NFL playoff picture, Week 15: Chiefs, Saints control destiny

The NFL playoff picture is getting more insane by the hour.

With the Seattle Seahawks beating the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, Seattle all but punched its ticket to the playoffs with a weak schedule in the final weeks. Meanwhile, the Vikings are leaving the door ajar behind them for challengers to crash through.

In the AFC, we saw a wild Sunday that included the Kansas City Chiefs winning in overtime over the Baltimore Ravens. We also witnessed the Miami Miracle, giving the Dolphins a win over the New England Patriots in the craziest of fashions. Then there was the Pittsburgh Steelers losing another game, this time to the Oakland Raiders.

Want $250 to bet on the NFL?

After 14 weeks, here’s what the NFL playoff picture looks like:

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)
2. New England Patriots (9-4)
3. Houston Texans (9-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3)
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-6)

—

7. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
8. Miami Dolphins (7-6)
9. Tennessee Titans (7-6)

The AFC is about two games this week.

The Chargers are visiting the Chiefs on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Plenty can be decided that evening if Kansas City wins, with the Chiefs clinching both the AFC West and at least the second seed. With one win in their remaining two games, home-field advantage would be wrapped up.

Read: Raiders Fire GM, Give 3-10 Jon Gruden Total Control

On Sunday, it’s the Steelers playing host to the Patriots. Pittsburgh has lost three straight and is looking to get back in the win column against a New England team that has to be hopping mad. The Patriots are trying to lock up the AFC East, although they need both a win and a Miami loss at Minnesota. Should the Patriots lose and the Chiefs win, Kansas City locks up the top seed in the AFC.

Finally, the Texans can sew up the AFC South with a win and a loss by the Colts against Dallas in Indianapolis. Houston plays on Saturday away from home against the New York Jets.

NFC

1. New Orleans Saints (11-2)
2. Los Angeles Rams (11-2)
3. Chicago Bears (9-4)
4. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1)

—

7. Carolina Panthers (6-7)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
9. Washington Redskins (6-7)

There are plenty of scenarios flying around in the NFC. The Bears will win the NFC North for the first time since 2010 if they can knock off the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon. Over in Dallas, the Cowboys are trying to take down the NFC East with a win over the Indianapolis Colts, or with losses from the Eagles and Redskins.

The Seahawks can also wrap up a playoff spot by beating the San Francisco 49ers on the road. A win combined with a loss by the Vikings would lock them into the fifth seed, as the Rams have already clinched the NFC West.