What Week 15 means for the 2020 NFL playoff picture

UPDATE: We’re tracking the updated playoff picture here.

The NFL season is rapidly drawing to a close, and we’re starting to get a pretty good idea of which teams are heading to the postseason and which ones will be staying home. However, the playoff seeding is still up for grabs in both the AFC and NFC. Here’s what’s on the line in Week 15.

Saturday is a wrap and the Bills have clinched the AFC East title with a win over the Broncos. Buffalo rolled over Denver, winning 48-19 and winning the division for the first time in 25 years. The Packers have already sewn up the NFC North crown and their win over the Panthers allows them to retain the edge for the No. 1 seed.

The top of the AFC gets interesting this weekend with a premier matchup between the Chiefs and Saints. Kansas City is favored by three in that one, but the Saints will welcome back quarterback Drew Brees after a solid enough fill-in performance by Taysom Hill. Unfortunately for New Orleans, they’ll be without No. 1 receiver Michael Thomas. The Chiefs can also clinch a first-round bye with a win, a Steelers loss, and a loss or tie by the Bills. A Saints win would hand them the NFC South crown.

The Steelers get the chance to snap their two-game skid with a game against the Bengals. If the Steelers win and the Chiefs lose, Kansas City still has a toe hold on the top spot because of their conference record. Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North title with either a win, a Browns loss, or a tie by both teams.

The Titans can clinch a playoff berth this weekend, but they’d also need the Ravens to lose to the Jaguars. Or, they could clinch with a win, a Dolphins loss, a Raiders tie or loss, and a Browns win or tie. Other teams that can clinch postseason berth with a win this weekend include the Rams and Seahawks. The Bucs can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a tie between the Vikings and Bears.

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs, 12-1
2. Pittsburgh Steelers, 11-2
3. Buffalo Bills, 11-3
4. Tennessee Titans, 9-4
5. Cleveland Browns, 9-4
6. Indianapolis Colts, 9-4
7. Miami Dolphins, 8-5

Outside looking in: Baltimore Ravens (8-5), Las Vegas Raiders, (7-7), New England Patriots (6-7)

Bills 48, Broncos 19
Chiefs (12-1) @ Saints (10-3)
Steelers (11-2) @ Bengals (2-10-1)
Titans (9-4) vs Lions (5-8)
Browns (9-4) vs Giants (5-8)
Colts (9-4) vs Texans (4-9)
Dolphins (8-5) vs Patriots (6-7)
Ravens (8-5) vs Jaguars (2-11)

NFC

1. Green Bay Packers, 11-3
2. New Orleans Saints, 10-3
3. Los Angeles Rams, 9-4 (Head-to-head record over Seahawks)
4. Washington Football Team, 6-7
5. Seattle Seahawks, 9-4
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-5
7. Arizona Cardinals, 7-6

Outside looking in: Minnesota Vikings (6-7), Chicago Bears (6-7), Detroit Lions (5-8), San Francisco 49ers (5-8), New York Giants (5-8), Philadelphia Eagles (4-8-1)

Packers 24, Panthers 16
Chiefs (12-1) @ Saints (10-2)
Rams (9-4) vs Jets (0-13)
Washington (6-7) vs Seahawks (9-4)
Buccaneers (8-5) @ Falcons (4-9)
Cardinals (7-6) vs Eagles (4-8-1)
Vikings (6-7) vs Bears (6-7)
Lions (5-8) @ Titans (9-4)
49ers (5-8) @ Cowboys (4-9)
Giants (5-8) @ Browns (9-4)