NFL Playoff Picture Week 15: AFC and NFC Standings, Updated Predictions
The Dallas Cowboys (11-2) remain in a great position to control their own destiny and nail down the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs even though they saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end Sunday night against the New York Giants (9-4).
The Cowboys have lost just two games this season, and both have come at the hands of the Giants. While it was Eli Manning's TD pass to Odell Beckham that gave the Giants the lead in the third quarter and provided the margin of victory in the 10-7 game, it was the Giants defense that has helped this team win seven of its last eight games.
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The Giants had the worst defense in the league last year, giving up more yards than any other team. The offseason acquisitions of defensive end Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Janoris Jenkins have all paid key dividends, while second-year strong safety Landon Collins has played at a Pro Bowl level. Collins has a team-leading 100 tackles along with five interceptions and 18 passes defensed.
The Giants held the productive Dallas offense to 260 total yards, and the Cowboys did not have an offensive threat after scoring their only touchdown in the first quarter.
| AFC | New England Patriots | 10-2 | AFC East champions, No. 1 seed |
| AFC | Kansas City Chiefs | 10-3 | AFC West champions, No. 2 seed |
| AFC | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-5 | AFC North champions, No. 3 seed |
| AFC | Tennessee Titans | 7-6 | AFC South champions, No. 4 seed |
| AFC | Oakland Raiders | 10-3 | No. 1 wild card, No. 5 seed |
| AFC | Miami Dolphins | 8-5 | No. 2 wild card, No. 6 seed |
| AFC | Denver Broncos | 8-5 | Out of playoffs |
| AFC | Baltimore Ravens | 7-5 | Out of playoffs |
| AFC | Houston Texans | 7-6 | Out of playoffs |
| NFC | Dallas Cowboys | 11-2 | NFC East champions, No. 1 seed |
| NFC | Seattle Seahawks | 8-4-1 | NFC West champions, No. 2 seed |
| NFC | Detroit Lions | 9-4 | NFC North champions, No. 3 seed |
| NFC | Atlanta Falcons | 8-5 | NFC South champions, No. 4 seed |
| NFC | New York Giants | 9-4 | No. 1 wild card, No.5 seed |
| NFC | Green Bay Packers | 7-6 | No. 2 wild card, No. 6 seed |
| NFC | Tampa Bay Buccanneers | 8-5 | Out of playoffs |
| NFC | Washington Redskins | 7-5-1 | Out of playoffs |
| NFC | Minnesota Vikings | 7-6 | Out of playoffs |
The Cowboys are 11-0 against the rest of the league. They hold a two-game edge on New York and the Detroit Lions (9-4) for the best record in the NFC and still have an excellent chance of nailing down the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Cowboys close the season with games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5), Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.
The NFC North is currently in the hands of the Lions, but Detroit has a challenging final three games against the Giants, Cowboys and Green Bay Packers (7-6). The Lions lead the division by two games, but if they can't handle their final games and the Packers or Minnesota Vikings sweep their final three games, they could lose their advantage.
The Lions edged the Bears 20-17 in Week 14, but quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered a joint dislocation and torn ligaments to the middle finger of his throwing hand, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (h/t Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com).
The injury is not expected to require surgery, but Stafford played the remainder of the game against the Bears while wearing a glove. He is expected to continue to wear the protective device as the Lions prepare for this week's game against the Giants.
The Packers and Vikings are currently out of the playoff structure but remain in contention. Green Bay is coming off an impressive 38-10 triumph over the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks (8-4-1), but quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a calf injury on the third play of the game.
While he was clearly impacted by the injury, his performance was outstanding as he completed 18 of 23 passes for 246 yards with three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception.
Despite their loss to the Packers, the Seahawks remain firmly in control of the NFC West. They have three-game lead over the second-place Arizona Cardinals and can clinch that division if they can beat the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night.
The Atlanta Falcons (8-5) and the Bucs are fighting for the NFC South crown, and the Falcons have the tiebreaker edge at this point. Atlanta is coming off a 42-14 triumph over the Rams, while the Bucs have won five games in a row.
The Giants and the Bucs are currently holding on to the NFC's two wild-card spots. The Washington Redskins (7-5-1), Vikings and Packers are also in contention and could supplant either of those teams.
The New England Patriots (10-2) are holding on to the No. 1 seed in the AFC as they prepare to host the Baltimore Ravens (7-5) Monday night.
The Patriots moved into the top seed Thursday night when the Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) defeated the Oakland Raiders (10-3). That victory propelled the Chiefs into the lead in the AFC West because they swept the Raiders this season and own the tiebreaker.
The Raiders are in the No. 1 wild-card spot, and they appear to have an excellent chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. The Raiders close the season with games against the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and the Denver Broncos (8-5).
The Broncos are currently in the No. 2 wild-card spot in the AFC, but that position is tenuous given their final three-game schedule includes the Patriots, Chiefs and Raiders.
The Houston Texans (7-6) and Tennessee Titans (7-6) are tied for first place in the AFC South, with the Texans currently having the technical advantage since they beat the Titans earlier this season. Those two teams close the regular-season schedule with a game at Tennessee, and that game will likely decide the division championship.
Houston beat the Colts in Week 14, and Indianapolis still has a chance to win the division title.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) have reeled off four straight victories and are in first place in the AFC North by a half game over the Ravens. If the Ravens beat the Patriots Monday night, they will regain the division lead because they own the tiebreaker over the offensively potent Steelers.
The Steelers and the Ravens will meet in a Week 16 game at Pittsburgh, and that game is likely to have a huge impact on which team wins the division. The loser of that game could earn a wild-card spot, but it could also result in potential elimination from the playoff picture.
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