The San Francisco 49ers are the hottest team in the NFL and seem unstoppable. Their most recent victory was a 45-29 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, which gave them their sixth straight win. The 49ers also won first division champions of the year, securing their second straight NFC West title.
They were one win ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the win list, but the Eagles will have a chance to respond on Monday night on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. As for the rest of the NFL, there was a lot of movement in the playoff picture in Week 15. With one more game left on the schedule, let's take a look at where things stand.
The odds listed to make the playoffs, earn the No. 1 seed, and win the Super Bowl are all based on The Athletic's NFL betting model, developed by Austin Mock.
AFC playoff image
| seeds | team | Record | Result week 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
x–1 | 11-3 | W vs JAX | |
2 | 10-4 | W v NYJ | |
3 | 9-5 | W vs NE | |
4 | 8-6 | L vs BAL | |
5 | 9-5 | W vs CHI | |
6 | 8-6 | W vs MIN | |
7 | 8-6 | W vs. PIT |
x – Secure spot in the playoffs | y – Secured division title
That may not seem like a big accomplishment, but the Ravens have won three games in a row while maintaining a double-digit lead. The importance? Their loss to the Cleveland Browns five weeks ago was their league-worst sixth loss by a double-digit margin in the last two seasons, and the Ravens certainly don't want to play in the playoffs with that seed of doubt in their minds.
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, against Miami Dolphins, against Pittsburgh Steelers
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 100 percent | Deserve release: 58.8 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 15.8 percent
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins didn't need wide receiver Tyreek Hill to destroy the New York Jets' talented defense. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw just three incompletions and wideout Jaylen Waddle stepped up with eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown to keep the Dolphins in the No. 1 seed game.
Remaining schedule: against Dallas Cowboys, at Ravens, against Buffalo Bills
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 100 percent | Earn release: 21.6 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 10.6 percent
The Chiefs' receivers are a concern, especially after another drop by Kadarius Toney that resulted in an interception, but rookie Rashee Rice could have star potential. In his last four games, he has 32 catches for 334 yards and three touchdowns.
Remaining schedule: against Las Vegas Raiders, against Cincinnati Bengals, at the Los Angeles Chargers
Opportunities: Reaching the playoffs: 99.5 percent | To earn: 17.9 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 11.9 percent
The Jaguars are 6-6 against teams that are .500 or better, but there is one key catch: They are 0-4 against the AFC's top six seeds. To be among the AFC's elite and advance in the divisional round compared to last season, they will have to earn it.
Remaining schedule: at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, against Carolina Panthers, at the Tennessee Titans
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 73.1 percent | To earn: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 2.4 percent
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback Joe Flacco, who turns 39 next month, has rushed for more than 300 yards in consecutive games and accounted for multiple touchdowns in all three starts this season. The Browns scored 13 points in the final 13 minutes on Sunday to prevail against a much-improved Chicago Bears team. This win saved the Browns from a dreaded tiebreaker scenario for the final wild card spot.
Remaining schedule: at Houston Texans, vs. Jets, at Bengals
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 93 percent | To earn: 1.8 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 2.7 percent
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals can't ask for much more from backup quarterback Jake Browning, who has a passer rating of at least 96 in all four of his starts. The bigger concern, however, is defense. Lou Anarumo's group ranks 18th in points allowed (22.2 per game) and has given up at least 30 points in three of the last six games.
Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Chiefs, vs. Browns
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 14.1 percent | To earn: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 0.1 percent
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There is no quitting with the Colts. They overcame multiple injuries and narrowly beat the Steelers 30-13 despite trailing by 13 points. The Colts could have folded when they lost three straight and fell to 3-5, but they responded by winning five of their last six games.
Remaining schedule: at Atlanta Falcons, vs. Raiders, vs. Texans
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 65.6 percent | To earn: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 0.8 percent
On the hunt
• Houston Texans (8-6)
• Buffalo Bills (8-6)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)
• Denver Broncos (7-7)
• Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)
Eliminated
• Tennessee Titans (5-9)
• New York Jets (5-9)
• New England Patriots (3-11)
NFC playoff image
| seeds | team | Record | Result week 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
y–1 | 11-3 | W vs ARI | |
x–2 | 10-3 | (TBD) vs. SEA | |
3 | 10-4 | W vs DEN | |
4 | 7-7 | W vs GB | |
x–5 | 10-4 | L vs BUF | |
6 | 7-7 | L vs CIN | |
7 | 7-7 | W vs. WHAT |
x – Secure spot in the playoffs | y – Secured division title
San Francisco 49ers
The NFC West champions have outscored opponents 207-94 during their six-game winning streak. Running back Christian McCaffrey has 1,801 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns and he has a chance to become the first running back to win the MVP award since Adrian Peterson in 2012.
Remaining schedule: against Ravens, at Washington Commanders, against Los Angeles Rams
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 100 percent | Deserve release: 76.6 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 25.2 percent
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are shaking up defense with Matt Patricia as their new play caller on game days, and they need a big boost. They allowed 36.3 points per game over the last three weeks and gave up at least 31 points in four of their last six games. They'll have a chance to prevail against a manageable schedule, but the Eagles will have something to prove in the playoffs against tougher competition.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, against New York Giants, against Cardinals, at Giants
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 100 percent | To earn: 21.1 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 9.2 percent
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The Lions will (almost certainly) host a playoff game for the first time in 30 years, and Ford Field will undoubtedly be one of the best places to play in the postseason if that happens. However, for the Lions to make this season a success, they must end a nine-game playoff losing streak that dates back to the 1991 season.
Remaining schedule: at the Minnesota Vikings, at the Cowboys, vs. Vikings
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 100 percent | To earn: 0.3 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 4.2 percent
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It's not always pretty for quarterback Baker Mayfield, but it sure was Sunday in Lambeau. Mayfield had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 and the Bucs were in absolute control in their third straight win. This is a nice way to bounce back after failing to complete 50 percent of his passes in the last two games.
Remaining schedule: against Jaguars, against New Orleans Saints, at Panthers
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 70.1 percent | To earn: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 0.6 percent
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Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have given up at least 170 rushing yards in three of their four losses this season. That's a big red flag considering the other three NFC powers – San Francisco, Philadelphia and Detroit – have top-eight rushing offenses, especially since the Niners have already overrun them earlier this season.
Remaining schedule: at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Commanders
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 100 percent | Earn free money: 2 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 8.4 percent
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are struggling and will rue a big missed opportunity Saturday against the Bengals, who won in overtime after scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Vikings have lost three of four games, with the 3-0 win against the Raiders being the only bright spot of late, and they have a tough time the rest of the season. They will have nightmares about the loss in Cincinnati if they miss the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: against Lions, against Green Bay Packers, at Lions
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 61.5 percent | To earn: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 0.6 percent
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams passed the Saints on Sunday after beating the Commanders, but they won't have to worry about the tiebreaker for much longer. They host the Saints on Thursday night in their final home game of the season, and the importance of this game cannot be glossed over as the Niners lurk in the Finals. It was a huge job by coach Sean McVay to get the Rams back into the postseason conversation.
Remaining schedule: against Saints, at Giants, at 49ers
Opportunities: To reach playoffs: 50.6 percent | To earn: 0 percent | To win the Super Bowl: 0.6 percent
On the hunt
• New Orleans Saints (7-7)
• Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
• Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
• Green Bay Packers (6-8)
• New York Giants (5-9)
• Chicago Bears (5-9)
Eliminated
• Washington Commanders (4-10)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
• Carolina Panthers (2-12)
GO DEEPER
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(Top photo by Christian McCaffrey: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
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