NFL Playoff Picture Week 15: Full AFC, NFC Outlook and Predictions

After a sluggish start to the 2022 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers began to click around the midseason mark. It doesn't even matter that they're down to their third-string quarterback (Brock Purdy). The 49ers just keep rolling.

On Thursday night, San Francisco clinched its second NFC West title in four years by holding on for a 21-13 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers, who have won seven straight games to improve to 10-4, became the second team in the NFL this season to secure a playoff berth, joining the Philadelphia Eagles (12-1).

More division titles could be won this weekend. The Minnesota Vikings (NFC North) and Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) have opportunities to wrap up their respective division races. Also, the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys will have chances to clinch postseason berths.

With plenty of Week 15 action still to come, here's a look at the NFL playoff picture, followed by predictions for how the standings will shake out by the end of Week 18.

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 (10-4, clinched NFC West)

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 (7-7)

9. Detroit Lions (6-7)

10. Green Bay Packers (5-8)

11. Carolina Panthers (5-8)

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)

13. Arizona Cardinals (4-9)

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

The Chargers are currently the first team out of the playoffs at No. 8 in the AFC. But after winning a critical game over Miami last week, Los Angeles is capable of playing its way into the postseason over the final four weeks of the regular season.

On Sunday, the Chargers have a winnable home matchup against the Titans, who remain the AFC South front-runner despite losing three games. Then, Los Angeles will finish with three games against teams with losing records: the Colts (4-8-1), Rams (4-9) and Broncos (3-10).

With the Chargers likely to finish strong, they'll move up to the No. 6 seed in the AFC. And with either the Ravens or Bengals (whichever finishes second in the AFC North) ending up at No. 5, that will leave only one wild-card berth available, which should go to the team that finishes second to the Bills in the AFC East.

That could be any of the Dolphins, Patriots or Jets, so it should be an exciting battle that could come down to the wire. Miami has a leg up, though, as it's a game ahead of New England and New York in the standings as of now.

Although the Dolphins have lost two straight games (and have a challenging Week 15 road matchup in Buffalo), they have enough time to get back on track. They host the Packers in Week 16, then close out the regular season with matchups against the Patriots and Jets that should have a major impact on the wild-card race.

The prediction here is that Miami beats both New England and New York to end up as the No. 7 seed. The Dolphins have been streaky all season, so they'll get hot at the right time and rely on their talented playmakers on both sides of the ball to power them to their first playoff appearance since the 2016 season.

1. Philadelphia

2. Minnesota

3. San Francisco

4. Tampa Bay

5. Dallas

6. Washington

7. Seattle

The Giants have been trending in the wrong direction following their 6-1 start, as they've since gone 1-4-1 over their past six games. Their ongoing struggles may continue, and that will help both the Commanders and Seahawks end up in the postseason.

Sunday night's matchup between Washington and New York will likely be huge in determining if either team secures a wild-card berth. The NFC East rivals tied in Week 13, and now they're set to face off again in Week 15. The Commanders should win, as they've been on a roll, having gone 6-1-1 in their eight games prior to their Week 14 bye.

The Seahawks fell to 7-7 with their Thursday night loss to the 49ers, who clinched the NFC West title in the process. But Seattle remains in the wild-card mix, and it could still get into the playoffs if New York and Detroit struggle down the stretch.

Plus, the Seahawks should get back on track, although it may not happen when they go on the road to face the Chiefs in Week 16. After that, though, Seattle closes out the regular season with winnable games against the Jets and Rams.

The Vikings and Cowboys should soon be joining the Eagles and 49ers in clinching playoff berths. But the NFC South race may not be decided until later in the season, especially if the Buccaneers continue to struggle.

Despite being 6-7, Tampa Bay should still hold on to win the division, considering it's a better team than Carolina, Atlanta and New Orleans. Expect the Bucs to wrap up the NFC South race over the final two weeks of the regular season, when they face the Panthers and Falcons.