NFL playoff picture as Week 15 begins: Chiefs take AFC's No. 1 seed ... for now
Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks with Week 15's games underway:
AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4), AFC West leaders: Winners of seven in a row, it seems most of their early season questions are behind them as they take control of their division following Thursday night's overtime win against the Chargers. Now in the conference's top spot, K.C. would have to hand it over to Tennessee if the Titans win Sunday. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, at Broncos
2. Tennessee Titans (9-4), AFC South leaders: They're very quietly chugging along, effectively owning a two-game lead in the division courtesy of their season sweep of the Colts, amid an NFL Network report that injured RB Derrick Henry is poised to return for postseason – if not sooner. Titans' Week 7 blowout of Chiefs gives them tiebreaker if they can match Kansas City's record. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. 49ers, vs. Dolphins, at Texans
3. New England Patriots (9-5), AFC East leaders: They lost in Indianapolis and no longer control their fate as it pertains to winning home-field advantage. Pats also fumbled opportunity to become first team to officially sew up postseason spot. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, vs. Jaguars, at Dolphins
4. Baltimore Ravens (8-5), AFC North leaders: Just a few weeks ago, they sat atop the conference standings. Who knows where they'll be a few weeks from now, especially if QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) has to miss time as the Ravens enter a brutal finishing stretch. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Bengals, vs. Rams, vs. Steelers
5. Indianapolis Colts (8-6), wild card No. 1: Pretty good bye week when you jump into the projected playoff field without lifting a finger. Pretty good Saturday night when you beat the Patriots and jump the Chargers in the wild-card standings due to Indy's better conference record (7-3). Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Jaguars
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6), wild card No. 2: Crushing loss Thursday, when they could have displaced Kansas City atop AFC West. Now Bolts are losing ground in wild-card race. Remaining schedule: at Texans, vs. Broncos, at Raiders
7. Buffalo Bills (7-6), wild card No. 3: They're clinging to the final playoff berth despite losing three of four. But if they win out – a reasonable possibility given their schedule –retaining the AFC East crown is still in play. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Patriots, vs. Falcons, vs. Jets
8. Cleveland Browns (7-6), out of playoff field: Huge win over Baltimore last Sunday, but a 4-5 record in conference play – currently the decisive tiebreaker – is hurting them ... along with rash of COVID-19 cases. Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Packers, at Steelers, vs. Bengals
9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6), out of playoff field: Had they beaten the 49ers in overtime last Sunday, Bengals would've resided atop AFC North. Instead, Cincy finds itself on outside looking in. Now they must get right at Denver's altitude. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Ravens, vs. Chiefs, at Browns
10. Denver Broncos (7-6), out of playoff field: They've won four of six, run the ball very effectively and play solid defense. Not the kind of team anyone wants to see in mid-January. Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, at Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Chiefs
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1), out of playoff field: Last week's loss at Minnesota dropped them from eighth place. Now they're set to face three first-place teams over the next four weeks. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Chiefs, vs. Browns, at Ravens
12. Las Vegas Raiders (6-7), out of playoff field: They've lost five of six – three of those defeats by at least 19 points – and are watching more teams climb over them. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Broncos, at Colts, vs. Chargers
13. Miami Dolphins (6-7), out of playoff field: They'll return to action in Week 15 just a game out of the final playoff spot. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Saints, at Titans, vs. Patriots
NFC
1. Green Bay Packers (10-3), NFC North leaders: Overcame slow start to complete sweep of the hated Chicago Bears last Sunday night. Now Pack has inside track for consecutive No. 1 seeds thanks to Arizona's loss Monday and will win division by beating Baltimore. Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Browns, vs. Vikings, at Lions
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3), NFC South leaders: They escaped Buffalo but couldn't make up ground on Pack due to Tampa's inferior conference record (6-3). However, the Cardinals' defeat also benefited Bucs, who have a better mark in common games. By beating New Orleans on Sunday night, Buccaneers will become division champions for first time since 2007 . Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Panthers, at Jets, vs. Panthers
3. Arizona Cardinals (10-3), NFC West leaders: They fumbled a chance to clinch a playoff spot, coughed up the conference's top seed and now only have a one-game lead in the division. At least Week 15 allows them to hit the road, where Cards are unbeaten in 2021. Win Sunday, and they're into the field. Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Colts, at Cowboys, vs. Seahawks
4. Dallas Cowboys (9-4), NFC East leaders: Three-game division lead with four weeks to go. The Cowboys also get one more crack at all of their NFC East rivals after sweeping to a 3-0 record against them so far. Win and get some help Sunday, and they'll punch a playoff ticket ... and maybe even lock down the division. Remaining schedule: at Giants, vs. Washington, vs. Cardinals, at Eagles
5. Los Angeles Rams (9-4), wild card No. 1: Big win in desert separated them from other wild-card aspirants while putting LA back in mix for NFC West crown. Appears their new parts finally jelling ... at least those not on COVID list. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks, at Vikings, at Ravens, vs. 49ers
6. San Francisco 49ers (7-6), wild card No. 2: Massive win in overtime at Cincinnati greatly increased their chances of being the third NFC West team invited to the party – and only one game left in their divisional gauntlet. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Titans, vs. Texans, at Rams
7. Washington Football Team (6-7), wild card No. 3: The good news? Despite end of their four-game winning streak, they remain inside projected playoff field. The bad news? Four other teams share the WFT's 6-7 record, so the margin for error is officially zero. Washington's 5-3 conference record currently distinguishes it from the pursuing pack, but trying to maintain their late-season momentum amid so many COVID cases and a game on Tuesday night doesn't make matters easy. Remaining schedule: at Eagles, at Cowboys, vs. Eagles, at Giants
8. Minnesota Vikings (6-7), out of playoff field: They persevered to beat Steelers in Week 14 ... and would currently be conference's seventh seed if not for Week 13 loss at previously winless Detroit. But hope is alive. Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Rams, at Packers, vs. Bears
9. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7), out of playoff field: QB Jalen Hurts is set to return for four-game sprint against NFC East competition. Three more wins should get Philly, which is behind Vikes due to record in common games, into the field. Remaining schedule: vs. Washington, vs. Giants, at Washington, vs. Cowboys
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7), out of playoff field: They've been outscored by 108 points this season. But they've largely beaten the teams they're supposed to, including wins over the division rival Saints and Carolina Panthers, hence Atlanta's continued playoff viability. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Lions, at Bills, vs. Saints
11. New Orleans Saints (6-7), out of playoff field: The perfect remedy to end a five-game losing streak? The New York Jets. The Saints may technically be looking up at a lot of teams, but all that's between them and the final wild-card spot is the tiebreaker formula. Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Panthers, at Falcons
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff picture at start of Week 15 2021: Chiefs now No. 1 in AFC
