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NFL playoff picture as Week 15 unfolds: Vikings' comeback clinches NFC North; Bills get berth

Nate Davis, USA TODAY
·5 min read
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Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks with Week 15 underway:

NFC

x – 1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1), NFC East leaders: The first team to punch its playoff card for 2022, making it two years in a row in postseason under coach Nick Sirianni. Entering weekend, two-game lead on conference gives them great shot at top seed. Remaining schedule: at Bears, at Cowboys, vs. Saints, vs. Giants

y – 2. Minnesota Vikings (11-3), NFC North champions: Historic comeback from 33-point deficit to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon, the largest in league history in the regular season or playoffs, allowed Vikes to win division and remain in contention for first-round bye and home-field advantage. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at Packers, at Bears

y – 3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4), NFC West champions: The first team to clinch a divisional crown in the 2022 season thanks to Thursday night's win at Seattle. The Niners' previous two NFC West titles (2012, 2019) led to Super Bowl berths. Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers celebrate, knowing Thursday's win guarantees them a home playoff game.
The San Francisco 49ers celebrate, knowing Thursday's win guarantees them a home playoff game.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7), NFC South leaders: They remain atop this woeful division despite Week 14's embarrassing loss to San Francisco. But beware of objects in rearview mirror – the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, both 5-8, are now just a game back of the Bucs for first place. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, at Cardinals, vs. Panthers, at Falcons

5. Dallas Cowboys (10-3), wild card No. 1: If they overlooked Houston in Week 14, at least they escaped. Can't do the same Sunday in Jacksonville if they want Week 16 date with Philadelphia to be meaningful as it pertains to NFC East and conference implications. More immediately, a win puts America's Team into the playoffs. A loss by the Lions or Commanders would also clinch a spot for Dallas. Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, vs. Eagles, at Titans, at Commanders

6. Washington Commanders (7-5-1), wild card No. 2: While on their Week 14 bye, the Commanders, winners of six of their past eight, jumped from eighth place in the NFC to sixth courtesy of losses by the Giants and Seahawks. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at 49ers, vs. Browns, vs. Cowboys

7. New York Giants (7-5-1), wild card No. 3: Falling like a stone with just one win in their past six outings. Washington's superior record in NFC East games moved the Commanders ahead of New York going into their massive Week 15 rematch. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Vikings, vs. Colts, at Eagles

8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7), out of playoff field: Thursday's loss was their fourth in the past five games as they continue to fall off the playoff pace with two tough contests ahead. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Jets, vs. Rams

9. Detroit Lions (6-7), out of playoff field: Long-shot bid for NFC North throne officially evaporated Saturday. But odds growing they could become first team since 1990 to overcome 1-6 start and reach playoffs. Remaining schedule: at Jets, at Panthers, vs. Bears, at Packers

AFC

x – 1. Buffalo Bills (11-3), AFC East leaders: They own inside track to remain in snowy Orchard Park throughout January and took another step toward that Saturday night by sewing up conference's first playoff berth with win against Miami. Remaining schedule: at Bears, at Bengals, vs. Patriots 

2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3), AFC West leaders: Their Week 6 loss to Bills would currently mean road to the AFC crown goes through Buffalo. But on plus side, K.C. will win its seventh consecutive divisional title with one more win or a loss by the Chargers, whom the Chiefs already swept. And the upcoming schedule suggests the No. 1 seed remains a distinct possibility if the Bills trip. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Seahawks, vs. Broncos, at Raiders

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) celebrates his touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) celebrates his touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4), AFC North leaders: Defending AFC champs bypassed battered Ravens in division Saturday due to Baltimore's loss at Cleveland. But Cincinnati faces a much more daunting schedule ahead of potentially pivotal Week 18 rematch with Ravens. Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, at Patriots, vs. Bills, vs. Ravens

4. Tennessee Titans (7-6), AFC South leaders: Uncharacteristically blown out two weeks in a row – and now losers of three straight – they look to be a one-and-done postseason squad for the third consecutive year ... assuming they get that far with Jacksonville (5-8) steadily closing on them in the division. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Texans, vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5), wild card No. 1: Near-term schedule looks favorable, but they couldn't get past Browns on Saturday without injured QB Lamar Jackson, who may return for Week 16. Matching the record of Cincinnati, which Baltimore sees again in Week 18, bodes well for Ravens. They've already beaten Bengals and have better division record. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, vs. Steelers, at Bengals

6. Miami Dolphins (8-6), wild card No. 2: Third consecutive loss leaves them with shaky footing. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Patriots, vs. Jets

QB Mac Jones and the Patriots are on track to return to postseason following Monday night's win at Arizona.
QB Mac Jones and the Patriots are on track to return to postseason following Monday night's win at Arizona.

7. New England Patriots (7-6), wild card No. 3: A season sweep of the Jets puts them ahead of New York, while a superior record in AFC games gives them tiebreaker edge over Chargers. Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Bengals, vs. Dolphins, at Bills

8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6),  out of playoff field: Surviving the Dolphins enabled Bolts to leapfrog the Jets (by virtue of their superior record in AFC games) into final wild-card spot last Sunday night ... but they handed it over to New England on Monday. Bolts' 5-4 mark in AFC games keeps them ahead of New York. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Rams, at Broncos

QB Justin Herbert (10) had a big night against Miami, moving the victorious Chargers into the projected AFC playoff field.
QB Justin Herbert (10) had a big night against Miami, moving the victorious Chargers into the projected AFC playoff field.

9. New York Jets (7-6), out of playoff field: They fell from seventh place to ninth in Week 14. Now they face virtual must-win proposition against the Lions, and QB Mike White's absence against Detroit likely won't help. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, vs. Jaguars, at Seahawks, at Dolphins

10. Cleveland Browns (6-8), out of playoff field: They're obviously long shots but remaining opponents could give them a chance to sneak into the field if there's adequate attrition of the teams currently in front of them. Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Commanders, at Steelers

x – clinched berth

y – clinched division

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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff picture; AFC, NFC standings in Week 15: Vikings clinch