NFL Week 15 picks: Consider Seahawks, Chargers and Texans
Lorenzo Reyes suggests picking against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15 Locks.
Every week for the duration of the 2025 regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the NFL’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting Sunday afternoon and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable. And, when the holidays roll around, we’ll be watching then, too).
What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 4.
Here’s where things stand with Week 15 underway:
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3), NFC West leaders: They’ve regained the inside track for home-field advantage and a first-round bye, benefiting from Chicago’s loss to Green Bay in Week 14. The Rams’ Week 11 defeat of Seattle currently remains pivotal, though the rematch comes Thursday night. Beat Detroit on Sunday, and a playoff spot is secured. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1), NFC North leaders: They’re back on top of the division and just a half-game off the conference pace. But the Pack would need to beat Denver and for the Rams and Seahawks to lose in order to rise to the top spot Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5), NFC East leaders: Get-right win vs. Raiders gives them some needed breathing room. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders
4. Carolina Panthers (7-6), NFC South leaders: They took outright possession of the division Thursday night with Tampa Bay’s collapse to Atlanta. But Carolina and the Buccaneers will decide this on the field with two meetings between Weeks 16 and 18 − though the Panthers could do it earlier by beating New Orleans and Tampa Bay the next two weekends. Remaining schedule: at Saints, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers
5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3), wild card No. 1: All three of the ‘Hawks’ losses are against NFC opponents, including two in the division − defeats that don’t serve them well in tiebreaker scenarios. Splitting their season series with the Rams on Thursday would be a help. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers
6. Chicago Bears (10-4), wild card No. 2: How tightly packed is the NFC? One narrow Week 14 loss dropped the Bears from first place in the conference to seventh. But they got back on track Sunday against the Browns and climbed back to sixth … for now. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions
7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4), wild card No. 3: They’re in a precarious spot given their pursuers, yet are just behind the Rams and Seahawks for the NFC West lead as well. A two-week spin through the AFC South shouldn’t hurt. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
8. Detroit Lions (8-5), in the hunt: They’re within a game of the NFC’s final wild-card spot and in striking range of first place in the NFC North … even as they sit outside the NFC bracket at present. Remaining schedule: at Rams, vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7), in the hunt: A fifth loss in their past six games drops them to .500 and into ninth place in the conference. But beat Carolina twice, and the Bucs will still win the NFC South. A 5-5 mark in NFC games keeps Tampa Bay ahead of Dallas on the tiebreaker front for now. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers
10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1), in the hunt: Dallas’ best bet now is probably hoping that the Eagles continue to struggle and leave the NFC East in play. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, vs. Chargers, at Commanders, at Giants
1. Denver Broncos (11-2), AFC West leaders: New England’s loss helps amid tough finishing stretch. But beat Green Bay on Sunday, and the Broncos punch their playoff ticket. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
2. New England Patriots (11-3), AFC East leaders: Their 10-game heater snapped, they failed to clinch the division Sunday and lose valuable ground in their bid for the No.1 seed. But the Pats are still in driver’s seat to win AFC East. Remaining schedule: at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4), AFC South leaders: Win keeps them ahead of surging Houston. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Titans
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6), AFC North leaders: They jumped up five spots, from out of the field back into the division lead by winning at Baltimore last weekend. Sweep the Ravens and notch one other win, and Pittsburgh secures the division. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), wild card No. 1: They completed a season sweep of the Chiefs on Sunday, officially eliminating the three-time-defending AFC champions from playoff consideration. The Bolts have now won six of seven. A one-win advantage in AFC games (8-2) keeps them ahead of . Buffalo. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4), wild card No. 1: Still alive to win their sixth straight AFC East crown. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
7. Houston Texans (9-5), wild card No. 3: They’ve won seven of eight, including six in a row. Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-5), in the hunt: Now out of the projected playoff field and now in the hands of 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers, they face a steep climb back to relevance − their 7-1 start already starting to seem like ancient history. And the Colts’ schedule doesn’t let up the rest of the way. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans
9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7), in the hunt: Sunday’s shutout at Cincinnati could be key in race for AFC North. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Packers, at Steelers
10. Miami Dolphins (6-7), in the hunt: They probably need to win the remainder of their games to even have a shot at postseason qualification. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. Bengals, vs. Buccaneers, at Patriots
NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 15
Denver clinches a playoff berth with:
- Win OR
- Tie + Colts loss or tie
Los Angeles Rams clinch a playoff berth with:
▶ Win
▶ New York Giants
▶ Arizona Cardinals
▶ New Orleans Saints
▶ Tennessee Titans
▶ Las Vegas Raiders
▶ Washington Commanders
▶ Atlanta Falcons
▶ New York Jets
▶ Cleveland Browns
▶ Cincinnati Bengals
▶ Kansas City Chiefs
▶ Minnesota Vikings
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