The NFL playoff picture continues to form in Week 15, with the Kansas City Chiefs in danger of being eliminated from contention ahead of next week’s trip to Nashville.
A Chiefs loss to the Chargers combined with wins by three of the Bills, Jaguars, Colts and Texans would eliminate Kansas City from playoff contention before Christmas.
There are some high-leverage games throughout Week 15, including Bills at Patriots, Lions at Rams and Colts at Seahawks.
Here is the NFL playoff picture in Week 15, with the standings updated throughout Dec. 14:
AFC Playoff Picture
Division leaders
1. Denver Broncos (11-2) AFC West leaders
- This week: vs. Green Bay
- Remaining schedule: Jacksonville, at Kansas City, LA Chargers
Clinching scenarios: The Broncos can clinch a playoff berth with a win OR a tie and a loss by either the Jaguars, Chargers, Colts or Texans OR a Colts loss or tie and a Texans loss or tie.
2. New England Patriots (11-2) AFC East leaders
- This week: vs. Buffalo
- Remaining schedule: at Baltimore, at NY Jets, Miami
Clinching scenarios: The Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a win. The Patriots can clinch a playoff berth with a Colts loss or tie and a Texans loss or tie.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) AFC South leaders
- This week: vs. NY Jets
- Remaining schedule: at Denver, at Indianapolis, Tennessee
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) AFC North leaders
- This week: vs. Miami on Dec. 15
- Remaining schedule: at Detroit, at Cleveland, Baltimore
Wild cards
5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
- This week: at Kansas City
- Remaining schedule: at Dallas, Houston, at Denver
6. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
- This week: at New England
- Remaining schedule: at Cleveland, Philadelphia, NY Jets
7. Houston Texans (8-5)
- This week: vs. Arizona
- Remaining schedule: Las Vegas, at LA Chargers, Indianapolis
Outside looking in
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
- This week: at Seattle
- Remaining schedule: San Francisco, Jacksonville, at Houston
9. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
- This week: at Cincinnati
- Remaining schedule: New England, at Green Bay, at Pittsburgh
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
- This week: vs. LA Chargers
- Remaining schedule: at Tennessee, Denver, at Las Vegas
11. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
- This week: at Pittsburgh on Dec. 15
- Remaining schedule: Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, at New England
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
- This week: vs. Baltimore
- Remaining schedule: at Miami, Arizona, Cleveland
13. New York Jets (3-10); eliminated from playoff contention
14. Cleveland Browns (3-10); eliminated from playoff contention
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11); eliminated from playoff contention
16. Tennessee Titans (2-11); eliminated from playoff contention
NFC playoff picture
Division leaders
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3) NFC West leader
- This week: vs. Detroit
- Remaining schedule: at Seattle, at Atlanta, Arizona
Clinching scenarios: The Rams will clinch a playoff berth with a win.
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) NFC North leader
- This week: at Denver
- Remaining schedule: at Chicago, Baltimore, at Minnesota
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5) NFC East leader
- This week: vs. Las Vegas
- Remaining schedule: at Washington, at Buffalo, Washington
4. Carolina Panthers (7-6) NFC South leader
- This week: at New Orleans
- Remaining schedule: Tampa Bay, Seattle, at Tampa Bay
Wild cards
5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- This week: vs. Indianapolis
- Remaining schedule: LA Rams, at Carolina, at San Francisco
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- This week: vs. Tennessee
- Remaining schedule: at Indianapolis, Chicago, Seattle
7. Chicago Bears (9-4)
- This week: vs. Cleveland
- Remaining schedule: Green Bay, at San Francisco, Detroit
Outside looking in
8. Detroit Lions (8-5)
- This week: at LA Rams
- Remaining schedule: Pittsburgh, at Minnesota, at Chicago
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- This week: Lost vs. Atlanta
- Remaining schedule: at Carolina, at Miami, Carolina
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
- This week: vs. Minnesota
- Remaining schedule: LA Chargers, at Washington, at NY Giants
11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
- This week: at Dallas
- Remaining schedule: at NY Giants, Detroit, Green Bay
12. Atlanta Falcons (5-9); eliminated from playoff contention
13. Arizona Cardinals (3-10); eliminated from playoff contention
14. New Orleans Saints (3-10); eliminated from playoff contention
15. Washington Commanders (3-10); eliminated from playoff contention
16. New York Giants (2-11); eliminated from playoff contention
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL playoff picture, NFL standings update in Week 15
