless something crazy happens, the Kansas City Chiefs will own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Kansas City's struggles this season are all tied to the poor play of quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. It's hard to pull off wins when the quarterback is turning the ball over and not providing explosive plays.

With the presence of Jamaal Charles, one of these quarterbacks should have been able to find a way to put up better numbers because having such a productive and explosive ground game opens holes in coverage. However, neither Quinn nor Cassel have the talent to take advantage of those openings.

The bad thing for the Chiefs is that there's not a can't-miss quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft. Kansas City must take a close look at someone like West Virginia's Geno Smith and decide if he has the potential to develop into a winning quarterback.

Atlanta Falcons

Current Record: 11-2

Projected Record: 13-3

Playoff Picture: No. 1 Seed in NFC

Even after this past week's loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons remain in control of the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC. This loss can be chalked up to a poor start, a terrific performance by Cam Newton and a leaky defense.

Atlanta needs to refocus because they have upcoming games against the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All three of these games are tough matchups and they are anything but a sure win.

The Falcons must finish the season strong in order to lock up home field advantage. With all the pressure on them to perform well in the playoffs, Atlanta needs all the help they can get.

Seattle Seahawks

Current Record: 8-5

Projected Record: 11-5

Playoff Picture: No. 2 Seed in the NFC

The Seattle Seahawks are in a strong position to make a run at earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. Two of their next three games are at home, including one against the divisional rival San Francisco 49ers. Seattle's home crowd provides them with a great environment.

This team is playing at a very high level right now. The running game is among the best in the league, and Russell Wilson continues to find ways to win. However, it's the top-notch play of the defense that makes the Seahawks so balanced.

Finding a way to claim one of the top-two seeds in the NFC is very important. Seattle's home-field advantage is significant enough to mean the difference between a win and a loss.

Green Bay Packers

Current Record: 9-4

Projected Record: 11-5

Playoff Picture: No. 3 Seed in NFC

The Green Bay Packers must take care of business against the divisional rival Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings in order to secure a high playoff seed. Both of those games come on the road in very tough environments. Chicago and Minnesota are also in must-win situations.

Despite winning three of their last four, Green Bay hasn't been playing their best football. Issues along the offensive line have made it tough for Aaron Rodgers to completely find his rhythm. That, combined with a below-average running game, means the Packers are more vulnerable.

However, they have a chance to build some confidence if they can hand Chicago and Minnesota devastating losses.

New York Giants

Current Record: 8-5

Projected Record: 10-6

Playoff Picture: No. 4 Seed in NFC

The New York Giants have a lot of work left to do this season. They have tough matchups against the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. The game against the Eagles might not look like much on paper, but Philadelphia would love nothing more than to play a spoiler role.

Luckily, New York is starting to find their stride in all phases of the game. The emergence of David Wilson as an elite kick return has provided a major lift. His explosiveness has helped New York's offense begin drives with great field position.

Eli Manning and company are talented enough to ensure that this advantage could be a real game-changer in the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers

Current Record: 9-3-1

Projected Record: 10-5-1

Playoff Picture: No. 5 Seed in NFC

The San Francisco 49ers' next two games will determine where they land in the NFC playoff picture. Unfortunately, those games are on the road against the talented New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Both games will require a flawless performance in order to register a win.

San Francisco heads into these matchups with Colin Kaepernick making only the fifth start of his NFL career. This is going to be a lot of pressure for a young quarterback.

It's also important to note that the 49ers haven't played their best football during the past two weeks. The loss to the St. Louis Rams was a set back, and the game against the Miami Dolphins was much closer than the score suggests.

Chicago Bears

Current Record: 8-5

Projected Record: 10-6

Playoff Picture: No. 6 Seed in NFC

The Chicago Bears have lost four of their last five games and the season is quickly spiraling out of control. Chicago's issues are wide spread on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is getting most of the blame, but they are only a part of the problem.

Chicago's defense is dealing with injuries and they are starting took look worn out. They also aren't creating the same amount of turnovers they did earlier in the season. This has directly impacted the offense's ability to find a rhythm. 

Offensively, Jay Cutler and company need to find a way avoid slow starts. The offense has really struggled out of the gate, which is putting more pressure on the defense.

Overall, the Bears will have a tough time making the playoffs if they don't quickly turn things around. This weekend's matchup against the Green Bay Packers could be the make-or-break point for the Bears' season.

Washington Redskins

Current Record: 7-6

Projected Record: 8-8

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Washington Redskins have no room for mistakes if they hope to make a playoff appearance. They must win each of their last three games against the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. This will be easier said than done, especially if Robert Griffin III is slowed by his knee injury.

As a team, the Redskins have played much better over the past several weeks. However, Griffin remains the catalyst for the team's success.

The road to the playoffs for Washington goes through the NFC East, as games against the Cowboys and Eagles remain. Both teams are having a disappointing season, but teams have a tendency to play harder in divisional games. This is especially true if they have a chance to knock someone out of the playoffs.

Dallas Cowboys

Current Record: 7-6

Projected Record: 8-8

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys were lucky to pull out a win against the Cincinnati Bengals this past week, and that win has helped keep the Cowboys' playoff hopes alive. They basically need to win each of the games remaining against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins in order to actually make that dream come true, though.

Dallas is dealing with a little bit of a mix of fortune, as DeMarco Murray has finally returned to the lineup but it now looks like Dez Bryant could miss some time. And unfortunately, the Cowboys will need all of their playmakers if they hope to run the table.

Their last game of the season could be the make-or-break game when they must travel to Washington to take on the Redskins, another team hoping to squeeze into the playoffs. 

New Orleans Saints

Current Record: 5-8

Projected Record: 8-8

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

This has been a completely lost season for the New Orleans Saints. They had a terrible start to the season, and followed that up with several disappointing losses in the past few weeks. The defense has been an issue all season, and Drew Brees has also struggled.

Brees is currently tied with Andrew Luck for the league lead with 18 interceptions. His five-interception game against the Atlanta Falcons all but ended the Saints' playoff hopes.

But this team still has a ton of talent and is very dangerous, and they could potentially win the rest of the games on a schedule that features the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (home), Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

St. Louis Rams

Current Record: 6-6-1

Projected Record: 7-8-1

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The St. Louis Rams rebounded from a poor 2011 season to surprise a lot of teams. Adding Jeff Fisher as head coach really made a difference in the teams approach, and the Rams' strong 2012 draft class provided the team with four major contributors.

Among those impact rookies is Janoris Jenkins, whose three defensive touchdowns have helped shift the momentum in a few games.

St. Louis isn't in playoff contention, but they aren't an opponent anyone should consider an easy win. The Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to take the Rams seriously if they hope to make a run at the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings

Current Record: 7-6

Projected Record: 7-9

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The lackluster play of Christian Ponder makes it tough to believe in the Minnesota Vikings. They can't continue to count on Adrian Peterson to run for over 150 yards per game. There are even more troubles with with Percy Harvin, the team's only big-play threat, on the IR.

Minnesota's next two games are on the road against the St. Louis Rams and Houston Texans. Both of those teams play well at home, and do a good job against the run. St. Louis also boasts two ball-hawking cornerbacks capable of forcing turnovers.

The Vikings then finish the year against the Green Bay Packers. This is a tough schedule for a team looking to squeak into the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Current Record: 6-7

Projected Record: 8-8

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers last-second loss to the Philadelphia Eagles all but ended their playoff hopes. It also didn't help that they lost their previous two games against the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos. The frustrating thing about those losses is that the Buccaneers were in position to win each of those games.

Even if Tampa Bay finds a way to win all their games, they'll still likely be on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race. Winning out will be a very tough task because the Buccaneers still have road games against the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

Ending the season this way will leave a bad taste in the mouth of the Buccaneers. However, they made some nice strides this year, and the arrow is certainly pointing up for next season.

Detroit Lions

Current Record: 4-9

Projected Record: 6-10

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The Detroit Lions are currently in the middle of a very frustrating five-game losing streak. They had an opportunity to get a win in each of those five games, but one way or another, they ended up making a mistake that cost them the game.

Detroit has too much talent on the roster to be sitting with a 4-9 record. However, the lack of discipline and poorly timed turnovers created this mess for the Lions.

The season isn't over yet, as the Lions have a chance to play spoiler to both the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears. Atlanta is hoping to lock down the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and Chicago is walking a thin line just to make a playoff appearance.

Carolina Panthers

Current Record: 4-9

Projected Record: 5-11

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

The rest of the Carolina Panthers' schedule consists of all teams with losing records. Cam Newton and company have a chance to finish the season on a strong note, thanks to facing the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and the New Orleans Saints.

Newton, especially, needs a good finish so that he can head into next season on a positive note. Luckily, the Saints and Raiders have two of the worst secondaries in the NFL.

The end of the season is equally as important to head coach Ron Rivera, who's looking to save his job. He needs Newton to continue his hot streak and avoid more negative attention in the media. The only way to accomplish that is by winning games.

Philadelphia Eagles

Current Record: 4-9

Projected Record: 5-11

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

With all the talk of the Philadelphia Eagles moving on from the Andy Reid Era, I actually see a chance that he finds a way to keep his job. Philadelphia's last three games all come against teams in the playoff hunt, including games against the division rival Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.

Jeffery Lurie would have to consider giving Reid another shot if he finishes the season on a strong note, especially because it would likely mean that Nick Foles played solid football.

The best way to think of this situation is by considering who would replace Reid. There are not many coaches out there that have his history of success and eye for talent. The best option might be scaling back his say when it comes to hiring assistant coaches.

Still, the remaining schedule isn't easy and it has to potential to end Reid's run in Philadelphia.

Arizona Cardinals

Current Record: 4-9

Projected Record: 4-12

Playoff Picture: Out of the Playoffs

It's almost impossible to imagine a scenario where the Arizona Cardinals win another game this season. Their quarterback situation is the worst in the league, and it isn't getting any better. They'd actually be better off throwing newly-signed Brian Hoyer into the mix rather than starting John Skelton or Ryan Lindley.

Arizona's remaining schedule doesn't do the team any favors, either. They still have to face the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers. Each of those teams possess a defense that knows how to take advantage of poor quarterback play.

They might not suffer another 58-point loss this season, but there's little hope that they notch another win. Finishing the season on a 12-game losing streak will spell the end of Ken Whisenhunt.