The NFL is heading into the house stretch of the season with the convention races heating up. The Philadelphia Eagles have tied the Detroit Lions for the highest seed within the NFC, however the Lions presently maintain the tiebreaker attributable to having a greater convention report. There are nonetheless loads of video games to kind out the race for home-field benefit within the NFC, particularly because the Minnesota Vikings additionally tied the Lions for first place within the NFC North because of their win over the Chicago Bears on Monday evening.
The Eagles, Lions and Vikings are all tied for first, however the Lions maintain the tiebreaker over each groups.
The Atlanta Falcons stayed alive within the NFC South race because of their win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Atlanta is one recreation again of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division lead (and has the head-to-head tiebreaker).
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs lead the Buffalo Bills by two video games for the highest seed within the convention — but Buffalo has a simple schedule to finish the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have set themselves up for an additional battle for first within the AFC North subsequent week whereas the Denver Broncos are on the verge of clinching a playoff berth after a Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Meanwhile, the Steelers and Texans are the newest to clinch playoff berths. Pittsburgh will get in regardless of dropping to the Eagles, whereas Houston took down the Dolphins to win the AFC South. It wanted assist because the Broncos downed the Colts.
Below is a breakdown of the convention standings with Week 15 practically within the books.
AFC playoff image
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eradicated from playoffs
1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
The Chiefs are up two video games over the Bills for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. A Chiefs win and Bills loss in Week 16 would give Kansas City home-field benefit within the convention.
Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Buffalo trails Kansas City by two video games for home-field benefit, however has the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Bills have one of many best schedules the remainder of the way in which.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
The playoff-bound Steelers lead the Ravens by one recreation within the AFC North after their loss to the Eagles (in addition they have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Baltimore), however journey to Baltimore on Saturday. Pittsburgh clinched a playoff berth this week regardless of dropping to Philadelphia.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals
4. Houston Texans (9-5)
The Texans clinched the AFC South with their win over the Dolphins and the Colts’ loss to the Broncos. They stay the No. 4 seed within the AFC and may have a house recreation within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
The Ravens maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Broncos for the No. 5 seed within the AFC and are one recreation behind the Steelers within the AFC North (Pittsburgh owns the tiebreaker). They host the Steelers on Saturday and may clinch a playoff berth with a win.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns
6. Denver Broncos (9-5)
The Broncos are a win away from clinching a playoff spot. They lose the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Ravens for the No. 5 seed.
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs
7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
The Chargers fall to the No. 7 seed within the AFC after their loss to the Buccaneers. The Chargers play the Broncos subsequent week with playoff seeding — and a possible playoff clincher — on the road.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
The Colts are two video games out of the ultimate wild-card spot within the AFC, even with their loss to the Broncos (the Chargers misplaced to maintain them alive). The Colts have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dolphins for the No. 8 seed by advantage of their Week 7 victory and personal the tiebreaker over the Bengals based mostly on having a greater convention report (5-5) than Cincinnati (3-6).
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
The Dolphins’ AFC playoff hopes are nonetheless alive, even with their loss to the Texans. Miami is 2 video games behind Los Angeles for the ultimate playoff spot and holds the conference-record tiebreaker (5-5) over Cincinnati (3-6).
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
The Bengals stay the No. 10 seed within the AFC, needing important assist to earn a playoff berth. Cincinnati wants to leap a number of groups and win out to have a shot on the playoffs, because the Bengals are two video games again of the Chargers and do not have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers
Eliminated from playoff competition
Six groups are eradicated from the playoff race within the AFC: the Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars and Browns.
NFC playoff image
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eradicated from playoffs
1. Detroit Lions (12-2)
The Lions stay the No. 1 seed within the convention even with their loss to the Bills attributable to having a greater convention report (8-1) than the Eagles (7-2). They are additionally tied for the NFC North lead with the Vikings, however maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker. Detroit will stay the No. 1 seed over each Philadelphia and Minnesota.
Remaining schedule: at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
The Eagles stay within the hunt for home-field benefit, because of the Lions’ loss, however Detroit nonetheless has the conference-record tiebreaker. Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East and the No. 2 seed with a win subsequent week.
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
The Buccaneers nonetheless lead the NFC South after their win over the Chargers. Tampa Bay (6-3) holds the conference-record tiebreaker over Los Angeles (5-5) for the No. 3 seed. Atlanta has swept Tampa Bay this season, however the Buccaneers lead the NFC South by one recreation.
Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
The Rams take over the NFC West lead with the Seahawks’ loss to the Packers. Los Angeles holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle, which is how the Rams gained the division lead.
Remaining schedule: at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks
5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
Minnesota stays the highest wild-card staff within the convention and is now tied with Detroit for first place within the NFC North. Detroit nonetheless has have the division lead by way of the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Vikings additionally clinched a playoff berth this week.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
The Packers stay the No. 6 seed within the NFC after their win over the Seahawks. They can clinch a playoff berth as quickly as subsequent week.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)
The Commanders lead the Seahawks by one recreation for the ultimate playoff spot within the convention. They stay three again of the Eagles within the NFC East.
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
The Seahawks misplaced the NFC West lead attributable to their loss to the Packers, because the Rams personal the head-to-head tiebreaker for the division lead. They stay one-game again of the Commanders for the ultimate wild-card spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
The Falcons stored tempo with the Buccaneers within the NFC South with their victory, trailing Tampa Bay by one recreation for the division lead. Atlanta has the conference-record tiebreaker (6-3) over Arizona (3-6) for the No. 9 seed.
Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers
10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
The Cardinals stay within the NFC West and wild-card hunt after their win over the Patriots. Arizona is 2 video games behind Washington for the ultimate wild-card spot.
Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
The 49ers’ slim playoff hopes are nonetheless alive, even with their loss to the Rams. They are three video games out of the ultimate playoff spot, so their wild-card likelihood is nearly nonexistent. They are two video games behind the Rams and Seahawks within the NFC West.
Remaining schedule: at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
The Cowboys are nonetheless within the playoff hunt after their win over the Panthers on Sunday. One extra loss by Dallas will remove the Cowboys from playoff competition.
Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
The Saints are three video games out of the NFC South lead with three video games to play. They might be eradicated from playoff competition with one other loss.
Remaining schedule: at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers
Eliminated from playoff competition
The Bears and Panthers joined the Giants as groups formally eradicated from the playoffs with losses in Week 15.
