NFL Playoff Picture Week 15: Standings & Potential Wild Card Matchups

(Getty)

While the AFC Playoff Picture remains murky, the NFC bracket is beginning to take shape.

The Cowboys and Seahawks became the first two teams to clinch playoff berths, as the teams in the NFC begin to separate with three games remaining. The Lions have crept up all the way to the second seed, and they bring a five game win streak to MetLife Stadium this week to play the Giants. A win would give Big Blue a better record than Detroit, but Dallas’ NFC East domination prevents the Giants from seeing anything better than the fourth seed.

The biggest games this week don’t affect the top of the playoff standings, but rather those on the outside looking in. One impact matchup will be in Minnesota, where the Vikings will
host the Colts. Both teams are one game away from the playoff picture, and the losing team on Sunday will likely be eliminated from contention.

For a full list of NFL tiebreaking procedures, click here.

Here’s how the playoff standings look right now:

AFC Seeding

The Division Leaders:

1. New England Patriots — 11-2
2. Kansas City Chiefs — 10-3
3. Pittsburgh Steelers — 8-5
4. Houston Texans — 7-6

The Wild Card Contenders:

5. Oakland Raiders — 10-3
6. Miami Dolphins — 9-5
7. Denver Broncos — 8-5
8. Tennessee Titans — 7-6

Potential Wild Card Matchups:

Dolphins at Steelers

Raiders at Texans

NFC Seeding

The Division Leaders:

1. Dallas Cowboys — 11-2
2. Detroit Lions — 9-4
3. Seattle Seahawks — 9-4-1
4. Atlanta Falcons — 8-5

The Wild Card Contenders:

5. New York Giants — 9-4
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8-5
7. Washington Redskins — 7-5-1
8. Minnesota Vikings — 7-6

** The Cowboys and Lions have clinched a playoff berth

Potential Wild Card Matchups:

Giants at Falcons

Buccaneers at Seahawks

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Rick Rosen is a sports contributor to Heavy. Rick is a graduate of William Paterson University, and also works for MLB Advanced Media. He is passionate about all sports, but will only break things when the NY Giants are on. You can follow him @TheRickRosen.
December 18, 2016 12:52 pm