NFL 2023 playoff picture, standings amid Week 15: Steelers fall out of playoff spot; Bengals and Colts now in
Dec 16, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) reacts after intercepting the ball in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Paycor Stadium.
The NFL playoff races are as wild and confusing as ever through the Saturday games in Week 15, making the homestretch of the season one we’ll likely remember. The AFC entered the weekend with 11 teams boasting winning records and six with 7-6 records, the most for a single conference through Week 14 since 1970.
The playoff standings are so crazy, we’ll be switching to a conference format rather than divisions from this point forward. Below, the tiebreakers for each team will be explained.
Here’s a breakdown of the current standings and what each contender is facing as we progress through Week 15.
AFC Playoff Picture
| Seed | Team | W | L | T | PCT | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | y-Chiefs | |||||
| 4 | y-Jaguars | |||||
| 5 | x-Browns | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | +17 |
| 6 | x-Bengals | 8 | 6 | 0 | .538 | -40 |
| 7 | x-Colts | 8 | 6 | 0 | .538 | -16 |
| 8 | Texans | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | +8 |
| 9 | Broncos | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | -22 |
| 10 | Bills | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | +104 |
| 11 | Steelers | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | -57 |
| 12 | Raiders | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | -15 |
| 13 | Jets | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | -56 |
| 14 | Titans | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | -41 |
| 15 | Chargers | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -42 |
| 16 | e-Patriots | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | -103 |
x-current playoff team
y-current division leader
e-eliminated from playoffs
Baltimore Ravens
What to know: The Ravens have a two-game lead in the AFC North and are the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, at 49ers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers
Miami Dolphins
What to know: Miami is currently the No. 2 seed in the AFC, but could have been in the No. 1 spot with a win over the Titans. The Dolphins play the Ravens in Week 17.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, vs. Cowboys, at Ravens, vs. Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
What to know: The Chiefs lead the AFC West by one game over the Broncos after their loss to the Bills. They are the No. 3 seed over the Jaguars by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Raiders, vs. Bengals, at Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: The Jaguars are still the No. 4 seed in the AFC after a loss to the Browns. They lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Chiefs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Buccaneers, vs. Panthers, at Titans
Cleveland Browns
What to know: The Browns are the No. 5 seed in the AFC, a game up of the final playoff spot. They sit two games out of the AFC North lead.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Texans, vs. Jets, at Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
What to know: The Steelers are currently on the outside looking in after dropping a key matchup with the Colts on Saturday. They do hold the tiebreaker over the Bills (No. 10) and Broncos (No. 9) based on having a better conference record. The Steelers also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bengals.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, at Seahawks, at Ravens
Indianapolis Colts
What to know: The Colts are the No. 7 seed in the AFC, holding the tiebreaker over the Texans (No. 8) for the final playoff spot. Due to the Colts beating the Texans earlier this year, they hold the tiebreaker over Houston. Indianapolis has a better conference record than Denver, Cincinnati and Buffalo (No. 10), giving the Colts the tiebreaker there.
Remaining schedule: at Falcons, vs. Raiders, vs. Texans
Houston Texans
What to know: The Texans remain as the No. 8 seed in the AFC, even with their loss to the Jets. The Colts have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Texans for the No. 7 seed, which is why the Texans are out of the playoff hunt despite being one of six teams with a 7-6 record. Houston has a better conference record than Denver (No. 9), Cincinnati (No. 10), and Buffalo (No. 11), giving the Texans the tiebreaker there.
Remaining schedule: at Titans, vs. Browns, vs. Titans, at Colts
Denver Broncos
What to know: The Broncos are still the No. 9 seed thanks to the head-to-head win over the Bills (No. 11) and conference record tiebreaker over the Bengals (No. 10). They didn’t gain any ground in the playoff race even with the win over the Chargers.
Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Chargers, at Raiders
Cincinnati Bengals
What to know: The Bengals are currently in the picture after beating the Vikings on Saturday.
Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Chiefs, vs. Browns
Buffalo Bills
What to know: Buffalo is the No. 10 seed in the AFC, even after its win over Kansas City. The Broncos (No. 9) and Bengals (No. 6) have the head-to-head victories over them, while the Steelers, Colts (No. 7), and Texans (No. 8) have a better conference record.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, at Chargers, vs. Patriots, at Dolphins
Los Angeles Chargers
What to know: The Chargers’ loss to the Raiders on Thursday sent them even closer to the Patriots, who are already eliminated.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Broncos, vs. Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
What to know: The Raiders are two games out of the final playoff spot in the AFC. They are the No. 13 seed in the conference, losing the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chargers (No. 12). They also have a better conference record than the Jets (No. 14) and Titans (No. 15).
Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, at Chiefs, at Colts, vs. Broncos
New York Jets
What to know: The Jets are the No. 14 seed in the AFC, two games out of the final playoff spot. They lose the conference record tiebreaker with the Chargers (No. 12) and Raiders (No. 13). They have a strength of victory tiebreaker over the Titans (No. 15).
Remaining schedule: vat Dolphins, vs. Commanders, at Browns, at Patriots
Tennessee Titans
What to know: The Titans are two games out of a playoff spot in the conference. They lose the conference record tiebreaker to the Raiders and strength of victory tiebreaker over the Jets.
Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, vs. Seahawks, at Texans, vs. Jaguars
New England Patriots
What to know: The Patriots were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14.
Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, at Broncos, at Bills, vs. Jets
NFC Playoff Picture
| Rank | Team | W | L | T | PCT | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | ||||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | ||||||
| 5 | x-Eagles | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | +21 |
| 6 | x-Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | .538 | +24 |
| 7 | x-Packers | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | +12 |
| 8 | Rams | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | +9 |
| 9 | Seahawks | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | -38 |
| 10 | Falcons | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | -18 |
| 11 | Saints | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | +24 |
| 12 | Bears | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | -39 |
| 13 | Giants | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | -131 |
| 14 | Commanders | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | -134 |
| 15 | Cardinals | 3 | 10 | 0 | ,231 | -101 |
| 16 | e-Panthers | 1 | 12 | 0 | .077 | -144 |
x-clinched playoff berth
y- current division leader
z-current division leader
e-eliminated from playoffs
San Francisco 49ers
What to know: The 49ers are the No. 1 seed in the NFC after the Eagles’ loss to the Cowboys, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker by virtue of beating both teams. And by virtue of the Packers loss to the Giants are the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, vs. Ravens, at Commanders, vs. Rams
Dallas Cowboys
What to know: The Cowboys are the NFC East leaders after holding a better division record than the Eagles (played one more divisional game). If both the Eagles and Cowboys win out, the Eagles win the NFC East based on having a better conference record.
Remaining schedule: at Bills, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Commanders
Detroit Lions
What to know: The Lions are up two games over the Vikings in the NFC North and are the No. 3 seed in the conference. They trail the 49ers, Cowboys, and Eagles by one game for the top record in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Vikings, vs. Cowboys, at Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What to know: The Buccaneers lead the NFC South after Sunday’s win over the Falcons. They have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints and have a better record against common opponents than the Falcons, hence the division lead.
Remaining schedule: at Packers, vs. Jaguars, vs. Saints, at Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles
What to know: The Eagles are tied for the NFC East lead after Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, but Dallas holds the tiebreaker thanks to having a better division record. If both the Eagles and Cowboys win out, the Eagles win the NFC East based on having a better conference record.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Giants, vs. Cardinals, at Giants
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings hold the No. 6 seed in the conference, just ahead of five teams with 6-7 records. Minnesota is the No. 6 seed and will remain there if the Packers win on Monday night due to holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Green Bay.
Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, vs. Packers, at Lions
Green Bay Packers
What to know: The Packers lost to the Giants on Monday night, but still hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff race. They have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams (No. 8) and have a better conference record over the Falcons (No. 10). Division tiebreaker is why the Seahawks are No. 9 and Saints are No. 11.
Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Panthers, at Vikings, vs. Bears
Los Angeles Rams
What to know: The Rams are the No. 8 seed in the conference, holding the division record tiebreaker over the Seahawks (No. 9) by virtue of a head-to-head victory. They hold the tiebreaker over the Falcons (No. 10) based on having a better conference record. The Packers (No. 7) have a better conference record than the Rams, which is why they’re ahead.
Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, vs. Saints, at Giants, at 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
What to know: The Seahawks are the No. 9 seed in the NFC, tied with the Rams (No. 8) yet lose the head-to-head tiebreaker. Seattle holds the tiebreaker over Atlanta (No. 10) based on having the better win percentage in conference games.
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Titans, vs. Steelers, at Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
What to know: The Falcons are tied for the NFC South lead, but lose the tiebreaker due to the Buccaneers having a better record to common opponents. Atlanta has a head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans (No. 11).
Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Colts, at Bears, at Saints
New Orleans Saints
What to know: The Saints are also tied for the NFC South lead, but lose the tiebreaker due to the Buccaneers and Falcons beating them head-to-head.
Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at Rams, at Buccaneers, vs. Falcons
New York Giants
What to know: The Giants are the No. 12 seed in the NFC, one game behind the Packers for the final playoff spot in the conference. They beat Green Bay on Monday. They hold the conference record tiebreaker over the Bears (No. 13).
Remaining schedule: at Saints, at Eagles, vs. Rams, vs. Eagles
Chicago Bears
What to know: The Bears are the No. 13 seed in the NFC, one game out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Cardinals, vs. Falcons, at Packers
Washington Commanders
What to know: The Commanders are the No. 14 seed in the NFC, two games behind the Packers for the final playoff spot in the conference. They were on a bye this week.
Remaining schedule: Bye, at Rams, at Jets, vs. 49ers, vs. Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals
What to know: The Cardinals are the No. 15 seed in the NFC. They are three games back for the final playoff spot and were on a bye this week.
Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. 49ers, at Bears, at Eagles, vs. Seahawks
Carolina Panthers
What to know: The Panthers have been eliminated from playoff contention. They have the worst record in the NFL.
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, vs. Panthers, at Jaguars, vs. Buccaneers