With two weeks remaining in the 2015 NFL regular season, here’s a breakdown of the playoff picture…
AFC right now
1. Patriots (12-2)
2. Bengals (11-3)
3. Broncos (10-4)
4. Texans (7-7)
5. Chiefs (9-5)
6. Steelers (9-5)
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7. Jets (9-5)
10. Colts (6-8)
The Colts are included because they’re still very alive in the putrid AFC South race.
AFC projection
1. Patriots (14-2)
2. Broncos (12-4)
3. Bengals (12-4)
4. Texans (9-7)
5. Chiefs (11-5)
6. Steelers (11-5)
Despite a slew of injuries, the Patriots are rolling and should easily clinch the top seed with finishing games against the Jets and Dolphins. I still think Cincinnati loses in Denver next weekend, giving the Broncos the No. 2 seed. That would force the poor Bengals to host the red-hot Steelers on wild-card weekend, since it appear the Chiefs should finish with two more wins (at home against the Browns and Raiders). That leaves a weird matchup between the Texans (whom I think finish 2-0 against Tennessee and Jacksonville) and the Chiefs (who suddenly can’t be beat).
NFC right now
1. Panthers (14-0)
2. Cardinals (12-2)
3. Packers (10-4)
4. Redskins (7-7)
5. Seahawks (9-5)
6. Vikings (9-5)
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10. Eagles (6-8)
11. Giants (6-8)
The wild-card teams appear locked in, and Minnesota probably isn’t catching Green Bay. But the Eagles and Giants still have shots at leapfrogging the Redskins in the ugly NFC East.
NFC projection
1. Panthers (16-0)
2. Cardinals (14-2)
3. Packers (11-5)
4. Redskins (8-8)
5. Seahawks (10-6)
6. Vikings (10-6)
Now that the Giants are out of the way and the Panthers still have something to play for on the road in Week 16, we’re giving them a perfect record. They finish at home against the Bucs — a winnable game regardless of who they rest. That leaves Arizona basically locked in as a No. 2 seed, especially since Seattle won’t likely have much if anything to play for in their Week 17 matchup in Glendale. That’ll set us up with another Vikings-Packers matchup at Lambeau, while the ‘Skins (who should finish 1-1 while the Giants play spoiler against the Eagles in Week 17) host the Seahawks in a rematch of their 2012 wild-card tilt.
