The 2022 NFL season has entered its final four weeks.
Although the playoff picture for the AFC and NFC won’t be complete until Week 18, it’s time to look at the updated standings and the teams that would make the playoffs when the season ends in Week 15.
Here’s a breakdown of the NFL’s latest playoff field and seedings, while also looking at contenders poised to join the potential postseason party:
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NFL rankings for week 15
AFC playoff image
1. Buffalo Bills (11-3), first place, AFC East. The Bills are three games clear of the Dolphins after winning their rematch in Buffalo on Saturday night. They also have a head-to-head tiebreak against the Chiefs in the pursuit of the No. 1 and home field advantage, but the key game there could come in Week 17 in Cincinnati. The Bills didn’t secure the division in Week 15, but they did secure another playoff spot
2. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3), Champion, AFC West. The Chiefs secured the division with their thrilling overtime win over the Texans on Sunday in Houston. They have to worry about making a game on the Bills but also can’t sleep on the Bengals who beat them in Week 13 and they’re jumping for that seed.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4), first place, AFC North. The Bengals’ big wins over the Chiefs, Titans and Browns put them in control of the top collection as they host the Bills in Week 17. They took care of business in Week 15, overtaking the Ravens by a game with their win over the Buccaneers Sunday while the Ravens lost to the Browns on Saturday. The Bengals will also be looking to win the division title ahead of their Week 18 rematch with the Ravens in Cincinnati.
4. Tennessee Titans (7-7), first place, AFC South. The Titans are sticking with that last division win at best, but a repeat in the South is no longer a given after losing at home to the Jaguars in Week 14. They saw their lead shrink back to one game after losing The Chargers were out in Week 15 and the Jaguars upset the Cowboys in overtime on Sunday. The Titans may need to avoid a Jacksonville sweep in Week 18 to repeat it again in the South.
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5), second place, AFC North. The Ravens won despite Lamar Jackson’s knee injury and needed to do so to hold off the up-and-coming Bengals for the division title and not fade away in the wildcard race. An ugly loss to the Browns in Week 15 dropped the Ravens at that point. They don’t face the Bengals again until Week 18 in Cincinnati, whom they defeated in Baltimore.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6), second place, AFC West. The Chargers moved up two places from 8th place at home on Sunday with a huge win over the Titans while both the Dolphins and Patriots lost ahead of them. Getting hot and healthy at just the right time, they can focus on the wild card as the Chiefs have already won the division title.
7. Miami Dolphins (8-6), second place, AFC East. The Dolphins extended a lead in the second half in snowy Buffalo to suffer their third straight loss and give them little chance of winning the division as they lost three games and have three games left. To make matters worse, the Dolphins fell behind the victorious Chargers by losing to them in Week 14.
Who’s on the hunt?
8. New England Patriots (7-7), Third Place, AFC East
9. New York Jets (7-7), last place, AFC East
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-8), second place, AFC South
The Patriots’ heartbreaking away loss to the Raiders knocked them down a spot and out of the playoff picture, but they swept the Jets to hold the head-to-head tiebreaker there after the Jets also lost to the Lioins.
The Jaguars, by defeating the Cowboys after defeating the Titans, moved up to first place in the South in a game, which was easier to make up for with three games left than to fight for a wild card.
who comes out
11. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8), Third Place, AFC West
12. Cleveland Browns (6-8), Third Place, AFC North
13. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8), last place, AFC North
14. Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1), Third Place, AFC South
15. Denver Broncos (4-10), last place, AFC West
16. Houston Texans (1-12-1), last place, AFC South
The Browns and Steelers rallied with defensive wins to stay alive in Week 15. The Raiders missed a big opportunity against the Rams in Week 14 and face the Patriots on Sunday. The Colts’ collapse against the Vikings on Saturday was epic.
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NFC playoff image
1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-1), first place, NFC East. The Eagles have a three-game lead over the Cowboys after winning the first meeting in Philadelphia thanks to the Eagles outliving the Bears on the road Sunday while the Cowboys lost to the Jaguars in overtime. They’ve already secured a playoff spot and will win the division with one more win regardless of what happens in the Cowboys rematch in Week 16 in Dallas.
2. Minnesota Vikings (11-3), champions, NFC North. The Vikings clinched the division title Saturday with a 39-36 overtime win over the Colts in the biggest comeback in NFL history. With a two-game deficit and a lost head-to-head tiebreak from Week 2, they’re still unlikely to take the Eagles No. 1. But the miracle win also keeps the 49ers from jumping to that spot ahead of Week 16.
3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4), champions, NFC West. The 49ers secured a place in the playoffs by beating the Seahawks in Seattle to open Week 15 Thursday night with the bonus of also winning their Second Division title in four seasons. They’re longshots to take the No. 1 Eagles but have a fair shot at ousting the No. 2 Vikings.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8), first place, NFC South. The Buccaneers are pushing their limits in an attempt to win the NFL’s weakest division as they went two games under .500 after losing again at home to the Bengals on Sunday. Their lead remains one game against the Falcons, who beat them at home, and one game against the Panthers, who they lost to away, and one game against the Saints, who beat them. Tampa Bay hosts Carolina in week 17 and closes in week 18 in Atlanta.
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-4), second place, NFC East. The Cowboys fell three games behind the Eagles with their overtime loss to the Jaguars, meaning they must win to win the division while the Eagles must lose. The Cowboys earned at least one wildcard spot, with the Commanders losing to the Giants.
6. New York Giants (8-5-1), last place, NFC East. The Giants got their playoff hopes back on track by beating the Commanders Sunday night in Washington to move up a spot. They also gained more ground against the struggling and losing Seahawks they lost to in Week 8. They have a tough week 16 road game ahead of them in Minnesota.
7. Washington Commanders (7-6-1), Third Place, NFC East. The Commanders fell here after losing to the Giants, whom they now trail by a full game and a head-to-head tiebreak. They stay half a game ahead of the defeated Seahawks and the victorious Lions. You have a bumpy road ahead of you in week 16 in San Francisco.
Who’s on the hunt?
8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7), second place, NFC West
9. Detroit Lions (7-7), second place, NFC North
11. Carolina Panthers (5-9), second place, NFC South
12. New Orleans Saints (5-9), second place, NFC South
13. Atlanta Falcons (5-9), last place, NFC South
The Seahawks have lost four of their last five games, falling from 6-3 to 6-3. The Lions continue to make things interesting with a late win boost, but they lost in Week 4 at home to the Seahawks. The Panthers and Falcons hurt their dwindling divisional chances with losses on Sunday while the Saints improved theirs.
who comes out
10. Green Bay Packers (5-8), Third Place, NFC North
14. Los Angeles Rams (4-9), Third Place, NFC West
15. Arizona Cardinals (4-10), last place, NFC West
16. Chicago Bears (3-11), last place, NFC North
The Packers also bowed out in Week 14, after which they will try to lead the table and hope for the best at 9-8, but it will likely take 10 wins to get into the NFC Playoffs as a wild card. The Bears are careful to keep the Rams and Cardinals out of the basement.