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NFL playoff picture: Four more spots secured in Week 15

Texans and Chiefs are surging in the AFC, while Cardinals wrapped up the NFC West title.

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USA TODAY Sports
12:45 a.m. EST December 22, 2015



UP NEXT

03

USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay Jones offers perspective on the biggest storylines heading into Week 16.



Dec 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselback (8) shakes hands with Houston Texans Defensive end J.J. Watt (99) after their game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Texans won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
(Photo: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)

Here’s how the NFL playoff picture stands with the games already completed in Week 15.

(x = playoff berth clinched, y = first-round bye clinched, z = division clinched)

NFC

1. yz — Carolina Panthers (14-0): The Panthers can secure home field with one more win or an Arizona loss or tie.

2. z — Arizona Cardinals (12-2): With the NFC West firmly in hand, Arizona now sets its sights on a first-round bye, which will be awarded with one win in the final two weeks.

3. x — Green Bay Packers (10-4): The Packers clinched a playoff spot with the Giants’ loss. However they still need another victory and Minnesota defeat to claim the NFC North title and a home playoff game at Lambeau Field.

4. Washington Redskins (7-7): They control their fate and can wrap up the NFC East a week early by beating the Eagles on Saturday. But Philadelphia would win the division if they win their final two games.

5. x — Seattle Seahawks (9-5): A wild-card spot is assured, but that’s the best Seattle can do after Arizona put the NFC West out of reach.

6.Minnesota Vikings (9-5): The Vikings didn’t clinch this week, but they looked like a playoff team in a win against the Bears. They’ll reach the tournament with one more win (or another Seahawks win or Falcons loss).

Next up: Atlanta Falcons (7-7), Philadelphia Eagles (6-8), New York Giants (6-8)

Eliminated: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8), St. Louis Rams (6-8), New Orleans Saints (5-9), Chicago Bears (5-9), Detroit Lions (5-9), San Francisco 49ers (4-10), Dallas Cowboys (4-10)

AFC

1. yz — New England Patriots (12-2): The AFC East champs secured a first-round bye courtesy of the Broncos’ loss. With one more win, the Pats will be the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

2. x — Cincinnati Bengals (11-3): They earned a fifth consecutive playoff trip with Sunday’s win but still haven’t secured the AFC North. Week 16’s Monday night game at Denver looms large. Beat the Broncos, and the Bengals win their division and a first-round bye.

3. Denver Broncos (10-4): They’re very much in danger of falling into the clutches of the Chiefs in the AFC West race but will win the division with a victory and Kansas City loss in Week 16. Denver is also still in play for a first-round bye but must beat the Bengals on Monday first.

4. Houston Texans (7-7): The franchise’s first win in Indianapolis after 13 consecutive losses puts them in control of AFC South. They’ll win the division with one more win and a Colts loss. Houston may only need a win Sunday if certain tiebreakers fall into place.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5): Eight straight win puts them a step closer to playoffs. They’re in with one more win and a loss by either the Jets or Steelers.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5): In terms of the tiebreaker formula, their defeat of the Broncos trumped the Jets’ win over Dallas, vaulting Pittsburgh into the sixth spot ahead of New York. They’ll lock it up with one more win and a loss by the Jets, who host the Patriots on Sunday.

Next up: New York Jets (9-5), Indianapolis Colts (6-8), Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)

Eliminated: Oakland Raiders (6-8), Buffalo Bills (6-8), Miami Dolphins (5-9), Baltimore Ravens (4-10), San Diego Chargers (4-10), Cleveland Browns (3-11), Tennessee Titans (3-11)

PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 15

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TOP VIDEOS

Holiday MVPs: Cody Zeller

03:42

UGA IX passes away

00:31

Karl-Anthony Towns provides holiday assists

01:57

Odell Beckham Jr. suspended one game by NFL

00:34

Michael Johnson admits Nate Diaz ‘sucked me in’ with trash-talk

00:47

Titans’ Marcus Mariota out for season with sprained MCL

00:29

Celeb Pick ‘Em: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg and Hannibal Buress

02:13

AP Top Stories 21 P

00:58

Tyrann Mathieu out for season with torn ACL

00:33

‘Barncat’ Tamdan McCrory returned to UFC to ‘get out the barn’

03:57

Why Nate Marquardt didn’t give up on himself when everyone else did

02:54

NFL Stock Watch: Rising and falling entering Week 16

02:28

NFL Hot Reads: What we learned in Week 15

02:35

Sepp Blatter defiant in wake of FIFA suspension

01:15

NFL Daily Blitz: Injuries continue for Patriots

01:00

Brandon Jennings, on GR Drive debut: ‘I was more nervous’

01:22

Sepp Blatter receives eight-year ban from FIFA

00:56

Strong return for Cavaliers star

01:17

Video | Colts fall to Texans 16-10

01:15

Video | Insiders break down Colts loss to Texans

02:08

Big Vote For Upstarts In Spanish Elections

01:04

Video | Pagano, Hasselbeck discuss Colts loss

02:01

Raw: Votes Counted In Spain After Polls Close

00:35

NFL players step up holiday style game

00:49

Spain’s Party Leaders Vote in Historic Election

00:55

Karolina Kowalkiewicz willing to fight countrywoman Joanna Jedrzejczyk

00:45

Champ Rafael Dos Anjos ‘happy to welcome’ Conor McGregor to lightweight

01:15

Michael Johnson on Nate Diaz taunts: ‘He sucked me in’

00:47

Sara McMann shares how she reacted to Holly Holm’s upset of Ronda Rousey

04:38

Alistair Overeem comments on lapsed UFC contract situation after beating Dos Santos

00:44

Nate Diaz elaborates on Conor McGregor call-out, would take Dos Anjos

04:23

Donald Cerrone explains 66-second no-show performance versus Dos Anjos

01:16

Nik Lentz goes off on weight-cutting, B.J. Penn

02:08

Francis Ngannou happy with KO in ‘next level’ UFC organization

01:12

Kerrigan is Redskins’ Man of the Year

00:36

Rochester Welcomes Home Soccer Hero Abby Wambach

00:51

Soccer Legend Abby Wambach Plays Final Game

01:52

LeBron James Crashes on Fan, Expresses Concern

00:50

Camellia Bowl: Ohio University pep rally

03:29

Camellia Bowl: Ohio University band performs

02:55

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State pep rally

03:14

Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State band performs

01:05

Former WSOF featherweight champ Lance Palmer post fight interview

09:02

WSOF president Ray Sefo reacts to WSOF 26 results

05:59

Michael Johnson says his matchup with Nate Diaz features ‘two best strikers in the division’

03:21

Champ Rafael Dos Anjos confident he’ll beat Cerrone, awaits McGregor

02:38

Alistair Overeem excited to finally fight Junior Dos Santos

02:14

Meet Karolina Kowalciewicz, UFC’s newest Polish strawweight

02:55

Mike D’Antoni joins 76ers as associate head coach

00:38

UFC on Fox: Dos Anjos vs. Cerrone weigh-in highlights

06:09

Surfer Paradise

00:44

Sean Doolittle is ultimate ‘star wars’ fanboy

00:35

NFL Week 15 Sunday Statement

02:03

Golfer’s wife recovering after LeBron collision

00:43

Why Derrick Rose may be starting slowly

00:51

How Kyrie Irving’s return impacts Cavaliers

01:03

NFL Week 15 Bold Predictions: Colts won’t fail

01:37

NFL Daily Blitz: Burfict facing fines

00:36

NFL Inside Slant: Rams continue to frustrate

01:09

LeBron James dives for loose ball, slams into fan

00:50

Speed Bag: Have we learned nothing with Rousey?

02:45

Mountain West Daily (12/17/15)

02:01

Get to Know | Saint Mary’s Dane Pineau

01:41

Thank you, Rochester!

02:11

Strictly Bickley: Season ticket sellers have Arians fuming

01:10

Junior Dos Santos sees win over Overeem leading to title shot

02:02

UFC on Fox 17 Orlando workout highlights

05:31

Does Donald Cerrone even care about winning the UFC lightweight belt?

01:24

Nate Diaz not hyped about UFC’s level of hype

02:37

American Football Gains Toehold in Israel

01:33

‘Cowboy’ Cerrone RV trouble en route to title fight in Florida

05:26

Cover Four: NFL games to watch in Week 15

02:06

NFL Daily Blitz: Broncos’ QB call grows near

00:50

Klay Thompson heating up just in time for All-Star Game

01:20

<img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/baa7d5ece890abc8f1f017098398d44043c63dc6/r=84&c=84x84/http/videos.usatoday.net/Brightcove2/29906170001/2015/12/29906170001_4665213751001_thumb-7c8ea2657f15ca388a0f6a70670075fc.jpg?pubId=2990617000

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