The NFL enters Week 15 with seven playoff spots still undecided and three division races hanging in the balance, setting up a crucial slate of games that could reshape the postseason picture before Christmas.
The Baltimore Ravens (11-3) can clinch the AFC North with a win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, while the Buffalo Bills (10-4) need just one victory in their final three games to lock up the AFC East. Both teams have positioned themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throwing for 3,290 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 745 yards and three scores.
NFC South Chaos Continues
The NFC South remains the league’s most unpredictable division, with the Atlanta Falcons (7-7) holding a slim lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) and New Orleans Saints (5-9). Atlanta hosts the New York Giants on Sunday in what should be a favorable matchup against a 2-12 Giants squad that has lost seven straight games.
Tampa Bay faces a tougher test against the Los Angeles Chargers (9-5), who are fighting for an AFC wild-card berth. The Buccaneers have alternated wins and losses over their last six games, with quarterback Baker Mayfield throwing for 3,389 yards and 28 touchdowns but also tossing 13 interceptions.
AFC Playoff Picture Tightening
The AFC wild-card race features six teams competing for three spots. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) appear in the strongest position after winning four straight, including last week’s 27-14 victory over Cleveland that showcased their defensive dominance with four sacks and two interceptions.
The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos (9-5), and Indianapolis Colts (6-8) are all in contention, with Denver facing a critical road test against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) on Saturday. Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has thrown for 3,032 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 66.8% of his passes, impressive numbers for a first-year player.
Lions Roar Toward Top Seed
The Detroit Lions (12-2) control their destiny for the NFC’s top seed after dismantling the Green Bay Packers 34-31 in Thursday night’s thriller. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while the Lions defense forced two crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Detroit travels to face the Chicago Bears (4-10) on Sunday, a team that has struggled mightily since firing coach Matt Eberflus following their Thanksgiving Day collapse. The Bears have lost nine of their last 10 games, with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams throwing just eight touchdown passes against seven interceptions over his last eight starts.
Eagles Soar Past Steelers
The Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) matched Detroit’s record with a dominant 27-13 victory over Pittsburgh, with running back Saquon Barkley rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles have won 10 straight games since their 2-2 start, with quarterback Jalen Hurts accounting for 25 total touchdowns during the streak.
Philadelphia hosts the Washington Commanders (9-5) on Sunday in an NFC East showdown that could determine playoff seeding. The Commanders, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, have already clinched their first playoff berth since 2020.
Injury Report Impact
Several key players face uncertain availability for Week 15 games. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy remains in concussion protocol after taking a hard hit in last week’s loss to Arizona, potentially opening the door for backup Joshua Dobbs against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) will be without wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who suffered a knee injury in practice, as they visit the Houston Texans (8-6) on Saturday. Despite the injury concerns, the Chiefs have already locked up the AFC West and are focused on securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Saturday’s tripleheader kicks off at 1 p.m. ET with Chiefs-Texans, followed by Broncos-Bengals at 4:30 p.m. ET and Ravens-Browns at 8:15 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
