The NFL playoff picture is really starting to take shape.
Week 15 is all but over, save for a meaningless Monday night game, and we’re finally starting to get more answers about what the playoff field will look like, with a couple of teams clinching playoff spots in Week 15 and plenty of teams being eliminated from contention.
The big news in the AFC centered around the Pittsburgh Steelers. They came from behind and held on to the late lead to beat the Denver Broncos. With the win, the Steelers slide into the playoff picture, bumping out the New York Jets. The Steelers still control their destiny, as winning out will get them in. The Jets, however, have a tougher road ahead of them, especially considering the New England Patriots in Week 16, with New England still playing for the No. 1 seed after clinching a first-round bye Sunday.
In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks are both in after wins Sunday. The Atlanta Falcons at least temporarily saved their season with a win in Jacksonville. The Falcons sit two games out of the sixth and final spot and would need to win out and have the Minnesota Vikings lose out in order to have a chance.
Here’s how the rest of the NFL playoff picture looks:
AFC
First-round byes
1. New England Patriots (12-2)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (11-3)
Wild-card round matchups
No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) at No. 3 Denver Broncos (10-4)
No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) at No. 4 Houston Texans (7-7)
Notes: Houston controls its destiny with a pair of divisional games against Tennessee and Jacksonville to finish the season. … Pittsburgh also has a pretty smooth road with remaining games against Baltimore and Cleveland, albeit both on the road. … The Patriots clinched a first-round bye for the sixth straight season, a new NFL record.
NFC
First-round byes
1. Carolina Panthers (14-0)
2. Arizona Cardinals (12-2)
Wild-card round matchups
No. 6 Minnesota Vikings (9-5) at No. 3 Green Bay Packers (10-4)
No. 5 Seattle Seahawks (9-5) at No. 4 Washington Redskins (7-7)
Notes: The Philadelphia Eagles are still alive with a huge Week 16 matchup against Washington looming. … There’s an outside chance the Packers get to No. 2, but they’ll have to beat both Arizona and Minnesota and have the Cardinals lose to Seattle in Week 17 for that to happen.
Playoff scenarios via NFL.com
Thumbnail photo via Jason Bridge/USA TODAY Sports
