NFL Analysis
12/17/23
4 min read
2023 NFL Playoff Bracket: Latest Matchups after Week 15
The NFL playoff picture came into even sharper focus following an exciting slate of Week 15 games.
In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers firmed the grasp on their claim to the title of top team in the conference. While the Dallas Cowboys fumbled a chance to pull closer to the top of the heap.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins showed why they belong among the teams at the top of the AFC playoff picture, while the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts won games to keep them in a jumble on the playoff bubble.
AFC First-Round Matchups
7. Indianapolis at 2. Miami
6. Cincinnati at 3. Kansas City
5. Cleveland at 4. Jacksonville
Bye: Baltimore-x
x-clinched playoff spot
AFC Playoff Contenders
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-3, 1st North)
Playoff Prospects: The Baltimore Ravens will face a serious test before the playoffs begin, with key matchups against two of the NFL's top offenses in Weeks 16 and 17.
Remaining schedule: at SF, vs. MIA, vs. PIT
2. Miami Dolphins (10-4, 1st East)
Playoff Prospects: The Miami Dolphins have a commanding divisional lead but face a gauntlet of star quarterbacks to close the season.
Remaining schedule: vs. DAL, at BAL, vs. BUF
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5, 1st West)
Playoff Prospects: The Kansas City Chiefs are a perennial contender with Patrick Mahomes under center. However, an uninspiring win over New England in Week 15 is unlikely to spur increased confidence they can overcome the teams ahead of them in the standings.
Remaining schedule: vs. LV, vs. CIN, at LAC
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6, 1st South)
Playoff Prospects: The Jacksonville Jaguars have winnable matchups in Weeks 16, 17 and 18. They might need wins in all three games to stay ahead in a competitive AFC South.
Remaining schedule: at TB, vs. CAR, at TEN
5. Cleveland Browns (9-5, 2nd North)
Playoff Prospects: Despite major injuries to key players, the Cleveland Browns just keep rolling. With a win over the Chicago Bears in Week 15, the Browns kept themselves at the top of the Wild Card race.
Remaining schedule: at HOU, vs. NYJ, at CIN
6. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6, 3rd North)
Playoff Prospects: The Cincinnati Bengals were supposed to fade away when they lost Joe Burrow to injury. Instead, they've continued solidifying their playoff hopes in an increasingly competitive race.
Remaining schedule: at PIT, at KC, vs. CLE
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-6, 2nd South)
Playoff Prospects: The Indianapolis Colts currently hold the tie-breaker over the Texans thanks to their head-to-head win. The teams meet again in Week 18.
Remaining schedule: at ATL, vs. LV, vs. HOU
In the Hunt
8. Houston Texans (8-6, 3rd South)
Remaining schedule: vs. CLE, vs. TEN, at IND
9. Buffalo Bills (8-6, 2nd East)
Remaining schedule: at LAC, vs. NE, at MIA
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7, 4th North)
Remaining schedule: vs. CIN, at SEA, at BAL
11. Denver Broncos (7-7, 2nd West)
Remaining schedule: vs. NE, vs. LAC, at LV
12. Las Vegas Raiders (6-8, 3rd West)
Remaining schedule: at KC, at IND, vs. DEN
13. Los Angeles Chargers (5-9, 4th West)
Remaining schedule: vs. BUF, at DEN, vs. KC
NFC First-Round Matchups
7. Los Angeles at 2. Dallas-x
6. Minnesota at 3. Detroit
5. Philadelphia-x at 4. Tampa Bay
Bye: San Francisco-x
x-clinched playoff spot
NFC Playoff Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3, 1st West)
Playoff Prospects: The road to the Super Bowl, for the NFC, still goes through the San Francisco 49ers. The first-place team has a tiebreaker over the Eagles and Cowboys.
Remaining schedule: vs. BAL, at WAS, vs. LAR
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-4, 1ST East)
Playoff Prospects: The Dallas Cowboys temporarily fumbled their hold on the division with a Week 15 loss but the Eagles' loss Monday put them right back into the pole position for the NFC East crown.
Remaining schedule: at MIA, vs. DET, at WAS
3. Detroit Lions (10-4, 1st North)
Playoff Prospects: The Detroit Lions righted the ship with a decisive Week 15 win, remaining in position to host a first-round playoff game.
Remaining schedule: at MIN, at DAL, vs. MIN
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, 1st South)
Playoff Prospects: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the tiebreaker over New Orleans for now, but a Week 17 matchup between the NFC South rivals will go a long way toward deciding the division.
Remaining schedule: vs. JAX, vs. NO, at CAR
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4, 2nd East)
Playoff Prospects: The Philadelphia Eagles' spot in the playoffs is secure, and with a remaining schedule featuring some of the NFC's worst teams, they still have a chance to win their division despite Monday's loss.
Remaining schedule: vs. NYG, vs. ARZ, at NYG
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-7, 2nd North)
Playoff Prospects: Among the jumble of teams at 7-7 is the Minnesota Vikings, who hold an outside shot at the NFC North crown thanks to two remaining matchups with the Lions.
Remaining schedule: vs. DET, vs. GB, at DET
7. Los Angeles Rams (7-7, 2nd West)
Playoff Prospects: The Los Angeles Rams currently hold the last spot in the playoffs with a crucial matchup with the New Orleans Saints, the team just below them, looming in Week 16.
Remaining schedule: vs. NO, at NYG, at SF
In the Hunt
8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7, 3rd West)
Remaining schedule: at TEN, vs. PIT, at ARZ
9. New Orleans Saints (7-7, 3rd South)
Remaining schedule: at LAR, at TB, vs. ATL
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-8, 2nd South)
Remaining schedule: vs. IND, at CHI, at NO
11. Green Bay Packers (6-8, 3rd North)
Remaining schedule: at CAR, at MIN, vs. CHI
12. New York Giants (5-9, 3rd East)
Remaining schedule: at PHI, vs. LAR, vs. PHI
13. Chicago Bears (5-9, 4th North)
Remaining schedule: vs. ARZ, vs. ATL, at GB
