NFL Week 15 Storylines & Playoff Picture: Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys can clinch

The Philadelphia Eagles now have some company.

The San Francisco 49ers, winners of seven straight games, kicked off Week 15 action Thursday night with a division-clinching victory over Seattle, becoming the second team in the league to claim a playoff spot and the first crowned division champ.

Four more teams can join the chorus of playoff-bound squads this weekend: The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings are all facing win-and-you’re-in scenarios. Of those four, two – the Chiefs and Vikings – can also lock up their respective divisions this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Raiders, Cardinals, Rams, Browns, Steelers, Colts, and Saints are all at risk of being officially eliminated from contention in Week 15. 

If the playoffs started today, here’s what the seeding and matchups would look like in the AFC:

No. 1 Bills (10-3) on bye

No. 2 Chiefs (10-3) vs. No. 7 Patriots (7-6)

No. 3 Ravens (9-4) vs. No. 6 Dolphins (8-5)

No. 4 Titans (7-6) vs. No. 5 Bengals (9-4)

If the playoffs started today, here’s what the seeding and matchups would look like in the NFC:

No. 1 Eagles (12-1) on bye

No. 2 Vikings (10-3) vs. No. 7 Giants (7-5-1)

No. 3 49ers (10-4) vs. No. 6 Commanders (7-5-1)

No. 4 Buccaneers (6-7) vs. No. 5 Cowboys (10-3)

WEEK 15 STORYLINES AND CLINCHING SCENARIOS

(*Teams with an opportunity to clinch are underlined)

Colts (4-8-1) @ Vikings (10-3) | Saturday 1 p.m. ET

Third time’s a charm? The Vikings have had clinching opportunities for two straight weeks now but weren’t able to punch their ticket. The Lions stood in their way last week, upsetting the NFC North front-runners, and could potentially spoil the fun again – though, the Vikings are very much in control of their own fate this week. The Vikings can clinch the division with a win or tie against the Colts on Saturday, OR with a Lions loss or tie on Sunday.

As for the Colts, there are some very decidedly un-fun facts around this struggling club right now – like the fact that they could officially have their playoff hopes dashed by day’s end. Indianapolis will be eliminated from contention with a loss to Minnesota AND a Titans win or tie (@ Chargers) AND either a Patriots or Jets victory.

But this fact here is, in fact, a very fun one:

Ravens (9-4) @ Browns (5-8) | Saturday 4:30 p.m. ET

Two straight wins without starter Lamar Jackson, week-to-week with the knee injury he suffered in Week 13, have been crucial in the race for the AFC North crown against the red-hot Bengals. They certainly haven’t come easy, with just a combined three points separating Baltimore from their opponents in those back-to-back victories. Last week’s win over Pittsburgh has the Ravens 3-0 in divisional matchups heading into Saturday’s matinee in Cleveland. A sweep of the Browns would go a long way in tightening their grip on the AFC North and sending their lakeside neighbours packing.

The Browns will officially be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Baltimore and a win from one of the Chargers, Patriots, or Jets.

Dolphins (8-5) @ Bills (10-3) | Saturday 8:15 p.m. ET

Last Sunday’s loss to the Chargers saw a version of Tua Tagovailoa Miami cannot afford to see return in this divisional matchup between the top two seeds in a tight AFC East. A premiere matchup, the game also features three of the league’s best receivers in Miami's Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs.

For Buffalo, the assignment is simple — on paper, at least: Win and you’re in. The Bills cannot clinch the division in Week 15 but can officially become the first AFC club to punch their ticket to the post-season with a victory over Miami Saturday night. Should the game end in a tie, Buffalo can still clinch with a combination of losses for the Chargers, Jets, and or Patriots.

Eagles (12-1) @ Bears (3-10) | Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Last week’s dominant win over the Giants saw the Eagles become the first team to clinch a playoff spot. The Bears, meanwhile, were one of the first clubs officially eliminated from contention this season.

While Philadelphia’s focus remains on the road to the Super Bowl, quarterback Jalen Hurts remains a fascinating focal point in MVP conversations. While he’s not about to break any league QB records, he’s got the Eagles on pace for their best season in franchise history and isn’t slowing down.

Lions (6-7) @ Jets (7-6) | Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Last Sunday’s upset over the Vikings was Detroit’s third consecutive divisional win (they opened November with back-to-back wins over the Packers and Bears), and their fifth victory in their last six games – a streak that’s suddenly got them sitting in the ninth seed of the NFC, just outside the playoff picture and waiting to pounce.

The Jets, too, find themselves in that ninth seed of the AFC after falling out of the playoff window following back-to-back losses. New York backup-turned-starter Mike White, who has won over the locker room, took quite a beating last week in Buffalo and in a surprise turn of events on Friday was ruled out after doctors couldn’t clear him for contact. Looks like this is Zach Wilson’s team again — for now, anyway.

Steelers (5-8) @ Panthers (5-8) | Sunday 1 p.m. ET

This Sunday in Carolina, two 5-8 teams hit the field with two very different outlooks. While the Steelers’ playoff hopes (and hopes of keeping head coach Mike Tomlin’s amazing streak without a losing season intact) hang on by a thread, it’s not a stretch to say the Panthers have a legitimate shot at the division title considering the sorry state of the NFC South.

A loss for the Steelers combined with a Patriots victory or a combination of wins and ties for the Jets, Chargers, and Raiders means Pittsburgh is officially eliminated from post-season contention.

Chiefs (10-3) @ Texans (1-11-1) | Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Houston had Dallas on the hook last week but couldn’t close the deal, and while Kansas City has a habit of letting lesser opponents remain in games, it feels like we can go ahead and get those playoff tickets.

The Chiefs need a win over the Texans or a Chargers loss (vs. Titans) in order to officially clinch their seventh straight AFC West title.

Falcons (5-8) @ Saints (4-9) | Sunday 1 p.m. ET

In his first start as the Falcons’ QB1, Desmond Ridder has an opportunity to be a hero in this divisional clash. A victory would even the score between these NFC South rivals after the Saints took the first meeting while keeping pace with the Buccaneers in the division title race.

New Orleans is at risk of being eliminated from contention with a loss Sunday and a win for either Carolina or Tampa Bay.

Cowboys (10-3) @ Jaguars (5-8) | Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Following four straight years finishing last in the AFC South, the Jaguars are playing a — mostly — meaningful game in December. (Just how meaningful it is depends on the fate of the Titans against the Chargers, of course.)

Dallas, after recovering from their tense comeback win over Houston last week, can finally and officially clinch a playoff spot (but not yet the division) with a win on Sunday. They can also punch their playoff ticket with a tie and a Giants/Commanders final score of anything but a tie or a combination of losses for the Seahawks, Lions, or Commanders.

Cardinals (4-9) @ Broncos (3-10) | Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET

Neither club’s season has gone as planned since signing their star QBs to big-money deals. Now, in a matchup between two clubs whose playoff hopes have been all but dashed – Denver’s officially out, and the Cardinals will be too with a loss – neither team will have those star QBs in place when they go head-to-head on Sunday. Kyler Murray’s underwhelming season went from bad to worse Monday night when he suffered a season-ending knee injury while Russell Wilson, cleared Friday after he was concussed Sunday against the Chiefs, was ruled inactive this week by the team.

Patriots (7-6) @ Raiders (5-8) | Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET

With plenty of divisional and conference tie-breakers, the Patriots are in control of their own fate. By gametime this Sunday, they could be in control of the Raiders’, too.

A win for the Dolphins Saturday night or the Jets in Sunday’s early window sets up Bill Belichick to deliver the final blow to Josh McDaniels’ playoff hopes.

Titans (7-6) @ Chargers (7-6) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET

Tennessee has lost three straight games heading into this clash against a Chargers club that’s finally looking (mostly) healthy at the best time. As the Eagles demonstrated two weeks ago, the path to winning against the Titans is paved through the air, and that could spell trouble for Tennessee in L.A.

Bengals (9-4) @ Buccaneers (6-7) | Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET

Joe Burrow’s Bengals continue their sprint to the post-season and are now looking for their sixth straight win while Tom Brady’s Buccaneers continue to stumble.

This is the first meeting between Burrow and Brady – cue more GOAT comparisons for the Bengals starter – but Cincinnati’s last game of the season against a club with a losing record, teeing up a tough final stretch that will see the Bengals face the Patriots, Bills, and Ravens.

Giants (7-5-1) @ Commanders (7-5-1) | Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET

After their first meeting two weeks ago ended in a tie, it’s time for these NFC East foes to settle the score.

The 49ers did both clubs a solid Thursday night by defeating the Seahawks, making room for all four NFC East teams in the post-season picture.

Rams (4-9) @ Packers (5-8) | Monday 8:15 p.m. ET

Here’s a sentence no one saw coming at the start of the season: The Stafford-less, Kupp-less, and Donald-less Rams are back from the brink of post-season elimination – for now – thanks to a heroic late-game comeback orchestrated by Baker Mayfield.

Yeah, there’s a lot packed into that one.

The 2022 campaign has not been kind to the defending Super Bowl champs, whose opportunity to run it back has been (almost officially) dashed by injuries (One more loss and they’re officially done). The Packers, while not mathematically ruled out or at risk of being eliminated in Week 15, will need a small miracle if they’re to make a post-bye week run to the post-season.

Not exactly the December NFC showdown we expected.

THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM

If the season ended today, here’s what the top 10 draft order of the 2023 NFL draft would look like:

1. Texans (1-11-1)

2. Seahawks (7-7), via Broncos (3-10)

3. Bears (3-10)

4. Lions (6-7), via Rams (4-9)

5. Eagles (12-1), via Saints (4-9)

6. Cardinals (4-9)

7. Colts (4-8-1)

8. Raiders (5-8)

9. Panthers (5-8)

10. Falcons (5-8)