Unfortunately for the Detroit Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t going away. They just keep on winning. After their 10th straight victory, a 27-13 walloping of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the 12-2 Eagles are now tied with the Lions atop the NFC.
The Lions, who lost a 48-42 shootout to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, still have a hold on the No. 1 seed due to their superior record against NFC foes (8-1 to the Eagles’ 7-2). However, there are still three more games left to play this season, and with Detroit defenders getting injured at an alarming rate, it’s now quite possible that the Eagles will be the NFC team resting up the first week of the playoffs while the Lions will have to fend off a wild-card foe.
Meanwhile, in the AFC, it hasn’t been the prettiest of seasons for the Houston Texans, but with their 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts’ loss to the Denver Broncos, they clinched the AFC South title for a second straight season. Houston is now guaranteed a home playoff game and can spend the rest of the season fighting to improve its seeding.
As for the rest of the NFL, here’s where things stand in the playoff picture with two Monday night matchups still on tap to finish off Week 15.
Listed odds to make the playoffs, secure the No. 1 seed and win the Super Bowl are all via The Athletic‘s NFL Projection Model, created by Austin Mock.
AFC playoff picture
| Seed | Team | Record | Week 15 result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
z–1 |
13-1 |
W vs. CLE |
|
|
z–2 |
11-3 |
W vs. DET |
|
|
x–3 |
10-4 |
L vs. PHI |
|
|
z–4 |
9-5 |
W vs. MIA |
|
|
5 |
9-5 |
W vs. NYG |
|
|
6 |
9-5 |
W vs. IND |
|
|
7 |
8-6 |
L vs. TB |
x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title | * — Clinched No. 1 seed
Even their 14-point wins are ugly. Patrick Mahomes left in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, so his status is going to be a concern down the stretch. He played through a high ankle sprain a couple of postseasons ago, but the Chiefs have added yet another degree of difficulty to their quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Steelers, vs. Broncos
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 78.3% | To win Super Bowl: 17.8%
Quarterback Josh Allen has been the most unstoppable player in the league for most of the season, but the last two games against the Rams and Lions were particularly absurd. He’s thrown for 704 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 150 yards and four scores. The Bills have scored 90 points with 14 scoring drives and four punts over that stretch. There’s a not-so-subtle problem here, though, as Allen has needed every bit of that production just to go 1-1 in those two games with the Bills surrendering 86 points.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 21% | To win Super Bowl: 12.8%
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The Steelers were overmatched by the Eagles, which might say more about Philly than anything, but the Steelers now only have a one-game lead over the Ravens with their rematch coming up. The Steelers are 4-1 against teams in the playoff picture, so they’ve got a good résumé. But their closing stretch is scary, and there isn’t much room for error.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 0.7% | To win Super Bowl: 4.2%
The Texans, now AFC South champions, have won two in a row for the first time since their three-game winning streak from Weeks 4-6, but it’s going to be a challenge to keep the good times going with upcoming dates against the Chiefs and Ravens. However, if the Texans do answer the bell against two of the AFC’s best, they’ll add to a résumé that already includes a victory against the Bills and would be considered a real postseason threat.
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 2.8%
In a statistical oddity, running back Derrick Henry hasn’t scored a touchdown in three consecutive games, which is the first time that’s happened to him in a single season since 2018. Henry has 318 yards from scrimmage during this stretch, so he’s been productive despite a shortage of visits to the end zone.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns
Odds: To make playoffs: 98% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 4.7%
Lamar Jackson’s five touchdown passes led the way for the Baltimore Ravens in a 35-14 win over the New York Giants.
The victory inches the Ravens even closer to securing a playoff spot in the AFC.
Takeaways ⤵️https://t.co/wf1tbjek8y pic.twitter.com/NviSwiOjLR
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 15, 2024
The Broncos won the Peyton Manning Bowl thanks in large part to Colts running back Jonathan Taylor inexplicably fumbling through the end zone in a moment that completely changed the trajectory of both teams’ seasons. If the Colts had won, they would’ve pulled to within a game of the Broncos and claimed the head-to-head tiebreaker with a significantly easier schedule over the final three weeks. The Broncos’ final three opponents have a combined record of 27-15, while the Colts’ last three (vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars) are 8-34 and all in the mix for the No. 1 pick. The Broncos were facing a two-touchdown deficit at the time of Taylor’s gaffe, and they instead closed the game with 24 consecutive points and a blowout win.
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs
Odds: To make playoffs: 91.1% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 3.4%
It looked like the Chargers were onto something a month ago as they dispatched of the Bengals to improve to 7-3. But they’ve since lost three of four with losses to the Ravens, Chiefs and Buccaneers. They’ve got an interesting one coming up against the Broncos, as they try to improve their 1-5 record against teams in the playoff field. The win, of course, came in Week 6 in Denver.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders
Odds: To make playoffs: 82.9%| To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 2.8%
• Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
• Miami Dolphins (6-8)
• Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
Eliminated
• New York Jets (4-10)
• Cleveland Browns (3-11)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
• Tennessee Titans (3-11)
• New England Patriots (3-11)
• Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
NFC playoff picture
| Seed | Team | Record | Week 15 result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
x–1 |
12-2 |
L vs. BUF |
|
|
x–2 |
12-2 |
W vs. PIT |
|
|
3 |
8-6 |
W vs. LAC |
|
|
4 |
8-6 |
W vs. SF |
|
|
x–5 |
11-2 |
TBD vs. CHI |
|
|
6 |
10-4 |
W vs. SEA |
|
|
7 |
9-5 |
W vs. NO |
x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title | * — Clinched No. 1 seed
The Lions had a bad day against a great Bills team. It happens. The concern, though, is whether they’re more susceptible to this type of performance because of their myriad of injuries on defense, especially with the other NFC powers hitting their stride. The latest blows: Coach Dan Campbell said he’s not optimistic about the chances of star defensive tackle Alim McNeil or cornerback Carlton Davis returning this season after both sustained injuries on Sunday.
Remaining schedule: at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 54% | To win Super Bowl: 17%
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The Eagles might have had the best Sunday in the league, staving off the hated Steelers, pulling into a tie with the Lions atop the NFC and answering questions about their passing game. Running back Saquon Barkley was limited for most of the game, and quarterback Jalen Hurts went 25-of-32 for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Wideouts A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith combined for 19 catches, 219 yards and both scores.
Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 39.1% | To win Super Bowl: 13.4%
The Bucs are riding a four-game winning streak on the heels of a four-game skid, and this was a signature win against the Chargers after previously taking advantage of an easier stretch of opponents. They just hung 40 points on the No. 1-ranked scoring defense in the NFL. The Bucs don’t get as much attention because they’re in the NFC South, but they now have wins against the Commanders, Lions, Eagles and Chargers. They’re going to be a tough out if they reach the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints
Odds: To make playoffs: 86.5% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 2.6%
Baker Mayfield led Tampa Bay on five-straight scoring drives to close out a 40-17 win and to keep momentum atop the NFC South.
Tampa has won four consecutive games while LA has dropped three of its last four games ⤵️https://t.co/OGNPQvWi1P pic.twitter.com/IQFYgnlTn3
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 16, 2024
This league can be as tight as it is unforgiving. The Rams have won seven of nine to take over the NFC West lead and knock the Seahawks out of the playoff picture. That’s a tough break for Seattle, as it’s four-game winning streak was snapped with a loss to the Packers. It’s still looking like the division will come down to the regular-season finale between the Rams and Seahawks.
Remaining schedule: at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks
Odds: To make playoffs: 55.4% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 1.8%
The Vikings, who already clinched a playoff spot and host the Bears on Monday night, have won six of their past seven meetings against their NFC North rival. But their last three losses in the series have come at home. After the Bears nearly stunned the Vikings in Week 12, scoring 11 points in the final 22 seconds to force overtime, the Vikings should surely be prepared to avoid a disastrous loss.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 6.9% | To win Super Bowl: 5.8%
The Packers just made a pretty good Seahawks team look completely overmatched in their own building, which is significant because they’re going to have to win on the road to make a playoff run. They’ve also now beaten the Rams and Seahawks on the road, so the Packers won’t care who wins the NFC West if that winds up being their wild-card matchup.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears
Odds: To make playoffs: 99.9% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 5.5%
The Commanders hung on for dear life after third-string QB Spencer Rattler nearly rallied the Saints from a 17-0 deficit, which won’t alleviate some of their defensive concerns. The Commanders are 0-4 against teams in the playoff field and have one more chance to prove themselves next week against the Eagles. It’ll be a three-week thrill ride as the Commanders try to preserve their one-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams.
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
Odds: To make playoffs: 86.9% | To earn bye: 0% | To win Super Bowl: 1.6%
• Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
• Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
• Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
• San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
• Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
• New Orleans Saints (5-9)
Eliminated
• Chicago Bears (4-9)
• Carolina Panthers (3-11)
• New York Giants (2-12)
(Photo of Jalen Hurts: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
