The NFL playoff area is filling out with higher velocity because the season works its method via December. 4 groups punched their ticket into the playoffs forward of Week 15, and 4 groups entered Sunday with an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth.
The weekend opened with an enormous NFC West matchup between the 49ers and Rams in Santa Clara. The Rams pulled out the 12-6 win and discover themselves firmly within the combine for the NFC West title. That was the primary of what’s a busy Week 15 for the playoff image.
Getting into Sunday, the Eagles, Vikings, Texans, and Steelers may all clinch a playoff berth. The Vikings snuck in with out even enjoying their recreation on Monday night time, whereas the Texans and Eagles may clinch their division titles with a win and a loss by the second place workforce. Each Houston and Philly have been capable of punch their tickets.
On the opposite finish, the Panthers, Cowboys, Bears, and Bengals all confronted elimination from playoff competition. Dallas and Cincinnati stored their hopes alive however Chicago and Carolina have been formally eradicated.
The Sunday slate ended up backloaded with 5 of the six matchups beginning at 4:25 p.m. ET that includes two playoff groups. The 2 large ones are a seize bag of the 4 groups who may find yourself of their respective convention title video games. The Lions misplaced to the Payments whereas the Eagles beat the Steelers.
Sunday night time featured to groups in playoff place, too, however the Seahawks loss dropped them out of consideration and the Rams into the highest spot within the NFC West. Inexperienced Bay’s win allowed them to maintain tempo with the remainder of the NFC wild card image.
NFC standings throughout Week 15
1. x-Detroit Lions (12-2, 8-1 NFC)
2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, 7-2 NFC)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6, 6-3 NFC)
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6, win over SEA, 5-5 NFC)
5. x-Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (10-4)
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)
3. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
9. Arizona Cardinals (7-7, 3-6 NFC)
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7, 6-3 NFC)
11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8, win over DAL)
12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8, loss to SF)*
13. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
14. Chicago Bears (4-9) — eradicated
15. Carolina Panthers (3-11) — eradicated
16. New York Giants (2-12) — eradicated
AFC standings throughout Week 15
1. y-Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (13-1)
2. y-Buffalo Payments (11-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-5)
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5, win over DEN)
6. Denver Broncos (9-5, loss to BAL)*
7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8, 5-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8, 3-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-10) — eradicated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-11, win over JAX) — eradicated
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, win over TEN, loss to CLE, win over NE) — eradicated
15. Tennessee Titans (3-11, loss to JAX, win over NE) — eradicated
11. New York Jets (4-10, losses to JAX & TEN) — eradicated
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) — eradicated
Groups with an asterisk (*) have been eradicated from divisional competition
Groups with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Groups with a (y) have clinched their division
Key playoff image takeaways in Week 15
Detroit Lions stay in first regardless of loss
The Lions fell to the Buffalo Payments within the highest scoring recreation of the yr, however Detroit couldn’t win. They keep in first place due to their superior NFC file, however it’s a troublesome loss everytime you rating 42 factors. 494 passing yards and 5 touchdowns wasn’t adequate for Jared Goff’s offense, apparently.
Patrick Mahomes injures ankle in win
The Chiefs dealt with their enterprise towards the Browns, however the large story is Patrick Mahomes’ ankles. He was rolled up on a failed fourth down try within the fourth quarter and didn’t return to the sport. The medical workers taped up his ankles, however given the lead, there was no want for him to return. This will likely be a state of affairs to observe because the Chiefs play two extra video games within the subsequent 10 days.
Buffalo Payments carve out their place with large win over Lions
Josh Allen is the NFL’s MVP and scored 4 extra touchdowns in Detroit. The Payments scored 40 factors for the second straight week and wanted each certainly one of them, because the protection allowed 42 factors or extra for the second straight week. Coupled with the Steelers loss, the Payments are firmly in second place within the AFC with an opportunity to overhaul the Chiefs within the closing month of the season. The Payments have three video games towards the Patriots and Jets remaining.
Philadelphia wins the battle of Pennsylvania, downing the Steelers
The Eagles proved to be maybe essentially the most harmful workforce within the NFL by downing their cross-state rivals. Philly hung 27 on the Steelers protection and held a red-hot Pittsburgh offense to simply 13 factors.
Buccaneers blow out Chargers in battle of playoff hopefuls
Tampa Bay went to Southern California and hung a 40-burger on the Chargers. Los Angeles stays in playoff place with the loss, however it’s an enormous blow for them. The Bucs in the meantime keep forward of the Falcons for the lead within the NFC South.
Broncos solidify their playoff spot with a win over Colts
In the meantime, the Indianapolis Colts had an opportunity to shut the hole within the wild card race however couldn’t overcome self-inflicted wounds. Denver is now two video games plus a tiebreaker up with three video games left and sitting fairly for a playoff berth.
Commanders get important cease to beat Saints
Washington was rolling over New Orleans, however wanted an enormous defensive stand on the finish of the sport to safe the win. The Saints scored what may have been a game-tying landing, however elected to go for 2 and the win. They got here up quick and Washington gained. The win means the Eagles have to attend one other week to get a clinching situation for the NFC East.
Texans win the AFC South title
The Texans held off the Dolphins because of a pair of picks by Derek Stingley. They gained 20-12 and in doing so arrange a clinching situation heading into the 4 p.m. window. The Colts loss meant the Texans clinched the AFC South title. The Dolphins should not eradicated from playoff competition, however they’re in a foul spot.
Rams all however remove 49ers
LA gained in Santa Clara on Thursday Evening Soccer to brush the season sequence. The Rams may transfer into first place if the Seahawks lose to the Packers on Sunday Evening Soccer. The 49ers dropped to 6-8 and with solely three video games remaining, they could possibly be eradicated from playoff competition in Week 16.
Which NFL groups have already clinched playoff spots?
After they moved to 11 wins in Week 13, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs turned the primary NFL workforce within the NFL to clinch a playoff spot. The Buffalo Payments clinched the AFC East final Sunday night time, guaranteeing a house playoff recreation. The Lions secured their playoff spot with the Thursday night time win whereas the Philadelphia Eagles joined them on Sunday. The Houston Texans gained the AFC South in Week 15 whereas the Minnesota Vikings sewed up their spot earlier than they even performed in Week 15.
- Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
- Buffalo Payments
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings
- Houston Texans
Which NFL groups have been eradicated from the playoffs?
In Week 13, the Giants turned the primary workforce this season to be formally eradicated from the playoff race. On Black Friday, the Raiders joined them with their tenth lack of the season and they’re additionally eradicated. On Sunday, the Patriots have been additionally eradicated them with a loss and wins by the Chargers and Texans. With the Broncos win on Monday night time, they eradicated the Jaguars from the playoffs. In Week 14, the Browns joined the record. The Week 15 elimination group contains the Bears and Panthers.
- New York Giants
- New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Jets
- Chicago Bears
- Carolina Panthers
NFL Division Standings
AFC East standings
- Buffalo Payments, 11-3 — division clinched
- Miami Dolphins, 6-8
- New York Jets, 4-10 — eradicated from playoff competition
- New England Patriots, 3-11 — eradicated from playoff competition
AFC North standings
- Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-4
- Baltimore Ravens, 9-5
- Cincinnati Bengals, 6-8
- Cleveland Browns, 3-11 — eradicated from playoff competition
AFC South standings
- Houston Texans, 9-5
- Indianapolis Colts, 6-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-11 — eradicated from playoff competition
- Tennessee Titans, 3-11 — eradicated from playoff competition
AFC West standings
- Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 13-1 — division clinched
- Denver Broncos, 9-5
- Los Angeles Chargers, 8-6
- Las Vegas Raiders, 2-11 — eradicated from playoff competition
NFC East standings
- Philadelphia Eagles, 12-2
- Washington Commanders, 9-5
- Dallas Cowboys, 6-8
- New York Giants, 2-12 — eradicated from playoff competition
NFC North standings
- Detroit Lions, 12-2
- Minnesota Vikings, 11-2
- Inexperienced Bay Packers, 10-4
- Chicago Bears, 4-9 — eradicated from playoff competition
NFC South standings
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-6
- Atlanta Falcons, 6-7
- New Orleans Saints, 5-9
- Carolina Panthers, 3-11 — eradicated from playoff competition
NFC West standings
- Los Angeles Rams, 8-6
- Seattle Seahawks, 8-6
- Arizona Cardinals, 7-7
- San Francisco 49ers, 6-8