NFL 2021 playoff pictures – Leaderboards, brackets, scenarios after Minister-Charger, plus Week 15 outlook
Dawn of Week 15 gave us another shake in AFC playoff images. The Captain’s thrilling overtime win on Thursday night against the Chargers lifted them up 1 seed of the conference. The Patriots may regain that spot with Saturday’s win over the Colts, but for a few days at least, the captains are back in the position they’ve been through so much in the previous three seasons.
Despite that, the NFL’s playoff field remains wide open with four weeks remaining of the regular season. Of the tournament’s 32 teams, 26 are in the knockout stages or in a berth match. There are 24 teams with at least six wins, the most in NFL history over 14 weeks of a season.
Here’s our weekly snapshot preview of the NFL’s playoff picture, combined ESPN Football Strength Index (FPI) and a little bit of our instinct to give you a feel for the short and long term stock. We streamed the playoffs and/or splits clinking situation for several groups and we’ll update how it all goes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
AFC
The Chief’s seventh straight win completed their journey from a loss to the top of the AFC, even if it was only temporary. More importantly, they also eliminated the possibility of the Chargers holding a head-to-head draw in the AFC West race. That’s a good thing, because not the Chiefs have an easy schedule for the rest of the way. They’re playing against three AFC wild card contenders, none of whom are likely to play off the series: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver. Regardless this will be fun.
Next: vs. Steelers (Week 16)
The Patriots were knocked out of the AFC’s top spot by Thursday night’s results, but they can reclaim it with a win on Saturday. Now the Patriots have to go through a two-week stretch that could decide the AFC East championship. They could win the division if they win Saturday at Indianapolis and then beat the Bills at home in Week 16. To claim a playoff spot at Week 15, the Patriots need to win and then then received defeats to the Dolphins and Browns, and then losses from two of these teams: the Ravens, Steelers, Bengals and Broncos.
Next: at Colts
Tennessee could secure a spot in the AFC South earlier this week with a win over the Steelers and a loss to the Colts to the Patriots. And Titans will continue to retake the top spot in the AFC group. The Patriots currently hold the conference record advantage, but the Titans have a head-to-head relationship with the Chiefs. Remember, the Titans have the NFL’s easiest strength in terms of schedule for the rest of the run; their remaining games are against the Steelers, 49ers, Dolphins and Texans.
Next: at Steelers
The Ravens have had two consecutive losses at the AFC North and have fallen from the AFC top seed to fourth place in the past two weeks. Baltimore’s remaining fixture – with the Packers, Bengals, Rams and Steelers – is one of the league’s toughest. Their lead in the AFC North is just one game away, and while FPI remains optimistic about their playoff chances, the Ravens are certainly not a playoff team at the moment.
Next: compared to the packer
The Chargers lost their biggest game in years on Thursday night, but they were back where they started the night: in a prime location for a wild card playoff kick. It will only be their second trip to post-season in the past eight years. They have a decent chance of getting past the captains in the AFC West, and that’s still a statistical possibility, but it will need help from a team that has developed a lot of experience in filling the spot after the season. award in the past few years.
Next: in Texans (Week 16)
The AFC South title may be out of their league – the Titans are essentially up three games with four remaining because of their head-to-head record – but the Colts are now well positioned for one of the three wild card positions. of the AFC . However, they will need to pull off a tough game over the next two weeks, with games against the Patriots and Cardinals, before finishing with games against the Raiders and Jaguars. A 2-2 draw in those matches might be more than enough.
Next: compared to patriots
In just a few weeks, the Bills went from the top of the AFC East table to near-impossible to claim a playoff spot. They certainly didn’t get the results you’d expect for a team designed to get into the deep playoffs, but only one loss from Buffalo was more than a point. The Bills have just one game left with the winning team – the Patriots in two weeks – and FPI is still giving Buffalo a really good chance to stick to one of the wild card slots.
Next: compared to the Panthers
In the hunt for AFC
Cleveland Browns (7-6)
The Browns have managed a season with the Ravens, eliminating an enemy to face them if they want to win the AFC North title. That’s right, the Browns are in both a split and a wild card mix. They pick up Raiders on Saturdays at home.
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
The Bengals’ playoff chances have taken a hit with consecutive losses to the Chargers and 49ers. They will face another campaign team (Denver) on Sunday.
Dancer broncos (7-6)
The Broncos have now won four of their past six games and have a chance to overtake another playoff contender when they face the Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1)
The Steelers’ remaining schedule is pretty brutal, with games against the Titans, Chiefs, Browns and Ravens waiting. The only thing left now, it appears, is their inevitable elimination from the playoffs.
NFC
The Cardinals’ loss to the Rams on Monday lifted the Packers to the top spot of NFC, courtesy of the head-to-head tie. And the good news could continue this week. The Packers will win the NFC North if they defeat Raven or if the Vikings lose to the Bears. And if the Vikings beat the Bears, the Packers could still claim a playoff spot if the Saints and 49ers lose. The Packers have several areas for growth, most notably their exceptional teams, but in a flawed league they have as good a chance as any team to make it to the deep playoffs.
Next: at Ravens
The loss of the Cardinals on Monday night allowed the Buccaneers to move up a position, and Week 15 brought some confusing scenarios for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers can secure both a playoff spot and the NFC South with a home win over the Saints. They could also claim a playoff spot with losses to the Vikings and 49ers. It’s worth noting, of course, that The Saints have won all three regular season games between these two teams since brave cat signed with the Buccaneers last season. (However, the Bucs beat the Saints in the divisional knockouts last season.)
Next: compared to the saints
Monday night’s result was a disappointment but not a disaster for the Cardinals.Yes, they could get a playoff spot with a win over the Rams, and that would give Arizona a chance to win. Win the NFC West title as soon as this week. But all that separates the Cardinals and a playoff spot right now is a game with the Unlucky Lions. Losing to Los Angeles certainly threatened the Cardinals’ hopes of home advantage in the knockout stages, but it’s worth noting that they’ve been unbeaten on the road this season. Even if they lose to the Lions, the Cardinals can claim their post-season spot with Viking and Saint losses, Viking and 49ers losses, or Packers win combined with Falcons and Saints losses.
Next: at Lions
2:11
Damien Woody believes Kyler Murray can lead the Cardinals to post-season success even if DeAndre Hopkins misses time through injury.
The Cowboys have taken the lead for three games and they could win it as early as this week, though it’s a bit complicated. First, they need to defeat the Giants and let the Eagles lose to Washington. According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, Dallas will need to win the deciding game against the Eagles.
Whether it happens this week or not, the Cowboys’ pending division title comes out is inevitable. To qualify for the playoffs, the Cowboys need to win against the Giants and lose to the Buccaneers or 49ers, or lose to the Vikings, Falcons, Saints and claim the winning tiebreaker against the Eagles.
Next: at Giants
The Rams are currently in an NFC West lead game. The Cardinals remain the favorites, as the Rams have only a 10.3% chance to capture the division, according to FPI, but the win increases Los Angeles’ chances of making it to the knockout stages by almost 99%. The Rams’ remaining fixture schedule is tough and includes three opponents pushing for playoffs (the Vikings, Ravens and 49ers), but Monday night’s effort showed they’ve come to the fore.
Next: compared to the Seahawks
The 49ers’ overtime victory at Cincinnati in Week 14 allowed them to distance themselves from the five NFC teams with a record 6-7 and FPI have their playoff percentage of 77.3%. They could knock out one of those teams this week if they beat the Falcons, but it won’t be easy on the sled. The Niners still have games in the Titans and Rams, with a presumably gimme against the Texans in between.
Next: compared to the falcon
Washington missed an opportunity to make the NFC East a little more interesting in Week 14, but let’s face it: The real problem for Washington is the wild card and Sunday’s loss didn’t knock it out. it’s out of the top seven. Now, in an NFC field consisting of five 6-7 teams, FPI is giving Washington a 22.6% chance to grab one of the wild card points. It will play one of its competitors for those berths (Eagle) twice over the next three weeks.
Next: at Eagles
In the hunt for NFC
Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
Two of Minnesota’s remaining four games are against the Bears, including Monday night, so anything is possible.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
The Eagles returning from the bye week are very much still in the playoff race, in large part because they have two games left against Washington. The first will come on Sunday.
Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
All credit goes to the Falcons for continuing to race with a drone team during the first year of Arthur Smith’s tenure as coach. But the remaining games with the 49ers, Bills and Saints could be too big of a hurdle.
New Orleans Saints (6-7)
The Saints have only one game left with a team with a winning record – Sunday at the Buccaneers – but the only team they have beaten since early November are the miserable Jets.
