The NFL season is already in week 15, as this season has flown by.
NFL teams are either fighting to make the playoffs, win the division, or looking towards next season.
Here is the current AFC playoff picture and teams in the hunt:
- 1. Denver Broncos (11-2)
- 2. New England Patriots (11-2)
- 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
- 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
- 5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
- 6. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
- 7. Houston Texans (8-5)
- 8. Indianapolis Colts (8-5
- 9. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
- 10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
- 11. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
- 1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- 2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- 3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
- 4. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- 5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- 6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- 7. Chicago Bears (9-4)
- 8. Detroit Lions (8-5
- 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- 10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
The teams that remain in the hunt in the AFC:
Here is the current NFC playoff picture and teams in the hunt:
The teams that remain in the hunt in the NFC:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already lost in week 15 on Thursday Night Football after blowing a 28-14 lead in the fourth quarter. This put the Panthers in first in the NFC South.
Seven games have major playoff implications in week 15.
Seven Week 15 Contests With Major Playoff Implications
With only four weeks remaining in the regular season, the push for the playoffs is strong.
Seven games in week 15 have major playoff implications.
Baltimore Ravens(-2.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (O/U: 51.5)
The Baltimore Ravens (6-7) will take on division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals (4-9).
Baltimore lost a critical game at home against the Steelers in week 14, which gave the Steelers an edge in the AFC North.
This is a big game for the Ravens, as a loss and a Steelers win in week 15 would make it very challenging for Baltimore to win the AFC North.
It feels like each of their remaining game for the Ravens is a playoff contest, and there is no room for error any longer.
Lamar Jackson has not looked like himself since returning from injury. One has to wonder if he is even fully healthy. Derrick Henry has not looked like himself this season either.
The Bengals have little to no chance of making the playoffs, but can play spoiler against Baltimore.
This is a must-win game for the Ravens.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs(-5.5) (O/U: 41.5)
The Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) will travel to Kansas City (6-7) and take on the Chiefs in a big game for both teams in week 15.
LA is fifth in the AFC with a 9-4 record, but has not clinched a playoff spot. Also, the fifth seed is fairly coveted in the AFC, especially if the Steelers win the AFC North, as Pittsburgh is the easiest division winner opponent to face in the wild-card round.
Another reason for the Chargers to want to win is that they would be eliminating the Chiefs from making the playoffs.
Currently, the Chiefs have an 11% chance of making the playoffs. Losing to the Chargers would bring this all the way down to less than 1%.
This is a big divisional game, as both teams are desperate to come out with a victory.
Buffalo Bills(-1.0) @ New England Patriots (O/U: 49.5)
The Buffalo Bills (9-4) will take on the New England Patriots (11-2) in a massive divisional contest.
These two teams squared off already this season, with the Patriots upsetting the Bills in Buffalo in week five.
Both teams have a 97% chance or better to make the playoffs. However, currently, the Patriots have an 82% chance of winning the division, while Buffalo has just an 18% chance.
A Bills win would make the division race much more interesting. If the Patriots win, they clinch the AFC East.
Both teams will make the playoffs, but home playoff games are massive. New England will want to wrap up the division, while Buffalo wants to remain in the hunt for the AFC East crown.
This is a huge divisional contest with major playoff implications.
Green Bay Packers(-2.0) @ Denver Broncos (O/U: 42.5)
The Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) will go on the road against the Denver Broncos (11-2).
Green Bay is second in the NFC, but the Bears are 9-4, and the Lions are 8-5. The Packers are still fighting to win the division. Currently, Green Bay has a 94% chance of making the playoffs and a 69% chance of winning the division. A win against the Broncos would increase their chances of winning the NFC North. Chicago has a home matchup against the Browns, a game which the Bears should win, so the pressure is on the Packers to come out with a victory to maintain their division lead before a huge game against Chicago in week 16.
Denver has a >99% chance of making the playoffs and an 86% chance of winning the division. A win this week would go a long way toward wrapping up the division.
Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams(-6.0) (O/U: 55.0)
The Detroit Lions (8-5) will travel to the West Coast to battle the Los Angeles Rams (10-3).
Detroit has a 54% chance of making the playoffs. However, this will drop significantly with a loss and a Chicago Bears win. The Lions defeated the Bears earlier this season and will face Chicago in week 18. Still, Chicago is 9-4, and Detroit is 8-5. The Lions falling two games back with only three weeks remaining in the season would make it very difficult for the Lions to make the postseason.
For Los Angeles, they currently have a 97% chance of making the playoffs, a 56% chance of winning the division, and a 45% chance of finishing first in the NFC. They split with the 49ers and have a win over the Seahawks. LA will take on Seattle once again in week 16, which will likely decide the division winner.
Carolina Panthers(-2.5) @ New Orleans Saints (O/U: 40.5)
All of a sudden, the Carolina Panthers (7-6) are in first in the NFC South. They will take on division rivals, the New Orleans Saints (3-10).
Carolina is in first after the Bucs blew a big fourth-quarter lead on Thursday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers still have to play the Bucs twice. They will square off in week 16 and week 18. These two games will decide the NFC South. However, this is still a big game for the Panthers. Carolina is 2-1 against division rivals, while the Bucs are 2-2.
New Orleans will not make the playoffs and is looking ahead to next season.
Miami Dolphins @ Pittsburgh Steelers(-3.0) (O/U: 41.5)
The Miami Dolphins (6-7) will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) on Monday Night Football.
After the first nine games of the season, Miami was 2-7. Since then, the Dolphins have won four straight games and are still in the playoff hunt. Although the chances of Miami making the playoffs are slim to none, it is impressive that they are 6-7 after a horrendous first nine games.
This is a huge game for the Steelers. They currently have a 67% chance of winning the division after beating Baltimore last week. A win this week will increase their chances of making the playoffs. A win and a Baltimore loss in week 15 would be massive for the Steelers. However, a loss and Ravens win would severely hurt Pittsburgh’s chances of winning the division. The Steelers may not have T.J. Watt after suffering a lung injury. This is a massive home Monday Night Football contest for the Steelers.
