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Updated NFL standings, Week 15: Jaguars, Vikings, Patriots punch tickets

By John Buhler

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 17: Jacksonville Jaguars fans pose in the stands after the Jaguars defeated the Houston Texans 45-7 at EverBank Field on December 17, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 17: Jacksonville Jaguars fans pose in the stands after the Jaguars defeated the Houston Texans 45-7 at EverBank Field on December 17, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Several teams punched their tickets into the NFL playoffs this week, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots.

What a week it was in the 2017 NFL season. Week 15 saw a number of teams punch playoff tickets, none were more long overdue than the Jacksonville Jaguars. They crushed the division rival Houston Texans for the second time this season to improve to 10-4. That guarantees them at least a wild card spot in the AFC.

The Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots would be the fourth and fifth teams to make the NFL playoffs this season. Both clubs won their division and will host NFL playoff games. New England is probably in line to get home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs going forward. Minnesota is likely getting a first-round bye.

It should be noted that the Philadelphia Eagles were able to secure a first-round bye this week by outlasting the division rival New York Giants. Look for the Eagles to play for home-field advantage in the next two weeks in the NFC.

Here are the updated NFL standings and wild card pictures heading into Monday Night Football between the Atlanta Falcons (8-5) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9). Which 12 teams would make the playoffs if the season ended today?

AFC East

  1. y-New England Patriots (11-3)
  2. Buffalo Bills (8-6)
  3. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
  4. New York Jets (5-9)

New England has won the AFC East for the ninth straight season. The Buffalo Bills (8-6) are very much in the wild card race in the AFC. Even the Miami Dolphins (6-8) still have a shot heading into the final two weeks. Eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC East are the New York Jets (5-9).

AFC North

  1. y-Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (5-9)
  4. Cleveland Browns (0-14)

Pittsburgh clinched the AFC North last week, though their loss to the Patriots in Week 15 will certainly come back to haunt them. The Baltimore Ravens (8-6) are very much alive in the AFC wild card race. Eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC North are the Cincinnati Bengals (5-9) and the Cleveland Browns (0-14).

AFC South

  1. x-Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
  2. Tennessee Titans (8-6)
  3. Houston Texans (4-10)
  4. Indianapolis Colts (3-11)

Leading the AFC South are the playoff-bound Jaguars. They clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 on Sunday by thrashing the Texans. Jacksonville has a two-game lead on the Tennessee Titans (8-6) in the AFC South race. Eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC South are the Houston Texans (4-10) and the Indianapolis Colts (3-11).

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-6)
  2. Los Angeles Chargers (7-7)
  3. Oakland Raiders (6-8)
  4. Denver Broncos (5-9)

The Kansas City Chiefs (8-6) lead the AFC West by a game after beating the Los Angeles Chargers (7-7) on Saturday night. Two games back of the Chiefs are the Oakland Raiders (6-8). Eliminated from playoff contention in the AFC West are the Denver Broncos (5-9).

If the season ended today, here would be the six teams that would make the AFC playoffs. New England would be the No. 1 seed and have home-field advantage throughout as the AFC East champion. Pittsburgh would get a first-round bye and be the No. 2 seed as the AFC North champion.

Jacksonville would be the No. 3 seed as the AFC South champion. Kansas City would be the No. 4 seed as the AFC West champion. The two wild card teams would be Tennessee and Buffalo. Tennessee has a better conference record over the Bills and would be the No. 5 seed. Buffalo has a better strength of schedule over Baltimore and would be the No. 6 seed.

NFC East

  1. z-Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
  2. Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
  3. Washington Redskins (6-8)
  4. New York Giants (2-12)

Philadelphia clinched the NFC East crown last week. The Eagles clinched a first-round bye after throttling the Giants on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys (8-6/7-7) are still alive in the NFC wild card race. Eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC East are the Washington Redskins (6-8) and the New York Giants (2-12).

NFC North

  1. y-Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
  2. Detroit Lions (8-6)
  3. Green Bay Packers (7-7)
  4. Chicago Bears (4-10)

Minnesota clinched its second NFC North title in three seasons by dismantling the Bengals on Sunday. The Detroit Lions (8-6) and the Green Bay Packers (7-7) are still in the NFC wild card race. Eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC North are the Chicago Bears (4-10).

NFC South

  1. New Orleans Saints (10-4)
  2. Carolina Panthers (10-4)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (8-5)*
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9)

The New Orleans Saints (10-4) have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Carolina Panthers (10-4) for the NFC South lead. 1.5 games back are the Falcons (8-5), who play the Buccaneers (4-9) on Monday Night Football this week. Tampa Bay has been eliminated playoff contention in the NFC.

NFC West

  1. Los Angeles Rams (10-4)
  2. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (6-8)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (4-10)

The Los Angeles Rams (10-4) hold a two-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks (8-6) after crushing them on Sunday afternoon. Eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC West are the Arizona Cardinals (6-8) and the San Francisco 49ers (4-10).

If the season ended today, these would be the six teams that would make the NFC playoffs. Philadelphia would be the No. 1 seed and have home-field advantage as the NFC East champion. Minnesota would get a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed and NFC North champion.

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Los Angeles would be the No. 3 seed as the NFC West winner. The Rams have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints, who would be the No. 4 seed as the NFC South champion. Your two wild card teams would be the Panthers and the Falcons. Atlanta will be the No. 6 seed heading into Week 16, as they hold the head-to-head tiebreakers over Detroit, Dallas, Green Bay and Seattle.

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