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Updated NFL standings, playoff picture: Week 15

By John Buhler

Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive back Keith McGill II (39) and safety Reggie Nelson (27) celebrate in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers during a NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive back Keith McGill II (39) and safety Reggie Nelson (27) celebrate in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers during a NFL football game at Qualcomm Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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With only Monday Night Football remaining on the Week 15 slate, let’s take a look at the updated NFL playoff picture in both the AFC and NFC.

Week 15 of the 2016 NFL season was fantastic, with one more important game remaining. The Washington Redskins (7-5-1) still have to host the Carolina Panthers (5-8) on Monday Night Football at FedEx Field.

With all but one NFL game this week in the books, here is the update AFC and NFC Playoffs pictures. These are the 12 NFL Playoff teams if the season were to end today.

AFC Playoffs

  1. z-New England Patriots (12-2)
  2. x-Oakland Raiders (11-4)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5)
  4. Houston Texans (8-6)
  5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)
  6. Miami Dolphins (9-5)

x-clinched playoff berth
z-clinched division title

New England (12-2) clinched its eighth straight AFC East division title by beating the Denver Broncos on Sunday evening. This 12th win gives the Patriots at a first-round bye in the 2016 AFC Playoffs.

The Patriots will be either the No. 1 or the No. 2 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Still alive in the AFC playoff picture are the Dolphins (9-5) and the Buffalo Bills (7-7). The New York Jets (4-10) have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Oakland clinched its first playoff berth since the 2002 NFL season by beating the San Diego Chargers on Sunday evening. The Raiders lead the AFC West and would be the No. 2 seed in the AFC Playoffs if the season were to end today.

Oakland has a one-game lead on Kansas City (10-4) in the AFC West race. The Broncos (8-6) have been eliminated from the AFC West race, but are still alive in the AFC Wild Card race. Eliminated from AFC playoff contention entirely are the San Diego Chargers (5-9).

Pittsburgh leads the AFC North at 9-5 and would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs if the season were to end today. The Steelers have a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) in the AFC North race. Eliminated from AFC playoff contention are the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8-1) and the Cleveland Browns (0-14).

Believe it or not, but the No. 4 seed would go to the Texans (8-6), who just benched quarterback Brock Osweiler, but lead the AFC South division race. Houston has the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Tennessee Titans (8-6) and a one-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts (7-7). The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) have been eliminated from AFC playoff contention.

Entering Week 16, the two teams that would make the AFC Playoffs as Wild Card teams would be the Chiefs (10-4) and the Dolphins (9-5). Kansas City has the best record in the AFC of a non-division leader and would be the No. 5 seed. Miami has the second best record in the AFC of a non-division leader and would be the No. 6 seed.

NFC Playoffs

  1. x-Dallas Cowboys (12-2)
  2. z-Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (9-5)
  4. Detroit Lions (9-5)
  5. New York Giants (10-4)
  6. Washington Redskins (7-5-1)*

x-clinched playoff berth
z-clinched division title

Dallas (12-2) has the best record in the NFC and would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs if the season ended today. New York (10-4) is two games back of the Cowboys in the NFC East race. Still alive in the NFC Wild Card race is Washington (7-5-1).

If the Redskins beat the Panthers on Monday Night Football, they would retain possession of the second NFC Wild Card spot ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost on Sunday Night Football. The Philadelphia Eagles (5-9) have been eliminated from NFC playoff contention.

Seattle (9-4-1) has won the NFC West division title and would be the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs if the season ended today. Eliminated from NFC Playoff contention are the Arizona Cardinals (5-8-1), the Los Angeles Rams (4-10), and the San Francisco 49ers (1-13) out of the NFC West.

Atlanta (9-5) leads the NFC South and would be the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs if the season ended today. The Falcons have the tiebreaker over the Lions by virtue of a better strength of schedule. Atlanta has a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) in the NFC South race.

The New Orleans Saints (6-8) and the Carolina Panthers (5-8) are alive in the NFC Playoffs picture as long as the Redskins don’t win a game the rest of the way. Carolina plays Washington head-to-head on Monday Night Football.

Detroit (9-5) has the best record in the NFC North and would be the No. 4 seed in the NFC Playoffs if the season ended today. The Lions have a one-game lead over the Green Bay Packers (8-6) in the NFC North race.

Still alive in the NFC Wild Card race are the Minnesota Vikings (7-7). Detroit completed the season sweep of the Vikings, so Minnesota can’t win the NFC North. Eliminated from NFC playoff contention are the Chicago Bears (3-13).

If the season ended today, the two NFC Wild Card teams would be the Giants (10-4) and the Redskins (7-5-1). New York has the best record of a non-division leader in the NFC and would be the No. 5 seed.

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Washington has the second best record of a non-division leader in the NFC by percentage points over the Buccaneers. A win keeps Washington in the No. 6 seed. However, a loss to the Panthers would get Tampa Bay back into the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture.

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