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Some NFL seasons are remembered for dominant groups. Others, for superlative gamers.
The 2025 season will likely be remembered for the carnage.
With 4 weeks to play within the common season, chances are high good that your most ardently-held preseason beliefs have been confirmed improper — as a result of the NFL is at the moment present process a standings shakeup not seen in additional than a decade.
Seven of the NFL’s eight divisions enter Week 15 with a workforce both in first place outright or tied for first that did not win the division final yr. To say such turnover on the high of a division is uncommon is an understatement.
For the reason that NFL realigned its groups in 2002, there has solely been one season (2011) that topped seven new division winners, in accordance with NBC Sports activities analysis.
With 4 weeks remaining within the common season, it’s already assured a workforce apart from Kansas Metropolis will win the AFC West for the primary time in 10 years. It will get worse for the Chiefs, although. They might be eradicated from the playoffs as quickly as right this moment if:
- Kansas Metropolis loses and Jacksonville, Buffalo and Indianapolis all win
- Kansas Metropolis loses, and Jacksonville, Buffalo and Houston all win
- Kansas Metropolis loses, and Buffalo, Indianapolis and Houston wins
“We all know the probabilities are getting decrease and decrease, however I do know the fellows on this workforce are going to present all the things they’ve each alternative they get,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes mentioned this week. “You’re simply getting late within the season, and also you’re not going to get these alternatives again.”
In the meantime, different groups anticipated to face atop their divisions are in jeopardy of falling quick. Buffalo, which has gained 5 consecutive AFC East titles, will see that streak snapped with a loss Sunday to New England. Tampa Bay’s maintain on the NFC South, which it has gained the final 4 years, is tenuous at finest.
Philadelphia will win the NFC East, and develop into the primary repeat winner of the division since 2004, if it wins three of its final 4 video games. However can the reigning Tremendous Bowl champions (8-5) pull that off after dropping its final three video games?
Detroit dominated the NFC final yr, incomes its high playoff seed. If the playoffs began right this moment, the Lions would not even be within the playoff area. How jumbled is that playoff image? The Chicago Bears began Dec. 7 in first place of their convention. When the day had ended with a loss, they’d tumbled all the best way to the seventh and last playoff spot.
The identical day, the Baltimore Ravens misplaced their second straight recreation to fall to 6-7. But even with that dropping report, they nonetheless management their path to successful their division with 4 weeks to play within the NFL’s common season. Tampa Bay, in the meantime, was trying to beat lowly division rival New Orleans to spice up its NFC South odds — solely to lose.
9 groups are already eradicated from the playoffs:
- Giants (2-11)
- Titans (2-11)
- Raiders (2-11)
- Commanders (3-10)
- Saints (3-10)
- Browns (3-10)
- Cardinals (3-10)
- Jets (3-10)
- Falcons (4-9)
These groups might be eradicated from the playoffs this week:
- Bengals (with a loss)
- Chiefs (with a loss, and different outcomes
- Miami (with a loss, and different outcomes)
- Minnesota (with a loss)
Although zero groups have but to clinch a playoff berth, three may accomplish that this week with a win:
- Broncos (11-2)
- Rams (10-3)
- Patriots (11-2)
What else we’re watching in Week 15
Ravens (6-7) at Bengals (4-9): Cincinnati is taking part in to maintain its slim playoff hopes alive. Regardless of dropping its final two weeks, Baltimore can nonetheless management a path to successful the AFC North title. However its odds will likely be strained if quarterback Lamar Jackson’s regression continues. Jackson’s five-game streak with out throwing a number of touchdowns is the longest of his profession as a starter.
Payments (9-4) at Patriots (11-2): New England has an opportunity to win 11 straight video games for under the third time in franchise historical past, and if it occurs, Mike Vrabel will be a part of Jim Caldwell (2009) and Steve Mariucci (1997) as the one coaches to tug off such a streak of their first season with a workforce.
Chargers (9-4) at Chiefs (6-7): The Chargers entered this season on a seven-game dropping streak versus the Chiefs, however a win right this moment would give L.A. its first season sweep of the Chiefs since 2013.
Browns (3-10) at Bears (9-4): Shedeur Sanders has the chance to be the primary rookie quarterback in NFL historical past with consecutive video games of 300-plus passing yards and three-plus touchdowns.
Cardinals (3-10) at Texans (8-5): Houston hasn’t allowed greater than 200 passing yards in its final 10 video games. The final workforce to try this in 11 straight video games was the 1989 Vikings.
Jets (3-10) at Jaguars (9-4): Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, turnover-free in his final two video games, may go three straight video games and not using a turnover for the primary time in his NFL profession.
Raiders (2-11) at Eagles (8-5): Whereas it has been a tough season for Saquon Barkley operating the ball, his 52-yard achieve final week provides him 15 runs of 50-plus in his profession. Solely Adrian Peterson (16) has extra.
Commanders (3-10) at Giants (2-11): Any person has to win. The Commanders have misplaced eight straight video games whereas New York’s dropping streak sits at seven.
Packers (9-3-1) at Broncos (11-2): The potential Tremendous Bowl matchup few noticed coming earlier than the season. Inexperienced Bay coach Matt LeFleur’s 21-4 report in December is tied with Vince Lombardi (21-4-2) for the very best successful proportion by any coach in historical past, per NBC Sports activities analysis.
Lions (8-5) at Rams (10-3): These offenses every rank within the top-four in scoring this season. Detroit is making an attempt to win consecutive video games for the primary time since Week 5.
Panthers (7-6) at Saints (3-10): The Panthers are chasing their first playoff berth since 2017. Tyler Shough can develop into the primary rookie quarterback in Saints historical past to win consecutive video games.
Titans (2-11) at 49ers (9-4): Christian McCaffrey (849 dashing yards, 806 receiving yards) is closing in on his second profession 1,000-1,000 season, one thing no different participant has ever accomplished.
Colts (8-5) at Seahawks (10-3): Welcome again, Philip Rivers, who may begin at 44 years outdated for the primary time since 2020. Rivers is older than 13 lively head coaches.
Vikings (5-8) at Cowboys (6-6-1): Dallas is on the precipice of a uncommon distinction. They may be a part of the 2001 Rams as the one groups for the reason that 1970 merger to common 29-plus factors on offense whereas additionally permitting 29 or extra factors on protection, per NBC Sports activities analysis.
Dolphins (6-7) at Steelers (7-6) Monday: It might need gone neglected, however Miami has gained 4 straight video games, and will throw a wrench into the AFC North division race if it could beat Pittsburgh, too.
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