NFL playoff picture: Updated AFC, NFC standings for Week 15

Week 15 is right here, leaving lower than three weeks within the 2020 NFL common season. Each win means every little thing in making an attempt to lock down seeding, division titles or wild-card berths to get into the playoffs, whereas each loss is devastating.

The postseason subject has expanded by one staff every within the AFC and the NFC to a complete of 14 has made the late-season outcomes extra fascinating. Based mostly on the present standings, this is an up to date have a look at what every convention match would appear to be if the playoffs began now:

WEEK 15: Sporting News’ latest NFL power rankings

NFL standings for Week 15

AFC playoff image

Who could be in?

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (12-1), champions, AFC West.  The Chiefs, the reigning Tremendous Bowl champs, are again the place they belong, because the unquestioned prime seed with probably MVP Patrick Mahomes. They clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Broncos in Week 13 and clinched one other division title with a win over the Dolphins in Week 14. They will give attention to the lone bye and home-field benefit after going up a full recreation on the Steelers. Remaining schedule:  at NO, vs. ATL, vs. LAC

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2), first place, AFC North. The Steelers misplaced in surprising trend to Washington at residence in Week 13 to sprint their hopes of an ideal season, after which took one other huge hit on the Payments in Week 14. They nonetheless lead the Browns by two video games within the division and maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker plus the division-record tiebreaker. The Steelers clinched a playoff berth with a Raiders loss however now know they are going to be chasing the Chiefs. Remaining schedule: at CIN, vs. IND, at CLE

Three. Buffalo Payments (11-Three), champions, AFC East. The Payments clinched their first division title in a quarter-century and their second straight playoff berth with a win over the Broncos on Saturday in Denver. Their win over the Steelers in Week 14 was key towards securing a top-three seed, as a result of they misplaced to the Titans. Remaining schedule: at NE, vs. MIA

Four. Tennessee Titans (9-Four), first place, AFC South. The Titans are an extended shot to maneuver as much as catch the Chiefs, whom they do not play, and so they have already misplaced to the Steelers. They do have a key win over the Payments however failed to beat the Browns in Week 13 to solidify their playoff place. They maintain the division-record tiebreaker over the Colts.  Remaining schedule:  vs. DET, at GB, at HOU

5. Cleveland Browns (9-Four), second place, AFC North.  The Browns, regardless of their Monday evening loss to the Ravens, nonetheless maintain the highest wild-card spot by a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts and a full recreation over the Dolphins. The Browns even have a head-to-head tiebreaker in opposition to the Titans ought to the South change arms within the ultimate three weeks. Catching the Steelers is near-impossible regardless of the race tightening of late. Remaining schedule: at NYG, at NYJ, vs. PIT

6. Indianapolis Colts (9-Four), second place, AFC South. The Colts are placing all of it collectively on the proper time with just one powerful recreation left: on the Steelers in Week 16. Their losses to the Browns and Ravens damage, so beating the Texans and Raiders back-to-back was large. That obtained them right into a digital tie with the Titans, with whom they break up. They should hold profitable to maintain tempo and hope the Titans stumble as soon as. Remaining schedule: vs. HOU, at PIT, vs JAX

7. Miami Dolphins (Eight-5), second place, AFC East. The Dolphins nonetheless have this wild-card spot forward of the Ravens as a result of their convention document is a half-game higher. They fell a full recreation again of No. 6 with their loss to the Chiefs and the Colts’ win in Las Vegas. They nonetheless must host New England and go to Buffalo and have one other powerful recreation exterior the division on the street aginst the Raiders in Week 16.  Remaining schedule:  vs. NE, at LV, at BUF

Who can get there?

Eight. Baltimore Ravens (Eight-5)
9. Las Vegas Raiders (7-7)

The Ravens shut with winnable video games in opposition to the Jaguars, Giants and Bengals in making an attempt to catch the Dolphins, who for now maintain a tiny tiebreaker in opposition to them. The Ravens now maintain the head-to-head tiebreakers over the Colts and Browns however lose it to the Titans. The Raiders are hanging on by a menace after consecutive residence losses to the Colts and Chargers.

Who’s probably out?

10. New England Patriots (6-7)
11. Denver Broncos (5-9)

Who’s out

12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)
13. Houston Texans (Four-9)
14. Cincinnati Bengals (2-10-1)
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-12)
16. New York Jets (Zero-13)

The Patriots grew to become inconsistent to get again into the wild-card race and their loss to the Rams in Week 14 saved them from getting again above .500. The Broncos and Texans are doing higher than anticipated of late, nevertheless it’s extra eager about subsequent 12 months for each groups. The Chargers can take into consideration what may have been with all their shut losses. The Bengals have been performed when Joe Burrow went down in Week 11. The Jaguars and Jets are battling for the highest draft decide, and each misplaced in lopsided video games in Week 14 to take care of the draft order.

MORE: NFL’s expanded playoffs, explained

NFC playoff image

Who could be in?

1. Inexperienced Bay Packers (11-Three), champions, NFC North. The Packers had an important Week 14 with their win over the Lions. They clinched a second straight division title with the Vikings dropping. They obtained the bonus of leaping into the highest seed as a result of the Saints, whom they beat, misplaced to the Eagles. They adopted up all of that by holding on to beat the Panthers in Week 15. The Packers have just one difficult recreation left, the Titans in Week 16, and that is in Lambeau Area. They need to achieve success in their quest to maintain home-field benefit and the lone NFC playoff bye. Remaining schedule: vs. TEN, at CHI

2. New Orleans Saints (10-Three), first place, NFC South. The Saints lastly suffered their first defeat with Taysom Hill filling in for Drew Brees at quarterback as their offense and protection each began too slowly and could not catch up within the loss to the Eagles in Week 14. The Saints already clinched a playoff berth with their win and the Bears’ loss in Week 13. They nonetheless will clinch one other South title with another win or a Buccaneers loss. Remaining schedule: vs. KC, vs. MIN, at CAR

Three. Los Angeles Rams (9-Four), first place, NFC West. The Rams stayed in first place in Week 14 after dominating the Patriots. The Rams personal the head-to-head tiebreaker for the division lead due to their Week 10 victory over the Seahawks. They play the Seahawks and Cardinals for a second time every to shut the season in making an attempt to lock down their third dvision title in 4 seasons. Remaining schedule:  vs. NYJ,  at SEA, vs. ARI

Four. Washington Soccer Crew (6-7), first place, NFC East. Washington jumped right here earlier than the sport on the 49ers in Week 14 when the Giants, to whom it misplaced twice, misplaced to the Cardinals within the early afternoon window. Washington maintained its place with a win over the 49ers, going up a full recreation on the Giants and maintaining tempo with the profitable Cowboys and Eagles as properly. WFT wants to complete a recreation forward of the Giants as a result of it misplaced to the Giants twice. Remaining schedule: vs. SEA, vs. CAR, at PHI

5. Seattle Seahawks (9-Four), second place, NFC West.  The Seahawks obtained very properly at residence in opposition to the Jets in Week 14 after dropping to a different New York staff, the Giants, in Week 13. They saved tempo with the Rams and the division ought to come right down to the Week 16 recreation after a troublesome check in Washington in Week 15. The highest or second wild-card berth nonetheless appears safe.  Remaining schedule:  at WAS, vs. LAR, at SF

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Eight-5) second place, NFC South. After a bye in Week 13, the Bucs are merely centered on sustaining a wild card with the Saints pulling away within the division. They obtained a vital win towards that finish in opposition to the Vikings at residence in Week 14. They’re nonetheless gazing No. 5 or No. 6 once they get to the playoffs with a straightforward closing slate. Remaining schedule:  at ATL, at DET, vs. ATL

7. Arizona Cardinals (7-6), third place, NFC South.  The Cardinals obtained again into playoff place and ended a three-game dropping streak with their necessary win on the Giants in Week 14, maintaining them a recreation forward for this spot. They’ve little margin for error with the Vikings and Bears proper behind them. They’ve a positive end save for the Rams on the street in Week 17.  Remaining schedule:  vs. PHI,  vs. SF, at LAR

Who can get there?

Eight. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
9. Chicago Bears (6-7)
12. New York Giants (5-Eight)

The Vikings fell down right here with their loss to the Buccaneers whereas the Bears pulled even with their win over the Texans. The Giants dropped down right here with their loss to the Cardinals and stayed right here with Washington profitable.

Who’s probably out?

10. San Francisco 49ers (5-Eight)
11. Detroit Lions (5-Eight)
13. Philadelphia Eagles (Four-Eight-1)
14. Atlanta Falcons (Four-9)
15. Dallas Cowboys (Four-9)
16. Carolina Panthers (Four-10)

The Lions and Falcons are down right here after each firing their coaches through the season. The 49ers joined them with consecutive residence losses to the Payments and Washington. The rebuilding Panthers’ Week 15 loss in Inexperienced Bay was their eighth one-possession defeat this season. The Eagles and Cowboys obtained key wins in Week 14 to remain alive in the division race, nevertheless it nonetheless would not look good with Washington profitable and the Giants nonetheless a recreation forward.