NFL playoff picture after Week 15: Chiefs wrap up AFC West, Giants clinch spot for Cowboys
took another step toward that Saturday night by sewing up conference’s first playoff berth with win against Miami. Remaining schedule: at Bears, at Bengals, vs. Patriots
y – 2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3), AFC West champions: Their Week 6 loss to Bills would currently mean road to the AFC crown goes through Buffalo. But on plus side, even if it took overtime to defeat the Houston Texans, K.C. won its seventh consecutive divisional title Sunday. And the upcoming schedule suggests the No. 1 seed remains a distinct possibility if the Bills trip. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks, vs. Broncos, at Raiders
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3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4), AFC North leaders: Defending AFC champs bypassed battered Ravens in division Saturday due to Baltimore’s loss at Cleveland and padded their lead by winning in Tampa on Sunday. However, Cincinnati faces a much more daunting schedule ahead of potentially pivotal Week 18 rematch with Ravens. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
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4. Tennessee Titans (7-7), AFC South leaders: Losers of four in a row, they look to be a one-and-done postseason squad for the third consecutive year … assuming they get that far with Jacksonville quickly closing on them in the division. Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars
couldn’t get past Browns on Saturday without injured QB Lamar Jackson, who may return for Week 16. Matching the record of Cincinnati, which Baltimore sees again in Week 18, bodes well for Ravens. They’ve already beaten Bengals and have better division record. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, vs. Steelers, at BengalsHistoric comeback from 33-point deficit to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon, the largest in league history in the regular season or playoffs, allowed Vikes to win division and remain in distant contention for first-round bye and home-field advantage. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at Packers, at Bears
y – 3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4), NFC West champions: The first team to clinch a divisional crown in the 2022 season thanks to Thursday night’s win at Seattle. The Niners’ previous two NFC West titles (2012, 2019) led to Super Bowl berths. Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Cardinals
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8), NFC South leaders: They squandered a 17-0 lead over Cincinnati on Sunday, dropping their third game in past four weeks. But Week 15 wasn’t all bad, both the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons losing. That leaves all of the Bucs’ divisional pursuers, including the New Orleans Saints, with 5-9 ledgers. Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, vs. Panthers, at Falcons
x – 5. Dallas Cowboys (10-4), wild card No. 1: Overtime loss at Jacksonville cost them opportunity to clinch postseason berth between the lines. However Commanders’ defeat Sunday night secured a spot for Dallas, which must now run the table and hope Philadelphia loses out to do better than a wild card. Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Titans, at Commanders
6. New York Giants (8-5-1), wild card No. 2: They stopped the bleeding against Washington and exponentially boosted their chances of a surprise playoff entry … even if, sorry Big Blue fans, you helped Dallas. Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Colts, at Eagles
7. Washington Commanders (7-6-1), wild card No. 3: They still control playoff destiny, but upcoming trip to Silicon Valley could quickly change that. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Browns, vs. Cowboys
8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7), out of playoff field: Thursday’s loss was their fourth in the past five games as they continue to fall off the playoff pace with two tough contests ahead. Week 4 win at Detroit keeps them ahead of Lions. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Jets, vs. Rams
9. Detroit Lions (7-7), out of playoff field: Long-shot bid for NFC North throne officially evaporated Saturday. But odds growing they could become first team since 1990 to overcome 1-6 start and reach playoffs after barely surviving Jets on Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Bears, at Packers
x – clinched berth
y – clinched division
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.