NFL Playoff Picture - Week 15: Postseason seeds, projected draft order
NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LVII.
AFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bills (x) | East | 11-3 |
| 2 | Chiefs (y) | West | 11-3 |
| 3 | Bengals | North | 10-4 |
| 4 | Titans | South | 7-7 |
| 5 | Ravens | North | 9-5 |
| 6 | Chargers | West | 8-6 |
| 7 | Dolphins | East | 8-6 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs both locked up playoff berths in dramatic fashion in Week 15. The Bills booted a walk-off field goal in a snowstorm to head to the postseason for a fourth straight time, while the Chiefs clinched the AFC West for the seventh year running with an overtime win over the Houston Texans.
The Baltimore Ravens are surely counting down the days until Lamar Jackson gets back after a loss to the Cleveland Browns cost them their lead in the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals are now tentative holders of a home playoff game after a stunning comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Urgent help is needed in Tennessee after the Titans dropped their fourth straight game. After once holding a comfortable lead in the division, the Titans are now within striking distance of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who've won three of their last four.
In the hunt| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Patriots | East | 7-7 |
| 9 | Jets | East | 7-7 |
| 10 | Jaguars | South | 6-8 |
| 11 | Raiders | West | 6-8 |
| 12 | Browns | North | 6-8 |
| 13 | Steelers | North | 6-8 |
It's going to get interesting in the AFC East with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets very much alive. With matchups against the Bengals, Dolphins, and Bills coming up, it might be the Patriots who end up kicking themselves after losing in embarrassing fashion to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15.
As for the Raiders, Las Vegas' next matchup carries heavy implications as a Christmas Eve meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers awaits.
NFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagles (x) | East | 13-1 |
| 2 | Vikings (y) | North | 11-3 |
| 3 | 49ers (y) | West | 10-4 |
| 4 | Buccaneers | South | 6-8 |
| 5 | Cowboys (x) | East | 10-4 |
| 6 | Giants | East | 8-5-1 |
| 7 | Commanders | East | 7-6-1 |
The top of the NFC playoff picture is beginning to take shape. It took unimaginable heroics and the largest comeback in NFL history for the Minnesota Vikings to lock up the NFC North with a win Saturday. The San Francisco 49ers had a slightly easier path to claim their division after stifling the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night with Brock Purdy continuing his unlikely ascension under center.
It was business as usual for the Philadelphia Eagles, who ripped off their fifth straight win Sunday. Week 16 is a big one for the Eagles as they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys on the road. It's also the earliest possible opportunity for them to clinch the division and home-field advantage.
After tying in their first meeting, the New York Giants toughed out a crucial win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football. The result launched New York over Washington for the second wild card and gives the franchise a 87% of making the postseason, according to FiveThirtyEight. Dallas also clinched a playoff berth despite losing to the Jaguars thanks to the Giants' victory.
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Seahawks | West | 7-7 |
| 9 | Lions | North | 7-7 |
| 10 | Packers | North | 5-8 |
| 11 | Panthers | South | 5-9 |
| 12 | Saints | South | 5-9 |
| 13 | Falcons | South | 5-9 |
Look out wild-card holders, the Detroit Lions are coming, and they're coming fast. Winners of six of the last seven, the Lions are now serious contenders to claim a wild-card spot. A favorable stretch to end the year - with matchups against the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers - makes this scenario more realistic than fantasy.
The NFC South remains arguably the league's most mediocre group of teams, yet it's still the closest division race in the NFL. Only one win separates the Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. An epic collapse by Tom Brady and Co. against the Bengals squandered a huge opportunity for the Bucs to get some breathing room.
Projected NFL draft order| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Texans |
| 2 | Bears |
| 3 | Seahawks (via Broncos) |
| 4 | Cardinals |
| 5 | Lions (via Rams) |
| 6 | Colts |
| 7 | Falcons |
| 8 | Panthers |
| 9 | Eagles (via Saints) |
| 10 | Packers |
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