Each week during the 2024 NFL regular season, YSL News Sports will bring you the latest updates on the league’s shifting playoff landscape, usually kicking off after the late Sunday games and continuing throughout the week (including Monday and Thursday games or Saturday’s if needed).

What occurred? What does it signify? What key elements (and possible tiebreakers) are currently influencing each conference’s seven-team playoff bracket as it begins to take shape? All these questions will be thoroughly examined until the postseason teams are finalized on Sunday, January 5.

Here’s the current situation as Week 15 of the 2024 season is in progress:

NFC Playoff Overview

x – 1. Detroit Lions (12-1), Leaders of NFC North: For the first time in their 95 years, the Lions have won 12 games in back-to-back seasons. Their tight victory over the Packers in Week 14 secured their spot in the 2024 playoffs. They face a challenging matchup against the Bills this Sunday, but since it’s an interconference game, it shouldn’t dramatically affect their tiebreaker standings, even if their shorthanded defense struggles. Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2), Leaders of NFC East: The Eagles managed to edge past the struggling Panthers on Sunday, but not without some frustrations. This victory marked their ninth in a row, keeping them in pursuit of the Lions, and they officially secured a playoff spot later when Arizona lost. Philly can clinch the division title in Week 15 with a win and a Washington loss. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5), Leaders of NFC West: After sweeping the Cardinals for the season, the Seahawks now hold a three-game advantage over Arizona in their division. However, the Rams are close behind, just half a game back and having already defeated Seattle. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6), Leaders of NFC South: With an easy schedule ahead and the Falcons struggling, the Buccaneers took the first position last Sunday by winning against the Raiders while Atlanta faltered in Minneapolis. However, since the Falcons swept Tampa Bay this season, the Bucs must maintain a plus one in their wins moving forward. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2), Wild Card No. 1: The Vikings defeated Kirk Cousins’s Falcons, keeping their hot streak alive with six straight wins, closely tailing the Lions in both the NFC North and the overall conference race. A victory over the Bears on Monday night would secure their playoff berth. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (9-4), Wild Card No. 2: Swept by the Lions, the Packers are now relegated to wild-card status but will need to wait at least another week before clinching anything. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (8-5), Wild Card No. 3: Even though a week off should have benefitted their squad’s health, it did not improve Washington’s outlook, as Philadelphia is pulling away in the division and the Rams are closing in on the wild-card spot. Remaining schedule: at Saints, vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Los Angeles Rams (8-6), Contenders: By winning out, the Rams — currently half a game behind Seattle — can secure the NFC West title. They also apply pressure on Washington, but cannot surpass the Commanders this weekend, even with a win against San Francisco. Remaining schedule: at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7), Contenders: The Falcons have lost their chance and their top position in the NFC South after extending their losing streak to four games in Minnesota. They have dropped five spots in the conference rankings, but their earlier sweep over the Buccaneers means they can reclaim first place by merely tying with Tampa Bay. Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers

10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7), Contenders: The Cardinals could have regained the NFC West lead by winning against Seattle but instead suffered their third consecutive defeat, which puts them in a tough position. They now trail behind the Falcons, having three fewer conference wins than them. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8), Contenders: A significant loss to the Rams on Thursday nearly ended the playoff hopes for the reigning NFC champions, who now have better than 99% odds of missing the postseason, according to NFL.com. Remaining schedule: at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

12. New Orleans Saints (5-8), In the running: The best chance for their success is to secure a win in the NFC South, although this will be a challenging feat without their injured quarterback, Derek Carr. Upcoming games: vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers

13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8), still in the race: Their hopes of making the playoffs took a hit with another tough loss at home to Cincinnati this past Monday. This defeat pushes them further down the rankings, even trailing the Saints who previously beat them. Upcoming games: at Panthers, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders

AFC Playoff Outlook

y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-1), AFC West champs: The Chiefs secured their division title with a win over the Chargers on Sunday night, marking the ninth straight season they have done so. Buffalo’s earlier loss was a major advantage, giving the defending champions a clearer path to Super Bowl 59 at Arrowhead Stadium. Upcoming games: at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (10-3), AFC East champs: The crucial head-to-head tiebreaker with the Chiefs means little if Buffalo can’t keep pace with them after suffering a loss in a thrilling game against the Rams on Sunday. Upcoming games: at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3), AFC North leaders: They remain a contender for home-field advantage with a two-game lead over the idle Ravens, whom they’ve already defeated once this season. They’re currently looking up at Buffalo due to the strength-of-victory tiebreaker. Upcoming games: at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals

4. Houston Texans (8-5), AFC South leaders: Despite facing difficulties, the Texans hold a commanding three-game lead over the Colts owing to their previous victories against them. A win next week and another loss for Indianapolis would clinch the division title for Houston. Upcoming games: vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-5), wild card No. 1: A week off was beneficial, although it resulted in falling further behind in the AFC North standings, reducing their chances of hosting a playoff game this year. Upcoming games: at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns

6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5), wild card No. 2: After facing defeat by the Chiefs yet again, the Chargers must work hard to maintain their playoff chances in year one under head coach Jim Harbaugh. They face tough opponents in the coming weeks. A win against the Broncos will keep them ahead in the hunt, yet they’ve dropped behind the Ravens after losing to them. Upcoming games: vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (8-5), wild card No. 3: They have a solid chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 victory nine years ago. However, mishaps against the Colts could jeopardize their position. Current losses to the Ravens and Chargers keep them at the seventh seed. Upcoming games: vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7), still in the race: A victory in Denver during Week 15 would place them just one game shy of a playoff spot. Upcoming games: at Broncos, vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (6-7), still in the race: Their narrow win over the Jets allows them to remain in the playoff conversation. However, a Week 7 loss against the Colts puts them behind Indianapolis. Upcoming games: at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 15

Houston can win the AFC South title with:

▶ A win + a loss by the Colts

Pittsburgh can secure a playoff spot with:

1. A win or tie
2. A loss or tie by the Dolphins + a loss or tie by the Colts

Minnesota can secure a playoff spot with:

1. A win or tie
2. A loss or tie by the Seahawks

Philadelphia can win the NFC East title with:

1. A win + a loss or tie by the Commanders
2. A tie + a loss by the Commanders

NFL Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention in 2024

▶ New York Giants

▶ Las Vegas Raiders

▶ New England Patriots

▶ Jacksonville Jaguars

▶ Tennessee Titans

▶ Cleveland Browns

▶ New York Jets

x – secured playoff spot

y – won division

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