Bleacher Report

NFL Playoff Picture 2024-25: AFC, NFC Bracket Standings After Week 15 SNF

Joe Tansey

The Buffalo Bills picked up the biggest win of NFL Week 15.

Buffalo's triumph over the Detroit Lions showcased their Super Bowl credentials more than it improved its standing in the AFC.

The Bills are still trying to play catch-up with the Kansas City Chiefs, whose only loss came at the hands of Josh Allen and Co.

Kansas City and Buffalo reside at the top of an AFC playoff picture that is fairly clear at the moment. The seven postseason teams are known unless an unlikely collapse occurs.

Detroit is still the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks to a tiebreaker advantage over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFC West and wild-card races experienced one final Sunday shakeup after the Green Bay Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle dropped out of the top seven entirely since it is behind the Los Angeles Rams on a tiebreaker. The Rams are now in control of the NFC West and Seattle is one game behind the Washington Commanders in the wild-card race.

AFC Standings

Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City (13-1)

2. Buffalo (11-3)

3. Pittsburgh (10-4)

4. Houston (9-5)

Wild-Card Race

5. Baltimore (9-5)

6. Denver (9-5)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

8. Indianapolis (6-8)

9. Miami (6-8)

10. Cincinnati (6-8)

The biggest news in the AFC in Week 15 came from the wild-card race.

The Denver Broncos' come-from-behind win over the Indianapolis Colts put the Colts at 6-8 in a three-way tie with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.

The Colts, Dolphins and Bengals are all two games behind the Los Angeles Chargers in the race for the No. 7 seed.

All three chasers have little hope left to claim playoff berths and they will all be rooting for the Broncos to take down the Chargers on Thursday night.

Indianapolis' loss allowed the Houston Texans to clinch the AFC South title. The Texans will put their championship caliber to the test against Kansas City next Saturday.

Kansas City is comfortably in front of the Bills for the No. 1 overall seed and just needs to win two of its last three games to clinch the top spot with no help.

Buffalo holds a one-game edge on Pittsburgh for the No. 2 seed and it should keep that advantage with a win over the New England Patriots in Week 16.

Pittsburgh plays the Baltimore Ravens next Saturday in a game that could either help the Steelers win the AFC North, or take the divisional race down to Weeks 17 and 18.

NFC Standings

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Division Leaders

1. Detroit (12-2)

2. Philadelphia (11-2)

3. Tampa Bay (8-6)

4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

Wild-Card Race

5. Minnesota (11-2)

6. Green Bay (9-4)

7. Washington (9-5)

8. Seattle (8-6)

9. Arizona (7-7)

10. Atlanta (6-7)

11. San Francisco (6-8)

12. Dallas (6-8)

13. New Orleans (5-9)

The NFC West lead changed hands on Sunday night.

The Rams jumped in front of the Seahawks thanks to its head-to-head win from Week 9.

Los Angeles and Seattle have the same record and will meet in Week 18, potentially with the division crown on the line.

The Rams have easier schedule over the next two weeks. Seattle takes on the Minnesota Vikings, who are still in contention for the NFC North, in Week 16.

Minnesota can put pressure on the Detroit Lions with a Monday night win over the Chicago Bears. The Vikings would still be behind the Lions due to the head-to-head tiebreaker after Monday, but they still have one more shot at the Lions in Week 18.

Detroit's loss brought it back to level on record with Philadelphia.

The Lions hold the conference record tiebreaker over the Eagles going into Week 16. They finish with Chicago, San Francisco and Minnesota, while Philadelphia closes against Washington, Dallas and the New York Giants.

The Eagles can secure the NFC East title with a win over the Commanders on Sunday. Washington needs three wins and three loss by the Eagles to win the NFC East crown.

The Commanders should be more worried about the wild-card race. They are just a game ahead of the Seahawks and will be fighting with the second-place team in the NFC West for the final playoff spot.

   

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