If fans and bettors hoped for some clarity in the NFL playoff picture by the end of Week 15, they were sorely disappointed. Only one team has actually clinched a postseason spot, and nearly everyone in the league is still mathematically alive – with 24 teams within a game of making the playoffs.
The Green Bay Packers (11-3) are the only team that can be absolutely sure it will be playing in the postseason this year.
Rodgers: Divisional titles still matter
The Packers beat the Baltimore Ravens 31-30 on Sunday, clinching the NFC North in the process. The Packers are a +450 favorite to win the Super Bowl this year, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
“You have to savor these a little bit,†Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the team clinched its third straight division title. “It’s just the first step in our goals … but I think it’s important to keep that perspective on how special accomplishing this is three years in a row and so just to enjoy it, to savor it, savor these moments. These are special moments.â€
Beyond Green Bay, the NFL playoff picture remains wide open. While the expanded 14-team playoff field makes it easier for teams to earn a postseason berth, the longer 17-game season is keeping more teams alive. Throw in some incredible parity – particularly in the AFC – and you have a recipe for a chaotic finish.
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs hold the conference’s best record at 10-4. They lead the AFC West and should make the playoffs barring a complete collapse and a number of other unfortunate results. DraftKings sees the Chiefs as a +450 co-favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Most teams still in striking distance
The picture gets far murkier after Kansas City. A dozen teams have records between 9-5 and 7-7, portending a wide-open race over the next three weeks. That’s especially true in the AFC North, where the Bengals (8-6) lead the way, but the Ravens (8-6), Steelers (7-6-1), and Browns (7-7) are all within one game of first.
There’s only slightly more clarity in the NFC. The Minnesota Vikings hold the final wild-card spot at 7-7, but the Eagles and Saints are tied with them, while Washington and the Atlanta Falcons are just one game back at 6-8. Even the lowly New York Giants (4-10) are technically, mathematically alive, though they have no realistic path to a playoff spot.
In other words, the final weeks of the regular season will decide plenty of divisional titles, postseason berths, and playoff seedings. Here’s a look at where the NFL playoff picture would stand if the season ended today.
AFC Playoff Picture
No. 1 Seed (First Round Bye): Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
- 2 New England Patriots (9-5) vs. No. 7 Buffalo Bills (8-6)
- 3 Tennessee Titans (9-5) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
- 4 Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) vs. No. 5 Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
NFC Playoff Picture
No. 1 Seed (First Round Bye): Green Bay Packers (11-3)
- 2 Dallas Cowboys (10-4) vs. No. 7 Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
- 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) vs. No. 6 San Francisco 49ers (8-6)
- 4 Arizona Cardinals (10-4) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (10-4)