2009 AFC Playoff Picture: Week 15

It's Week 15 in the NFL , and while we still have three weeks to figure out who fits where, which teams are pretenders, and which are the actual contenders, tight races in both conferences deserve a look before everything is all wrapped up.

Before we get started, bow your head in dismay if you are a fan of the following teams officially eliminated from playoff contention :

Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams

The Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills are, for all intents and purposes, just about dead in the 2009 playoff race, as they would need to win their remaining three games, and would need the sixth place team (as well as several other teams) to lose 2-3 of their remaining games just to earn a shot at the wild card.

Here's a look at the top six teams and their seeds for each conference, followed by the other hopefuls who are on the outside, looking in:

AFC

1. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are 13-0, have clinched their division and home-field advantage in the playoffs, and can safely coast through their remaining three games.

Despite having issues with their rush offense and run defense, they easily stand atop the rest of the AFC, with the San Diego Chargers appearing to be their only real threat in the postseason.

Their only obstacle for the rest of the regular season is deciding whether or not going for a perfect record is important to them.

Verdict: Already AFC South champions, first-round bye

2. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers sit at 10-3 after winning eight straight games. They are tied with the Denver Broncos in their season series, and need two more wins to clinch the division and the first-round bye.

They are not guaranteed the division or the bye if they finish with the same record as Denver, so they are likely to keep playing at full force to get in the best possible position for a strong playoff run.

San Diego has an extremely well-balanced offense, backed by a solid pass defense that should only get better when injured safety Eric Weddle finally returns from injury. However, their weak run defense could end up being their Achilles heel in the playoffs.

Verdict: AFC West Champions

3. Cincinnati Bengals

With one more win, the Bengals are officially champions of their division, and will claim a spot in the playoffs.

However, a tough matchup with the San Diego Chargers in Week 15 could prevent that from happening before Week 16, and a loss would keep the Baltimore Ravens alive for a shot at the division.

Cincinnati has displayed a strong commitment to running the ball, and has found great success in doing so against even the strongest of run defenses. However, their inability to pass the ball at a high level could hinder them in the playoffs.

Verdict: AFC North Champions

4. New England Patriots

The Patriots stand at 8-5 with a one-game lead over both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, both teams in which they have split their season series with.

New England faces an ironically pivotal game against the division rival Buffalo Bills in Week 15, as a loss could cost them the top spot in the division, and could even ultimately lead to an absence from the postseason for the second year in a row.

Both Miami and New York stand at 7-6, and could be on the Patriots' heels until the very end of the season.

Verdict: AFC East Champions

5. Denver Broncos

Denver stands at 8-5 after starting the season at 6-0, and are currently two games back of the division lead, while holding a tie in the season series with the San Diego Chargers.

The Broncos have what is presumably a cakewalk game against the Oakland Raiders this week, and if the Bengals can knock off the division-leading Chargers, the Broncos would be in prime position to grab the division lead back.

However, the Broncos most likely route to the playoffs will be through one of the wild card spots, although even a playoff appearance is no guarantee. With three 7-6 teams waiting for them to falter, the Broncos likely need to win out to preserve a postseason bid.

Verdict: Wild card

6. Jacksonville Jaguars

At 7-6, the Jaguars are widely considered the worst potential playoff team. While their offense has at times produced good numbers and gotten the job done, their weak overall competition and lack of focus on defense may have them ill-prepared for the playoffs.

However, they may not even have to think about what the playoffs will bring to them, as they face the 13-0 Colts in Week 15, followed by a tough test in the New England Patriots.

Like Denver, Jacksonville would be best advised to win out if they want to keep their sixth seed, although it appears very unlikely that they will do so.

Verdict: Staying home

On the Outside, Looking In

7. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' schedule gives them a strong chance at running the table and locking up a wild card spot, as they face the underwhelming Chicago Bears in Week 15, and finish the season against the lowly Oakland Raiders.

Their big test and ultimate deciding game will likely come in Week 16 against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who still have a slight chance of making the playoffs at 6-7.

Verdict: Wild card

8. Miami Dolphins

Of the three 7-6 teams sitting on the fence for the AFC playoffs, the Dolphins face the most difficult schedule, as they get the hot 6-7 Tennessee Titans in Week 15, and then end with two tough games against the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers, both of which are 6-7 and still in the playoff hunt.

Verdict: Staying home

9. New York Jets

The Jets (7-6) should continue their dominant rushing-ways against a weak Atlanta Falcons defense, with or without rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, but could run into two road blocks in their attempt to stay above .500 and reach the playoffs.

After the Falcons, the Jets still have to battle the Colts and the Bengals. However, there is a decent chance that Indianapolis will be resting their core players in Week 16, and much the same for the then possible AFC North champion Bengals in the final week of the season.

Verdict: Staying home

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have fallen into the depths of mediocrity after dropping five straight games, including an embarrassing 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Still, despite their inability to pick things up to this point, they have two games against playoff competitors in the final two weeks, and a three-game winning streak could very possibly send them into the playoffs.

However, they first face a stiff test in the 9-4 Green Bay Packers, and then must get by the Dolphins and division rival Ravens, as both teams stand at 7-6 and lead in the wild card race.

Verdict: Staying home

11. Tennessee Titans

Despite starting the season at 0-6, the Titans have turned things around with a powerful rushing attack and mistake-free play from the quarterback position. They're also backed by a very strong, well-balanced defense that has kept them in nearly every game as they've gone 6-1 over their past seven games.

Still, despite their impressive (and unlikely) run back to the wild card race, they still only have one game that can help them control their path to the playoffs, and they also must win all three of their remaining games for a chance to extend their season.

If they can get past the Miami Dolphins in Week 15, they would move up to the ninth spot (at the worst), and would be in good position to end the season at 9-7 with favorable match-ups with the San Diego Chargers (who should be resting their starters in Week 16), and the Seattle Seahawks.

It's still a stretch, but the Titans are very much alive in the AFC playoff hunt.

Verdict: Staying ome

12. Houston Texans

At 6-7, the Texans are still in decent shape and have a chance at a playoff spot, though like many other playoff hopefuls, they cannot afford to lose another game.

With an easy matchup with the St. Louis Rams in Week 15 the Texans will likely take a 7-7 record into a huge contest with the Miami Dolphins, which will hold serious playoff implications.

They will then end their bid for the playoffs at home against the New England Patriots. Needless to say, even without all the tie-breakers that will inevitably be taken into consideration, the Texans are facing an uphill battle.

Verdict: Staying home

13. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are manned by an average quarterback and an inconsistent overall offense, yet remain competitive with an improving overall defense, and a very stingy pass defense.

They need too much help to be a serious factor in the AFC playoff hunt, but at 5-8, they are not yet mathematically eliminated from the wild card race.

A win over division-leading New England would give them a decent chance to gain some momentum, but unless they can win their remaining three games, which include matches with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts, they won't make the playoffs.

Verdict: Staying home

Stay tuned for a breakdown of the NFC Playoff Picture heading into Week 15.