NFL Playoffs 2014-15: Updated Standings, Bracket Picture and Scenarios

In the penultimate weekend of the NFL season, the playoff picture is slowly starting to take shape. Just one game remains for each franchise after Monday night, so the pressure is on multiple squads to win and get into the postseason.  

Heading into Sunday afternoon, five teams had already secured a berth. In the AFC, the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are still vying for the No. 1 seed while the three teams from the North have a chance to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals will fight for the NFC West crown and potentially the No. 1 seed on Sunday Night Football. Even with a playoff berth already intact, the Detroit Lions still have aspirations of winning the NFC North over the Green Bay Packers, who clinched a postseason spot with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Prior to what promises to be a wild Week 17 in the NFL, here's a look at the current standings, bracket picture and scenarios in the AFC and NFC.

AFC Playoff Scenarios

The New York Jets didn't make it easy for the Patriots, but New England still clinched a first-round bye. A missed field goal by the Jets to close out the game gives the Pats a chance to still win the No. 1 seed if they take care of business.

Andrew Siciliano of NFL.com laid out exactly what New England needs to do to secure the top seed this week:

Out in Houston, the Texans took down the Baltimore Ravens to give the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers reason for optimism. San Diego took over the No. 6 seed thanks to its comeback win on Saturday night, but the Bills upset loss to the Oakland Raiders ruined their chances.

The Chargers needed help, and they got it with the Ravens going down on Sunday. Luke Jones of WNST notes just how much San Diego's huge comeback has changed the playoff picture:

Two AFC North teams still have hopes of making the playoffs, with the Pittsburgh Steelers already clinching a spot. Their win over the Chiefs means they will return to the postseason after missing out last year.

Pittsburgh's victory also knocked the Miami Dolphins out of contention regardless of the outcome against the Minnesota Vikings. It also means the division will be decided in Week 17 with the Cincinnati Bengals and Steelers facing off, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes:

A lot is still left to be decided in the AFC with the Broncos visiting the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. Denver would still have a chance at the No. 1 seed with a win, while Cincinnati needs to finally show up in a prime-time game to win the North.

NFC Playoff Scenarios

It's been quite a wait for Detroit fans, but the Lions came into Sunday as one of only two NFC teams with a playoff spot secured. Having only one postseason trip since 1999, the Lions can still win the North division for the first time in franchise history.

Calvin Johnson spoke about the adversity the team has faced during his tenure, via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com.

"There's been historical hurdles here from the jump," Lions receiver Calvin Johnson said. "I don't know how many we've passed since I've been here, but it seems each year there's another one."

By virtue of their win on Sunday, Detroit is one step closer to making the playoffs. However, it still has a tough test ahead against Green Bay, who took down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Whoever wins that game will take the North.

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

In the NFC South, the sad truth is that one team will make the playoffs with a losing record. Thanks to their wins in Week 16, the final-week matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons has become a play-in game for the division crown.

The same rings true for the Dallas Cowboys, who simply needed a win against the Indianapolis Colts to secure the East. Dallas dismantled the Colts and will move on to the playoffs without having to sweat it out in Week 17.

Dallas' official account tweeted out the news about the division crown after the victory:

ESPN Stats & Info notes just how important a victory for the Cowboys was:

"

Cowboys win today clinches 3 NFC playoff spots (DAL, GB & SEA) and Eagles would be eliminated from playoff contention

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 21, 2014"

Of course, the biggest question in the NFC is who will win the difficult West division. The Seahawks have been on a roll, while the Cardinals are on their third quarterback this season in Ryan Lindley against the defending Super Bowl champions.

Needless to say, there is still a lot to be determined in the NFC despite 16 weeks of the season nearly in the books.

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