The NFL Playoff Picture is taking more shape as the Packers and Chiefs rise up.
The start of Week 14 marked the beginning of the stretch run in the 2020 NFL season. Four games remaining for every team to try and make their final push for the NFL Playoffs, whether that means trying to stay in the postseason field or jockeying for positioning. And as we now are set to enter Week 15, we’ve already got plenty of movement.
Obviously the biggest moves to happen this past week were Patrick Mahomes‘ Kansas City Chiefs and Aaron Rodgers‘ Green Bay Packers picking up big wins over the Dolphins and Lions, respectively. With those victories and losses by the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, those two clubs have taken hold of the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
But that’s not all we have. So let’s take stock of the NFL Playoff Picture entering Week 15, looking at the playoff bracket for each conference and the teams in the hunt still. Though some teams are not mathematically eliminated yet, the teams listed as being in the hunt are the ones with the realistic chance to make the playoffs.
NFL Playoff bracket entering Week 15 – AFC
First-Round Bye: 1 Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
7 Miami Dolphins (8-5) at 2 Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
6 Indianapolis Colts (9-4) at 3 Buffalo Bills (10-3)
5 Cleveland Browns (9-4) at 4 Tennessee Titans (9-4)
In the Hunt: 8 Baltimore Ravens (8-5), 9 Las Vegas Raiders (7-6)
Just based on the eye test over the past couple of months, it felt inevitable that the Chiefs were going to overtake the Steelers for the No. 1 seed and here we are. Now in this position, it’s hard to imagine the reigning champions relinquishing their hold on the first-round bye.
The Baltimore Ravens winning the game of the year on Monday night over the Cleveland Browns keeps their playoff chances alive and well, despite how lackluster the team has looked at times. But both teams are longshots to catch the Steelers in the AFC North. The same feels true for the Miami Dolphins trying to keep pace with the Buffalo Bills.
The AFC South race could come down to the wire, though. The Tennessee Titans have a leg up on the Colts but, with a defense prone to letdowns and the steady nature of Indianapolis, any slip-up by the current division leaders could take away a home game in the Wild Card Round.
NFL Playoff bracket entering Week 15 – NFC
First-Round Bye: 1 Green Bay Packers (10-3)
7 Arizona Cardinals (7-6) at 2 New Orleans Saints (10-3)
6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) at 3 Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
5 Seattle Seahawks (9-4) at 4 Washington Football Team (6-7)
In the Hunt: 8 Minnesota Vikings (6-7), 9 Chicago Bears (6-7), NFC East
It always felt as if the New Orleans Saints were playing with fire starting Taysom Hill at quarterback but even then, few saw them losing to the Philadelphia Eagles to give up the top seed to the Packers. Yet, with the way Rodgers and Co. are playing, they were always going to be in position to make a move.
The NFC West remains an incredibly tight race as the Seahawks are finding footing again, as are the Arizona Cardinals, though the latter may be too far back to catch up. That’s especially true with how well the Rams are playing right now. And the NFC East race remains just as tight with all four teams still in contention, though the quality of football is a severe step back from the West.
If Tampa Bay and Arizona are able to maintain what they showed in Week 14 over the final three weeks, it’s hard to see the Vikings or Bears catching them in the Wild Card race. Even still, it’s going to be a fun finish to see how these NFC teams fight for seeding in the postseason.