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

There are just three weeks left in the 2018 NFL regular season, and yet the playoff picture is still unsettled.

The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints have won their respective divisions, and the Kansas City Chiefs have locked down a playoff spot. Otherwise, things are up for grabs.

Much of this can and probably should change in Week 15, though. In fact, the vast majority of playoff spots could be settled by the end of Monday night.

Let's take a look at the playoff picture if the season ended today and what could transpire in the coming days.

AFC

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)

2. New England Patriots (9-4)

3. Houston Texans (9-4)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)

Wild Card Teams

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3)

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-6)

In the Hunt

7. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

8. Miami Dolphins (7-6)

9. Tennessee Titans (7-6)

10. Denver Broncos (6-7)

11. Cleveland Browns (5-7-1)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)

Officially Eliminated

13. Buffalo Bills (4-9)

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)

15. New York Jets (4-9)

16. Oakland Raiders (3-10)

NFC

Division Leaders

1. New Orleans Saints (11-2)

2. Los Angeles Rams (11-2)

3. Chicago Bears (9-4)

4. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)

Wild Card Teams

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)

6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1)

In the Hunt

7. Carolina Panthers (6-7)

8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)

9. Washington Redskins (6-7)

10. Green Bay Packers (5-7-1)

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8)

Officially Eliminated

12. New York Giants (5-8)

13. Detroit Lions (5-8)

14. Atlanta Falcons (4-9)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

16. San Francisco 49ers (3-10)

Week 15 Playoff Scenarios

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

There's a lot that can happen in Week 15, so let's start at the top.

The New Orleans Saints can clinch a first-round bye if they win and the Chicago Bears lose or tie. They can also clinch if they tie and Chicago loses. The same scenarios hold true for the Los Angeles Rams. 

Over in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs only need a win over the Los Angeles Chargers to lock up a first-round bye. They'll secure the No. 1 seed if they win and the New England Patriots lose.

The Patriots can clinch the AFC East if they win and the Miami Dolphins lose or tie. A Patriots tie and a Dolphins loss would yield the same result. The Patriots can also secure a playoff berth with a win and a loss by the Tennessee Titans. If the Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts all lose, the Patriots can still lock up a postseason spot with a tie.

Losses or ties by the Titans and Colts will clinch the AFC South for the Houston Texans if Houston wins. The Texans can win the division with a tie if both Tennessee and Indianapolis lose.

Houston can lock up a playoff spot with a win and losses by Miami and Baltimore, or with a win and losses by Miami and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Chicago Bears can clinch the NFC North with a win, while a Minnesota Vikings loss will also be enough. If both teams tie, Chicago will also win the division. If Chicago ties and the Washington Redskins lose or tie, the Bears will earn a postseason berth.

The Dallas Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with a win, or with a tie and losses or ties by both the Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles. If both the Redskins and Eagles lose, it won't matter what Dallas does in Week 15 because the Cowboys will win the division anyway.

If the Seattle Seahawks win, they'll be guaranteed a spot in the postseason. The same is true for the Los Angeles Chargers. If the Dolphins lose or tie and either the Steelers lose or the Ravens lose or tie, the Chargers will be in the postseason as well.

These are the most direct clinching scenarios, but they aren't the only notable scenarios worth watching out for.

If the Chargers do beat the Chiefs, it will pull them into a tie at the top of the AFC West. That will leave an exciting two-week race for the division title and potentially for the No. 1 seed in the conference.

"It's a huge game," Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa said, per Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. "Obviously, it's one of the best teams in the NFL and it's a prime-time game Thursday night, so it's going to be a big atmosphere."

If the Steelers fall to the Patriots and the Ravens pick up a win, Baltimore will take over the top spot in the AFC North. If the Steelers and Ravens both lose, the upstart 5-7-1 Cleveland Browns can stay alive in the division race by beating the Denver Broncos.

Yes, unlikely as it would be, the Browns still have a chance to win the AFC North.