Coming into it, Week 15 had the potential to be the defining weekend in the NFL and it’s living up to that billing. There were several playoff scenarios at play this weekend, and the overall picture is starting to crystallize. 

One thing that is not wrapped up, however, is the AFC East crown. The New England Patriots had an opportunity to secure the division on Sunday with a win, but the Buffalo Bills rallied from a 21-point deficit to keep those hopes of winning the AFC East alive for at least another week. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are officially eliminated from the playoffs after the Baltimore Ravens secured a key AFC North win to keep their playoff pursuit going. 

Maybe the most significant development, however, came at Arrowhead Stadium where the Kansas City Chiefs have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. Moreover, Patrick Mahomes left the contest late in the fourth quarter due to a left knee injury, which has since been revealed to be a torn ACL. 

The late afternoon window then took the baton from the early slate, and ran with it. The Los Angeles Rams clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Detroit Lions, as did the Denver Broncos after outlasting the Green Bay Packers in a heavyweight showdown from Mile High. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers had an opportunity to sit atop the NFC South, but found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard with the New Orleans Saints pulling off the upset. 

With an epic Week 15 slate unfolding before our eyes, now is the perfect time to take a live look at the playoff picture. Below, we’ll break down who’s currently in and out of the postseason.

AFC standings

1. x-Denver Broncos (12-2)
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
7. Houston Texans (9-5)

x-clinched playoff berth

1. Denver Broncos (12-2)

Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

After winning their 11th straight game thanks to a 34-26 victory against the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos are 12-2 and have officially clinched a playoff berth. They have a solid cushion in the AFC West, and have even more breathing room in their pursuit of the No. 1 seed thanks to Buffalo defeating the New England Patriots. 

2. New England Patriots (11-3)

Remaining schedule: at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

The Patriots had an opportunity to clinch the AFC East with a win over Buffalo on Sunday, but blew a 21-point lead in Week 15 to snap their winning streak. New England remains in first place in the division, but the Bills are lurking. 

Beyond Buffalo, this loss currently doesn’t help the Patriots in their pursuit of Denver for the No. 1 seed. 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)

Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Colts, vs. Titans

The Jaguars have now won five straight games following a blowout victory against the New York Jets. That helps keep them in first place in the AFC South over the surging Houston Texans.  

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

Pittsburgh is back in first place in the AFC North after defeating the Ravens; however, there’s still a lot to be determined in this division. Baltimore just took down the Cincinnati Bengals, so a lot will be riding on the Steelers’ matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, especially with another head-to-head matchup with Baltimore still on deck in Week 18. 

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)

Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

The Chargers notched their 10th win of the season and eliminated the Kansas City Chiefs from playoff contention on Sunday with a nail-biting win at Arrowhead. That victory not only keeps them as the No. 1 wild card team, but they are still within range of Denver in the AFC West. 

6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

It cannot be overstated how important Buffalo’s comeback win over the Patriots was. After erasing another double-digit deficit, the Bills are still alive in the AFC East race, meaning there is still a line to a higher seed and a home playoff game.

7. Houston Texans (9-5)

Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts

After starting the year 0-3, the Texans have clawed back into the playoff picture as the No. 7 seed and are coming off an impressive win over the Cardinals at home. They’ve now won six straight and are on the heels of the Jaguars in the AFC South, so there is room for this climb to go even higher.

In the hunt

The Colts (8-6) are mathematically still in the hunt, but have a difficult road forward, especially after being unable to pull off the upset in Seattle. 

The team that may have the best chance of this group to make the postseason is the Ravens (7-7), especially after shutting out the Bengals to move back to .500 on the year. That has them right behind the Steelers (who play on Monday) in the AFC North with one more head-to-head still to go in the regular-season finale.

Surprisingly, the Dolphins (6-7) are still lurking on the outskirts after winning four straight games, but a lot needs to go right. On top of likely needing to win out, Miami would need some wild card contenders to collapse, as it currently loses head-to-head tiebreakers to the Colts, Chargers and Ravens. 

NFC standings

1. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
2. Chicago Bears (10-4)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

x-clinched playoff berth  

1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3)

Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

The Rams have officially clinched a playoff berth after taking down the Detroit Lions in Week 15. Not only did they punch their ticket to the postseason, but this win helped L.A. keep both the Seahawks and 49ers at arm’s length as both NFC West rivals are hot on their heels. Next week’s matchup against Seattle will prove to be monumental in securing the division. Right now, however, Sean McVay and Co. are in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed. 

2. Chicago Bears (10-4)

Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions

The Bears have notched double-digit wins on the season after soundly taking down the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field. Thanks to the Denver Broncos defeating the Packers, Chicago has vaulted back up to first place in the NFC North and are currently the No. 2 seed in the conference. Of course, this puts even more emphasis on what was already a massive matchup with Green Bay next week. 

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)

Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders

Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak on Sunday with a blowout win against the Raiders. Jalen Hurts bounced back nicely with three passing touchdowns, and the victory helps the Eagles hold firm atop the NFC East. 

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)

Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers

Even after that demoralizing loss to the Falcons on Thursday, the Buccaneers come out of Week 15 in first place in the NFC South. That’s thanks to the New Orleans Saints upsetting the Carolina Panthers to push them to 7-7 on the season. Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker over Carolina at the moment due to a better win percentage against common opponents. However, both head-to-head matchups are still on deck, which will kick off next week in Carolina. 

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

Seattle barely escaped Week 15 with a win. The club let Philip Rivers hang around just long enough to put the Colts within range of an upset, but a game-winning field goal drive with 18 seconds left in regulation helped secure the win. The Seahawks are now 11-3, which has then neck-and-neck with the Rams for first place in the NFC West. L.A. currently holds the tiebreaker due to a head-to-head win back in Week 11, but these two will square off on Thursday.  

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

The Niners are quietly lurking in the NFC playoff race. Despite being the No. 6 seed, San Francisco is 10-4 and ready to pounce if their division rivals slip up down the stretch. The team split the head-to-head series with the Rams, but does currently have the advantage over Seattle, which the 49ers face again in Week 18. 

There’s a world where the 49ers could surprisingly jump much higher in the standings if certain pieces fall their way over the next three weeks. 

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings

Green Bay saw a considerable fall from grace. After coming into Week 15 as the No. 2 seed and in first place in the NFC North, they’ve suddenly dropped all the way to the No. 7 seed after falling to the Denver Broncos. That defeat helped Chicago move on top of the Packers for first place in the division, which puts an even greater emphasis on next week’s matchup. Even worse, pass rusher Micah Parsons left Sunday’s loss due to a serious knee injury. 

Because Green Bay swept the season series over the Lions, the Packers have some wiggle room to play with before falling out of the playoff picture entirely. 

In the hunt

The Lions (8-6) have their backs against the wall a bit after falling to the Los Angeles Rams. That defeat continues to keep them on the outside looking in on the playoff picture as the No. 8 seed as they are in third place in the NFC North. They aren’t out of the race quite yet, but they certainly need to win out and get some help along the way. 

The Carolina Panthers (7-7) had a golden opportunity to create some space between them and the Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South, simply needing a win over the Saints to move to 8-6, while Tampa Bay stumbled to 7-7 with a loss to Atlanta on Thursday. However, the Panthers allowed New Orleans to pull off the upset, which sent them back to .500 on the season. Because they’re knotted with Bucs, they lose the tiebreaker due to an inferior record against common opponents. Of course, the Panthers can get back into it with two of their remaining three games on the season against Tampa.  

The Cowboys (6-7-1) are on life support after losing to the Vikings on Sunday night, all but ending any hopes of securing a postseason berth.