The NFL is entering its home stretch of the season, with conference races beginning. The Philadelphia Eagles are tied with the Detroit Lions for the top seed in the NFC, but the Lions currently hold the tiebreaker due to their better conference record. There are still plenty of games to sort out the battle for home-field advantage in the NFC, and the Minnesota Vikings could also come out with a win on Monday night.
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs hold a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the race for the conference’s top seed, but Buffalo has an easy schedule heading into the end of the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for another battle for first place in the AFC North next week, while the Denver Broncos are on the verge of making the playoffs.
The Houston Texans became the newest addition to the playoffs with a win over the AFC South on Sunday.
Below is a breakdown of the conference standings with Week 15 almost set in stone.
AFC playoff photos
y- clinch division
X- Qualify for the playoffs
e– Eliminated from playoffs
1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
The Chiefs are two games behind the Bills for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. If the Chiefs win and the Bills lose in Week 16, Kansas City will have home field advantage.
Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos
2. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Buffalo holds a two-game lead over Kansas City in home-field advantage, but it will be a head-to-head tiebreaker. The Bills have one of the easiest schedules the rest of the way.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
The Steelers hold a one-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North (with a head-to-head tiebreaker with Baltimore) after their loss to the Eagles, but travel to Baltimore on Saturday.
Remaining schedule: Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals
4. Houston Texans (9-5)
The Texans defeated the Dolphins and the Colts lost to the Broncos to win the AFC South. They remain the No. 4 seed in the AFC and will play a home game in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: Chiefs vs. Ravens, Titans
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
As the No. 5 seed in the AFC, the Ravens won the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Broncos and are one game ahead of the Steelers in the AFC North (the tiebreaker is owned by Pittsburgh). They host the Steelers on Saturday.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns
6. Denver Broncos (9-5)
The Broncos only need one more win to qualify for the playoffs. They lost a direct tiebreaker to the Ravens for the No. 5 seed.
Remaining schedule: Chargers, Bengals, Chiefs
7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
The Chargers lost to the Buccaneers and fell to the 7th seed in the AFC. The Chargers will play the Broncos next week for playoff seeding and a potential playoff clincher.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
Even though the Colts lost to the Broncos, they are two games away from the final wild-card spot in the AFC (the Chargers lost to stay). The Colts’ Week 7 win gave them a head-to-head tiebreaker against the No. 8 seed Dolphins, and their better conference record (5-5) than Cincinnati (3-3) puts them in line for the Bengals. won the tiebreaker. 6).
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, vs. Giants, vs. Jaguars
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
Despite the loss to the Texans, the Dolphins’ AFC playoff hopes remain. Miami is two games behind Los Angeles for the final playoff spot and beat Cincinnati (3-6) in the conference record tiebreaker (5-5).
Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, vs. Browns, vs. Jets
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
The Bengals remain the No. 10 seed in the AFC and need big help to qualify for the playoffs. With the Bengals two games behind the Chargers and no head-to-head tiebreaker, Cincinnati will need to jump over multiple teams to earn a playoff berth.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers
Eliminated from playoff contention
Six teams will be eliminated from the AFC playoff race: the Raiders, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars, and Browns.
NFC Playoffs Photos
X- Qualify for the playoffs
e– Eliminated from playoffs
1. Detroit Lions (12-2)
The Lions remain the No. 1 seed in the conference despite the loss to the Bills, as they have a better conference record (8-1) than the Eagles (7-2). No matter what Minnesota does on Monday, they beat the Vikings to lead the division (they own the head-to-head tiebreaker).
Remaining schedule: Bears, 49ers vs. Vikings
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
The Eagles continue to seek home-field advantage thanks to the loss to the Lions, but Detroit still has the tiebreaker for the conference record. Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East championship and the No. 2 seed with a win next week.
Remaining schedule: Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
The Buccaneers remain in first place in the NFC South after their win over the Chargers. Tampa Bay (6-3) defeated third-seeded Los Angeles (5-5) in a tiebreaker for the conference record. Atlanta has dominated Tampa Bay this season, but a loss to the Falcons on Monday could put the Buccaneers in first place in the division.
Remaining schedule: Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
With the Seahawks losing to the Packers, the Rams take over first place in the NFC West. Los Angeles won the head-to-head tiebreaker with Seattle, giving the Rams first place in the division.
Remaining schedule: Jets vs. Cardinals vs. Seahawks
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
Minnesota remains the top wild-card team in the conference, but a win against the Bears on Monday could put Detroit in line for first place in the NFC North. Detroit remains in first place in the division in the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
The Packers remain the No. 6 seed in the NFC after their win over the Seahawks, holding a one-game lead over Seattle for the final playoff spot. They could qualify for the playoffs as early as next week.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at. Vikings, vs. Bears
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)
The Commanders hold a one-game lead over the Rams for the conference’s final playoff spot. It remains the Eagles’ back three in the NFC East.
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
The Seahawks lost to the Packers and lost the lead in the NFC West, giving the Rams a head-to-head tiebreaker for first place in the division. He is still one game behind the manager for the final wild card spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, Bears, Rams
9. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
After the Cardinals’ win over the Patriots, they remain in the NFC West and are in the hunt for a wild card. Arizona is two games behind Washington for the final wild-card spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at. Panthers, at. Rams, vs. 49ers
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
The Falcons need to beat the Raiders on Monday Night Football to keep pace with the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
Remaining schedule: Raiders vs. Giants, Commanders vs. Panthers
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
Despite the loss to the Rams, the 49ers’ slim playoff hopes remain. With only three games left until the final playoff spot, the chances of a wild card are almost non-existent. Even though they are in last place in the division, if Seattle loses to Green Bay, they will be two games away from advancing to the NFC West.
Remaining schedule: Dolphins vs. Lions, Cardinals
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
The Cowboys remain in the playoff hunt after Sunday’s win over the Panthers. One more loss for Dallas and the Cowboys will be eliminated from playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at. Eagles, vs. Commanders
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
The Saints are three games away from leading the NFC South with three games remaining. Another loss would knock them out of playoff contention.
Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, Packers, vs. Raiders, Buccaneers.
Eliminated from playoff contention
The Bears and Panthers lose in Week 15 and are officially eliminated from the playoffs. He joins the Giants as the only team eliminated from the playoffs in the NFC.
