NFL Playoff Picture Week 15: AFC, NFC 2022 Postseason Scenarios and Predictions

With only four weeks to go in the NFL regular season, the battles for playoff berths are heating up. Only one team (the Philadelphia Eagles) has clinched a spot in the postseason, so the other 13 spots are still up for grabs.

For teams such as the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and more, clinching is just a formality. Each of those teams has been among the best in the league this season and would need a huge collapse to miss out on the playoffs.

But the competition for the three wild-card spots in each conference is tight. And there are some solid teams that will end up missing out on the postseason because there aren't enough berths for all of them.

Heading into Week 15, here's a look at the NFL playoff picture, followed by predictions for which teams from the AFC and NFC will end up making the postseason.

AFC

Division Leaders

1. Buffalo Bills (10-3)

2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3)

3. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)

4. Tennessee Titans (7-6)

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Wild-Card Leaders

5. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)

6. Miami Dolphins (8-5)

7. New England Patriots (7-6)

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In the Hunt

8. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)

9. New York Jets (7-6)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)

11. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

12. Cleveland Browns (5-8)

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)

14. Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)

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NFC

Division Leaders

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1, clinched playoff berth)

2. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)

3. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)

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Wild-Card Leaders

5. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)

6. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)

7. New York Giants (7-5-1)

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In the Hunt

8. Seattle Seahawks (7-6)

9. Detroit Lions (6-7)

10. Green Bay Packers (5-8)

11. Carolina Panthers (5-8)

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

13. Arizona Cardinals (4-8)

14. New Orleans Saints (4-9)

15. Los Angeles Rams (4-9)

1. Buffalo

2. Kansas City

3. Baltimore

4. Tennessee

5. Cincinnati

6. Los Angeles

7. Miami

It's quite possible that the Chiefs won't lose again the rest of the regular season. If that's the case, then the Bills would also need to win out in order to capture the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But Buffalo is more than capable of making that happen.

The Bills' toughest remaining matchup is a Week 17 road contest against the Bengals. Maybe Kansas City ends up at No. 1, but the prediction here is that Buffalo (which may be the best team in the NFL) finds a way to become the only AFC team with a first-round bye.

In the AFC North, the Ravens and Bengals are both 9-4. Neither team should miss the playoffs, but Baltimore has an easier remaining schedule, with its next three games coming against Cleveland, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. A Week 18 matchup between the Ravens and Bengals in Cincinnati could be crucial in deciding the division title.

The Titans are scuffling, having lost three straight games after falling to the AFC South rival Jaguars on Sunday. But Tennessee still has a two-game advantage in a division that has largely underperformed, so it should hold on to the top spot, although it will likely be the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

The Chargers should use the momentum from their Sunday night victory over the Dolphins to make a playoff push. Los Angeles has a light schedule the rest of the way, with its final four games coming against the Titans, Colts, Rams and Broncos.

Miami needs to get back on track after back-to-back losses, and Week 15 may not be the time for that to happen, considering it goes on the road to face Buffalo. But the Dolphins (who have been a streaky team this season) should win their final three games against the Packers, Patriots and Jets, which will be enough for them to secure the No. 7 seed.

1. Philadelphia

2. Minnesota

3. San Francisco

4. Tampa Bay

5. Dallas

6. Washington

7. Seattle

Although all four NFC East teams are in playoff spots, the entire division isn't going to end up in the postseason. The Giants, who are 1-4-1 over their past six games, are trending in the wrong direction and will end up missing out on the playoffs.

The Commanders, however, have been rolling, going 6-1-1 over their past eight games. They need to win a crucial game against the Giants in Week 15, then likely pick up one or two wins over their final three matchups against the 49ers, Browns and Cowboys. But Washington is hot and should get that done.

As for the Eagles and Cowboys, they'll easily make it into the playoffs. Philadelphia is too strong to not hold onto first place in the NFC East, and it should fare well enough down the stretch to hold off Minnesota for the No. 1 seed.

The Vikings should clinch the NFC North in Week 15, as they'll do so with their next win or the next Lions loss/tie. Minnesota is taking on Indianapolis and should get it done then.

On Sunday, the 49ers proved that they should be just fine with Brock Purdy at quarterback, as they rolled to a 35-7 win over the Buccaneers. San Francisco is the clear best team in the NFC West, and it should have no trouble holding off Seattle for the division title.

Don't count the Seahawks out of the wild-card race, though. They have the ability to fare better than the Giants and Lions down the stretch. The next two weeks will be tough with matchups against the 49ers and Chiefs, but Seattle could finish strong against the Jets and Rams, which could allow it to sneak into the postseason.

The NFC South is the only division in the league with no teams at .500 or better. The Buccaneers remain the best of that group and should hold off the Falcons and Panthers. But if Tampa Bay doesn't build some momentum and correct its issues, even Tom Brady may not be able to guide it on a deep playoff run.