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NFL Playoff picture: Vikings clinch NFC North in comeback win over Colts

nick gray, nashville tennessean
·6 min read

The NFL playoff picture, with four weeks to go, is still tight near the cutoff line in the AFC and NFC.

Philadelphia is in control of the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and it's apparent the South division champions will be the No. 4 seed in both conferences. Otherwise, it's all to play for in the final month.

The Titans still hold a two-game lead in the AFC South, and this week is pivotal as to whether or not it will be a race heading into January. A Jags loss and Titans win means the division could be clinched on Christmas Eve. A Jags win likely forces any title clinching to occur in January.

in the AFC wild card race, the Jets, Patriots and Chargers are all 7-6. The three teams are tied for the final playoff spot, with the Dolphins a game ahead at 8-5 and facing a tough trip to Buffalo on Saturday.

Here's the full playoff picture heading into Week 15:

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AFC Playoff Picture

Division leaders

1. Buffalo Bills (10-3) AFC East leaders

This week: vs. Miami, 7:15 p.m. CT Saturday on NFL Network

Remaining schedule: at Chicago, at Cincinnati, vs. New England

CLINCHING SCENARIOS: Buffalo clinches a playoff spot with a win, or a tie and a Chargers loss, or a tie and a Jets loss and a Patriots loss, or a tie and a Jets loss and ties by the Patriots and Chargers.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3) AFC West leaders

This week: at Houston, 12 p.m. CT Sunday on CBS

Remaining schedule: vs. Seattle, vs. Denver, at Las Vegas

CLINCHING SCENARIOS: Kansas City clinches the AFC West with a win, or a Chargers loss, or a Chiefs tie and a Chargers tie.

3. Baltimore Ravens (9-4) AFC North leaders

This week: at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday on NFL Network

Remaining schedule: vs. Atlanta, vs. Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati

4. Tennessee Titans (7-6) AFC South leaders

This week: at LA Chargers, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday on CBS

Remaining schedule: vs. Houston, vs. Dallas, at Jacksonville

Wild cards

5. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)

This week: at Tampa Bay, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at New England, vs. Buffalo, vs. Baltimore

6. Miami Dolphins (8-5)

This week: at Buffalo, 7:15 p.m. CT Saturday on NFL Network

Remaining schedule: vs. Green Bay, at New England, vs. NY Jets

7. New England Patriots (7-6)

This week: at Las Vegas, 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: vs. Cincinnati, vs. Miami, at Buffalo

Outside looking in

8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)

This week: vs. Tennessee, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday on CBS

Remaining schedule: at Indianapolis, vs. LA Rams, at Denver

9. New York Jets (7-6)

This week: vs. Detroit, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: vs. Jacksonville, at Seattle, at Miami

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)

This week: vs. Dallas, 12 p.m. CT Sunday on FOX

Remaining schedule: at NY Jets, at Houston, vs. Tennessee

11. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

This week: vs. New England, 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at Pittsburgh, vs. San Francisco, vs. Kansas City

12. Cleveland Browns (5-8)

This week: vs. Baltimore, 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday on NFL Network

Remaining schedule: vs. New Orleans, at Washington, at Pittsburgh

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)

This week: at Carolina, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: vs. Las Vegas, at Baltimore, vs. Cleveland

14. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1)

This week: Lost 39-36 in OT at Minnesota

Remaining schedule: vs. LA Chargers, at NY Giants, vs. Houston

15. Denver Broncos (3-10) eliminated from playoff contention

This week: vs. Arizona, 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday

16. Houston Texans (1-11-1) eliminated from playoff contention

This week: vs. Kansas City, 12 p.m. CT Sunday on CBS

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NFC playoff picture

Division leaders

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) NFC East leaders; clinched playoff spot

This week: at Chicago, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at Dallas, vs. New Orleans, vs. NY Giants

2. Minnesota Vikings (11-3) clinched NFC North

This week: Won 39-36 in OT vs. Indianapolis

Remaining schedule: vs. NY Giants, at Green Bay, at Chicago

CLINCHING SCENARIOS: Vikings clinched NFC North with a win.

3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4) clinched NFC West

This week: Won 21-13 at Seattle

Remaining schedule: vs. Washington, at Las Vegas, vs. Arizona

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) NFC South leaders

This week: vs. Cincinnati, 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at Arizona, vs. Carolina, at Atlanta

Wild cards

5. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)

This week: at Jacksonville, 12 p.m. CT Sunday on FOX

Remaining schedule: vs. Philadelphia, at Tennessee, at Washington

CLINCHING SCENARIOS: Cowboys clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie, or a Lions loss or tie, or a Commanders loss.

6. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)

This week: vs. NY Giants, 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC

Remaining schedule: at San Francisco, vs. Cleveland, vs. Dallas

7. New York Giants (7-5-1)

This week: at Washington, 7:20 p.m. CT Sunday on NBC

Remaining schedule: at Minnesota, vs. Indianapolis, at Philadelphia

Outside looking in

8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7)

This week: Lost 21-13 vs. San Francisco

Remaining schedule: at Kansas City, at NY Jets, at LA Rams

9. Detroit Lions (6-7)

This week: at NY Jets, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at Carolina, vs. Chicago, at Green Bay

10. Green Bay Packers (5-8)

This week: vs. LA Rams, 7:15 p.m. CT Monday on ESPN and ABC

Remaining schedule: at Miami, vs. Minnesota, vs. Detroit

11. Carolina Panthers (5-8)

This week: vs. Pittsburgh, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: vs. Detroit, at Tampa Bay, at New Orleans

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

This week: at New Orleans, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at Baltimore, vs. Arizona, vs. Tampa Bay

13. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)

This week: at Denver, 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: vs. Tampa Bay, at Atlanta, at San Francisco

14. New Orleans Saints (4-9)

This week: vs. Atlanta, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

Remaining schedule: at Cleveland, at Philadelphia, vs. Carolina

15. Los Angeles Rams (4-9)

This week: at Green Bay, 7:15 p.m. CT Monday on ESPN and ABC

Remaining schedule: vs. Denver, at LA Chargers, at Seattle

16. Chicago Bears (3-9) eliminated from playoff contention

This week: vs. Philadelphia, 12 p.m. CT Sunday

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NFL Playoff picture: Bills-Dolphins to decide AFC East edge