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 LVIII.
AFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ravens (x) | North | 11-3 |
| 2 | Dolphins | East | 10-4 |
| 3 | Chiefs | West | 9-5 |
| 4 | Jaguars | South | 8-6 |
| 5 | Browns | North | 9-5 |
| 6 | Bengals | North | 8-6 |
| 7 | Colts | South | 8-6 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff spot by bouncing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday Night Football. The Ravens likely have their eyes on a bigger prize, though, as they remain in the driver's seat for a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the Jaguars now have an identical record as the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans but hold tiebreakers over their division rivals.
It was far from pretty, but the Chiefs got back to their winning ways against the Patriots. Despite two interceptions, Patrick Mahomes and Co. escaped from New England, distancing the team from the 7-7 Denver Broncos in the AFC West.
Joe Flacco did it again. After it looked like the Chicago Bears had their number through three quarters, the Browns - led by the arm of Flacco - turned it on in the fourth quarter to keep their spot as the AFC's top wild-card team.
Welcome back, Cincinnati. No Joe Burrow? No problem. The Bengals can thank Jake Browning, the former undrafted quarterback who has won his last three starts, for putting his club back in the playoff picture. However, after their next matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Browning and the Bengals end their year against the Chiefs and Browns.
In the hunt| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Texans | South | 8-6 |
| 9 | Bills | East | 8-6 |
| 10 | Steelers | North | 7-7 |
| 11 | Broncos | West | 7-7 |
| 12 | Raiders | West | 6-8 |
Last week, there were six teams that were tied with a 7-6 record. Only four of those clubs won in Week 15.
It took an entire 60 minutes plus all of overtime, but the Texans were able to overcome the lowly Tennessee Titans on Sunday without C.J. Stroud. If you're Houston, you have to hope Stroud is back for Week 16 against a tough Browns defense.
The Buffalo Bills are the team no one wants to see in the playoffs. Buffalo squeaked out a win against the Chiefs in Week 14 but made its biggest statement yet on Sunday, routing the red-hot Dallas Cowboys. The Bills still need some help to get in, but look out if they reach the postseason.
The biggest losers from this weekend are undoubtedly the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos. The Steelers, who haven't scored 20 points in a game in five weeks, are in a complete tailspin after a third straight loss Saturday against the Colts. Meanwhile, the Broncos were shellacked 42-17 by the Detroit Lions. Luckily for them, the combined record of their next three opponents - Patriots, Chargers, Raiders - is 14-28.
NFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49ers (y) | West | 11-3 |
| 2 | Eagles (x) | East | 10-3 |
| 3 | Lions | North | 10-4 |
| 4 | Buccaneers | South | 7-7 |
| 5 | Cowboys (x) | East | 10-4 |
| 6 | Vikings | North | 7-7 |
| 7 | Rams | West | 7-7 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
It was business as usual for the San Francisco 49ers, who clinched the NFC West for the second straight season after overwhelming the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Eagles plus a one-game lead and tiebreaker over the Cowboys for the No. 1 seed.
What a blunder by the Cowboys, who were a major letdown in their 31-10 loss to the Bills. Not only does the defeat mark the end of a five-game winning streak, but it also gives the Eagles an opportunity to again take a one-game lead for control of the NFC East if they beat the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. Philadelphia clinched a playoff spot with the 49ers' victory Sunday.
The Detroit Lions will be interested in Monday night's game, too. A Seahawks loss will clinch the first postseason appearance for the Lions since 2016.
The Minnesota Vikings are clinging on to their playoff spot for dear life. After blowing a 17-3 lead in a loss to the Bengals on Saturday, Minnesota still has two matchups against the division-leading Lions remaining.
Sean McVay and the Rams hold the final wild-card seed after beating the Washington Commanders. L.A. has now won four of its last five with its only defeat being an overtime loss to the Ravens. Another victory next week - over the 7-7 New Orleans Saints - would be huge for the Rams' playoff chances.
In the hunt| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Saints | South | 7-7 |
| 9 | Seahawks | West | 6-7 |
| 10 | Falcons | South | 6-8 |
| 11 | Packers | North | 6-8 |
The Saints kept pace with the Buccaneers but still fall victim to the head-to-head tiebreaker with their division rival. Meanwhile, the Falcons were struck a big loss after dropping a game to the basement-dwelling Carolina Panthers.
The Seahawks won't jump into a wild-card spot if they win Monday night, but they'll need a victory to stay level with their counterparts.
Projected NFL draft order| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bears (via Panthers) |
| 2 | Patriots |
| 3 | Cardinals |
| 4 | Commanders |
| 5 | Bears |
| 6 | Jets |
| 7 | Giants |
| 8 | Chargers |
| 9 | Titans |
| 10 | Falcons |
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