NFL Playoff Picture Week 15, Bracket Scenarios and AFC, NFC Standings

There are still seven available playoff spots in each of the AFC and NFC, but that could change as we enter Week 15 of the NFL season. 

This week, multiple teams have a chance to punch their ticket to the postseason. The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams all control their own destinies; win and they're in. 

Even if they don't win, the Broncos and Patriots could also get some help from any of the following scenarios:

• DEN tie + LAC loss OR
• DEN tie + JAX loss OR
• DEN tie + HOU loss or tie OR
• DEN tie + IND loss or tie OR
• HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie as long as both games don't end in a tie

• NE tie + LAC loss OR
• NE tie + HOU loss or tie OR
• NE tie + IND loss or tie OR
• NE tie + JAX loss OR
• HOU loss or tie + IND loss or tie as long as both games don't end in a tie

The Rams, on the other hand, must win outright to clinch their playoff berth. 

Let's take a closer look at the AFC and NFC standings heading into Week 15. 

AFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. Denver Broncos (11-2; lead AFC West)

2. New England Patriots (11-2; lead AFC East)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4; lead AFC South)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6; lead AFC North)

While the New England Patriots were on bye in Week 14, the Denver Broncos got the job done against the Las Vegas Raiders and in so doing took possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Both teams can clinch their playoff spots with a win in Week 15. 

By virtue of their 36-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14, the Jacksonville Jaguars rose to the top of the AFC South, while the Pittsburgh Steelers took control of the AFC North with a 27-22 win over division rival Baltimore. 

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)

6. Buffalo Bills (9-4)

7. Houston Texans (8-5)

The Texans have gone through a strength-of-schedule gauntlet this season, and they've faced the challenge head-on, including stringing together five straight Ws. Now that schedule lightens up, and Houston has a real chance to elevate out of wild-card status. Thanks to an overtime win on Monday night, the Chargers live on to fight another week. 

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)

The Colts have signed Philip Rivers out of retirement, which tells you everything you need to know about how dire the situation has become in Indy. To make matters worse, the Colts have the hardest remaining strength of schedule of any team in the league. And as Kansas City battles to keep its playoff hopes alive, the Chiefs also own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts. 

Eliminated 

13. New York Jets (3-10)

14. Cleveland Browns (3-10)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)

16. Tennessee Titans (2-11)

NFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3; lead NFC West)

2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1; lead NFC North)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5; lead NFC East)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6; lead NFC South)

The Rams and the Packers both had important wins over division rivals in Week 14 (the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears, respectively), so they'll continue to duke it out for the NFC crown in Week 15. Meanwhile, the Eagles fell to the No. 3 spot after a 22-19 overtime loss to the Chargers, while the Bucs have found themselves in the L column more often than the W column in the last few weeks, making their position atop the NFC South tenuous. 

Wild-Card Race

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

7. Chicago Bears (9-4)

8. Detroit Lions (8-5)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)

11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)

The parity is real in the NFC, with a heated wild-card race taking shape. The Seahawks will meet the Rams and the 49ers in the final weeks of the season as the NFC West looks to be the most competitive division in the conference.

However, the NFC North could stake its own claim to that distinction, as the Bears and Lions duke it out for a wild-card spot, neither of whom are fully out of the Packers' rearview mirror. 

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)