NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2025-26 Week 15, Standings After Eagles vs. Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers moved back into the top wild-card spot in the AFC with their overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

The win also kept the Chargers within reach of the Denver Broncos in the AFC West. They are two games back with four games to play.

Monday's defeat didn't affect Philadelphia's playoff status, but it did allow the Dallas Cowboys to creep even closer in the NFC East title race.

AFC Standings

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Division Leaders

Denver Broncos (11-2)

New England Patriots (11-2)

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Monday's result means the Week 18 clash between the Broncos and Chargers might have some meaning.

Los Angeles won the first game between the AFC West rivals. The Chargers need to close the gap to one game prior to Week 18 for that contest to matter for the division title.

Denver plays the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs in the next three weeks, so it is possible for the Chargers to gain more ground.

The New England Patriots close with two easy games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. If they can get past the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens in the next two weeks, the Patriots might have the inside track at the No. 1 overall seed.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)

6. Buffalo Bills (9-4)

7. Houston Texans (8-5)

Los Angeles moved back into the No. 5 seed based on the conference record tiebreaker over the Bills.

The Chargers visit the Chiefs in Week 15 in a potential elimination game for the Chiefs.

Los Angeles' last two games against the Houston Texans in Week 17 and Denver in Week 18 will feel like playoff games because of the playoff positioning and potential division titles on the line.

Buffalo is in a more comfortable position to land the No. 5 seed, even if it loses to New England in Week 15, because two of its final three games come against the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.

In The Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)

9. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-7)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)

All of the teams outside the wild-card hunt face tough climbs back into postseason spots.

The Baltimore Ravens have the easiest path of the bunch through the AFC North title, but they need to win out and get help to secure a wild-card spot.

The Indianapolis Colts have the best record of the group, but their season is in trouble after Daniel Jones' Achilles injury.

Eliminated

13. New York Jets (3-10)

14. Cleveland Browns (3-10)

15. Las Vegas (2-11)

16. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

NFC Standings

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Division Leaders

Los Angeles Rams (10-3)

Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)

Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)

Philadelphia's position in the standings didn't change, but there are plenty of concerns about how the reigning Super Bowl champion stacks up against the best teams in the NFC.

Luckily for Jalen Hurts and Co., they play three of their final four games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders. The only competitive game left will be in Week 17 against the Bills.

The Eagles should close with a 3-1 record and secure the NFC East title, despite Dallas' late desperate push to make the playoffs.

Wild-Card Race

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

7. Chicago Bears (9-4)

The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears have a one-game buffer over the Detroit Lions going into Week 15.

The rest of the NFC wild-card contenders are two or more games behind the pair of 9-4 squads.

Both the 49ers and Bears have divisional title aspirations, but in Week 15, the two wild-card placeholders need to beat already-eliminated squads at home. Chicago hosts Cleveland, while San Francisco takes on Tennessee.

In The Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-5)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)

11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)

Detroit could be two games behind the 49ers and Bears after Week 15 since it visits the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Carolina and Dallas face interesting challenges as well in the form of the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings.

The Lions, Panthers and Cowboys can all still win their divisions, but first they need to come out of Week 15 with victories.

Eliminated

12. Atlanta Falcons (4-9)

13. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

14. New Orleans Saints (3-10)

15. Washington Commanders (3-10)

16. New York Giants (2-11)