Coming into it, Week 15 had the potential to be the defining weekend within the NFL and it is residing as much as that billing. There have been a number of playoff situations at play this weekend, and the general image is beginning to crystallize.
One factor that’s not wrapped up, nonetheless, is the AFC East crown. The New England Patriots had a possibility to safe the division on Sunday with a win, however the Buffalo Payments rallied from a 21-point deficit to maintain these hopes of profitable the AFC East alive for a minimum of one other week. In the meantime, the Cincinnati Bengals are formally eradicated from the playoffs after the Baltimore Ravens secured a key AFC North win to maintain their playoff pursuit going.
Possibly probably the most vital improvement, nonetheless, got here at Arrowhead Stadium the place the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have been formally eradicated from playoff competition. Furthermore, Patrick Mahomes left the competition late within the fourth quarter on account of a left knee damage, which has since been revealed to be a torn ACL.
The late afternoon window then took the baton from the early slate, and ran with it. The Los Angeles Rams clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Detroit Lions, as did the Denver Broncos after outlasting the Inexperienced Bay Packers in a heavyweight showdown from Mile Excessive. In the meantime, the Carolina Panthers had a possibility to sit down atop the NFC South, however discovered themselves on the flawed finish of the scoreboard with the New Orleans Saints pulling off the upset.
With an epic Week 15 slate unfolding earlier than our eyes, now could be the right time to take a stay have a look at the playoff image. Beneath, we’ll break down who’s presently out and in of the postseason.
AFC standings
- x-Denver Broncos (12-2)
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
- Buffalo Payments (10-4)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
x-clinched playoff berth
1. Denver Broncos (12-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
After profitable their eleventh straight recreation because of a 34-26 victory in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the Broncos are 12-2 and have formally clinched a playoff berth. They’ve a stable cushion within the AFC West, and have much more respiration room of their pursuit of the No. 1 seed because of Buffalo defeating the New England Patriots.
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins
The Patriots had a possibility to clinch the AFC East with a win over Buffalo on Sunday, however blew a 21-point lead in Week 15 to snap their profitable streak. New England stays in first place within the division, however the Payments are lurking.
Past Buffalo, this loss presently would not assist the Patriots of their pursuit of Denver for the No. 1 seed.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Colts, vs. Titans
The Jaguars have now gained 5 straight video games following a blowout victory in opposition to the New York Jets. That helps hold them in first place within the AFC South over the surging Houston Texans.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens
Pittsburgh is again in first place within the AFC North after defeating the Ravens; nonetheless, there’s nonetheless so much to be decided on this division. Baltimore simply took down the Cincinnati Bengals, so so much shall be using on the Steelers’ matchup in opposition to the Miami Dolphins on Monday night time, particularly with one other head-to-head matchup with Baltimore nonetheless on deck in Week 18.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos
The Chargers notched their tenth win of the season and eradicated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs from playoff competition on Sunday with a nail-biting win at Arrowhead. That victory not solely retains them because the No. 1 wild card workforce, however they’re nonetheless inside vary of Denver within the AFC West.
6. Buffalo Payments (10-4)
Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
It can’t be overstated how necessary Buffalo’s comeback win over the Patriots was. After erasing one other double-digit deficit, the Payments are nonetheless alive within the AFC East race, that means there’s nonetheless a line to a better seed and a house playoff recreation.
7. Houston Texans (9-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts
After beginning the 12 months 0-3, the Texans have clawed again into the playoff image because the No. 7 seed and are coming off a powerful win over the Cardinals at residence. They’ve now gained six straight and are on the heels of the Jaguars within the AFC South, so there’s room for this climb to go even greater.
Within the hunt
The Colts (8-6) are mathematically nonetheless within the hunt, however have a troublesome street ahead, particularly after being unable to tug off the upset in Seattle.
The workforce that will have the most effective likelihood of this group to make the postseason is the Ravens (7-7), particularly after shutting out the Bengals to maneuver again to .500 on the 12 months. That has them proper behind the Steelers (who play on Monday) within the AFC North with yet another head-to-head nonetheless to go within the regular-season finale.
Surprisingly, the Dolphins (6-7) are nonetheless lurking on the outskirts after profitable 4 straight video games, however so much must go proper. On high of possible needing to win out, Miami would want some wild card contenders to break down, because it presently loses head-to-head tiebreakers to the Colts, Chargers and Ravens.
Predicting the complete 2025 NFL playoff bracket and Tremendous Bowl winner as we enter Week 15
John Breech
NFC standings
- x-Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
- Chicago Bears (10-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-4-1)
x-clinched playoff berth
1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
The Rams have formally clinched a playoff berth after taking down the Detroit Lions in Week 15. Not solely did they punch their ticket to the postseason, however this win helped L.A. hold each the Seahawks and 49ers at arm’s size as each NFC West rivals are scorching on their heels. Subsequent week’s matchup in opposition to Seattle will show to be monumental in securing the division. Proper now, nonetheless, Sean McVay and Co. are within the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed.
2. Chicago Bears (10-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions
The Bears have notched double-digit wins on the season after soundly taking down the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Area. Because of the Denver Broncos defeating the Packers, Chicago has vaulted again as much as first place within the NFC North and are presently the No. 2 seed within the convention. After all, this places much more emphasis on what was already an enormous matchup with Inexperienced Bay subsequent week.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Payments, vs. Commanders
Philadelphia snapped a three-game dropping streak on Sunday with a blowout win in opposition to the Raiders. Jalen Hurts bounced again properly with three passing touchdowns, and the victory helps the Eagles maintain agency atop the NFC East.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers
Even after that demoralizing loss to the Falcons on Thursday, the Buccaneers come out of Week 15 in first place within the NFC South. That is because of the New Orleans Saints upsetting the Carolina Panthers to push them to 7-7 on the season. Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker over Carolina in the meanwhile on account of a greater win share in opposition to widespread opponents. Nonetheless, each head-to-head matchups are nonetheless on deck, which is able to kick off subsequent week in Carolina.
5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers
Seattle barely escaped Week 15 with a win. The membership let Philip Rivers grasp round simply lengthy sufficient to place the Colts inside vary of an upset, however a game-winning area purpose drive with 18 seconds left in regulation helped safe the win. The Seahawks are actually 11-3, which has then neck-and-neck with the Rams for first place within the NFC West. L.A. presently holds the tiebreaker on account of a head-to-head win again in Week 11, however these two will sq. off on Thursday.
6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
The Niners are quietly lurking within the NFC playoff race. Regardless of being the No. 6 seed, San Francisco is 10-4 and able to pounce if their division rivals slip up down the stretch. The workforce cut up the head-to-head sequence with the Rams, however does presently have the benefit over Seattle, which the 49ers face once more in Week 18.
There is a world the place the 49ers might surprisingly bounce a lot greater within the standings if sure items fall their method over the following three weeks.
7. Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-4-1)
Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings
Inexperienced Bay noticed a substantial fall from grace. After coming into Week 15 because the No. 2 seed and in first place within the NFC North, they’ve immediately dropped all the way in which to the No. 7 seed after falling to the Denver Broncos. That defeat helped Chicago transfer on high of the Packers for first place within the division, which places a good larger emphasis on subsequent week’s matchup. Even worse, go rusher Micah Parsons left Sunday’s loss on account of a severe knee damage.
As a result of Inexperienced Bay swept the season sequence over the Lions, the Packers have some wiggle room to play with earlier than falling out of the playoff image completely.
Within the hunt
The Lions (8-6) have their backs in opposition to the wall a bit after falling to the Los Angeles Rams. That defeat continues to maintain them on the skin trying in on the playoff image because the No. 8 seed as they’re in third place within the NFC North. They don’t seem to be out of the race fairly but, however they actually have to win out and get some assist alongside the way in which.
The Carolina Panthers (7-7) had a golden alternative to create some area between them and the Buccaneers for first place within the NFC South, merely needing a win over the Saints to maneuver to 8-6, whereas Tampa Bay stumbled to 7-7 with a loss to Atlanta on Thursday. Nonetheless, the Panthers allowed New Orleans to tug off the upset, which despatched them again to .500 on the season. As a result of they’re knotted with Bucs, they lose the tiebreaker on account of an inferior file in opposition to widespread opponents. After all, the Panthers can get again into it with two of their remaining three video games on the season in opposition to Tampa.
The Cowboys (6-7-1) are on life assist after dropping to the Vikings on Sunday night time, all however ending any hopes of securing a postseason berth.
