CNN
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The NFL playoffs are practically in sight and the warmth is on for some groups nonetheless within the struggle to make the postseason.
Week 15 noticed the variety of groups which have certified for the playoffs enhance to seven, whereas two extra have been minimize out of competition. There have been additionally intriguing developments within the battles for division titles and seedings.
So who’s already punched their ticket to the postseason, who faces an anxious wait down the stretch and who already has their eyes on subsequent 12 months?
Seven groups throughout the 2 conferences have clinched a playoff spot after Week 15.
The reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs secured their tenth straight playoff berth with 5 video games to spare after beating the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday in Week 13.
Two days later, the Buffalo Bills clinched a spot. The Bills are the one crew to defeat the 13-1 Chiefs this season, and due to this fact maintain a possible tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed within the AFC and home-field benefit within the postseason. Buffalo, nevertheless, would want to win out and hope that Kansas City drops two of its final three to ensure the highest spot.
Week 15 defeats for the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins noticed the Pittsburgh Steelers e-book their place within the playoffs, regardless of shedding 27-13 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Colts’ defeat additionally meant that the 9-5 Houston Texans will make the playoffs as AFC South winners.
Meanwhile, there’s a fascinating battle growing for the No. 1 seed within the NFC.
The Detroit Lions, Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are at the moment seeded first, second and fifth respectively and all have the identical document at 12-2. Minnesota is fifth as the highest 4 seeds are reserved for division winners.
The Vikings secured their spot on Monday with a win over the Chicago Bears, whereas Detroit and Philadelphia booked their spots in Week 14.
This implies that the Lions are in command of their very own future in terms of seeding, however losses might imply they cede management of the AFC North to Minnesota or the lurking Green Bay Packers.
The NFC is the extra fluid of the 2 conferences, with 9 groups nonetheless formally in playoff competition.
The San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints are nonetheless technically within the hunt, however the NFL’s playoff tracker offers them lower than a one per cent likelihood of creating the postseason.
The Packers are all however confirmed to make the postseason at 10-4, whereas the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, each 8-6, are at the moment scrapping over the NFC West title. The Arizona Cardinals are just one sport behind each groups. At the highest of the NFC South, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a one-game lead over the Atlanta Falcons.
If the season ended in the present day, the Washington Commanders would sneak into the playoffs because the seventh seed, one sport forward of the Seahawks.
Things are barely easier within the AFC. The 9-5 Baltimore Ravens are on the verge of getting in and will nonetheless take the AFC North from Pittsburgh. The Denver Broncos (9-5) and the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) are at the moment seeded sixth and seventh.
The Colts, Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals can all nonetheless make the playoffs, however all have shedding information and have a ten p.c or much less likelihood of getting in, per the NFL.
As the saying goes, there’s at all times subsequent 12 months.
Week 15 noticed the Bears and Carolina Panthers as the one groups to be eradicated from postseason competition within the NFC. After opening the season at 4-2, Chicago has misplaced eight straight video games and fired head coach Matt Eberflus after a disastrous Thanksgiving loss to the Lions, the primary time within the franchise’s greater than 100-year historical past {that a} coach was fired midseason.
There has been no change amongst eradicated groups within the AFC with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders all formally out.
AFC
1) Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) – clinched
2) Buffalo Bills (11-3) – clinched
3) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) – clinched
4) Houston Texans (9-5) – clinched
5) Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
6) Denver Broncos (9-5)
7) Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
On the skin
8) Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
9) Miami Dolphins (6-8)
10) Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
Eliminated
11) New York Jets (4-10)
12) Cleveland Browns (3-11)
13) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
14) Tennessee Titans (3-11)
15) New England Patriots (3-11)
16) Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
NFC
1) Detroit Lions (12-2) – clinched
2) Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) – clinched
3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
4) Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
5) Minnesota Vikings (12-2) – clinched
6) Green Bay Packers (10-4)
7) Washington Commanders (9-5)
On the skin
8) Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
9) Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
10) Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
11) San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
12) Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
13) New Orleans Saints (6-8)
Eliminated
14) Chicago Bears (4-10)
15) Carolina Panthers (3-11)
16) New York Giants (2-12)
