How the NFL playoff picture looks heading into Week 15

The NFL is in the final week of byes. Once Week 14 wraps, all 32 teams will be playing each of the remaining four weeks. There will be some key inter-divisional matchups, but divisional play will make up the bulk of the final month of the season.

Week 14 opened with an inter-conference matchup of wild card contenders. The Vikings beat the Steelers to improve to 6-7 and hang around the top of the “outside looking in” group of contenders. The Steelers are a game back, but that tie could cost them in the end.

The 1 p.m. slate of games are wrapping up and it wouldn’t be a December Sunday without the playoff picture getting shaken up. The Browns beat the Ravens handily, in part because Lamar Jackson left the game with an ankle injury. If the Bengals beat the 49ers, we’ll have a tie atop the standings and the Browns will be a game back.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs thumped the Raiders and they’ll now await the Chargers 4:05 p.m. result to see if they hold serve or add a game. The other big win saw the Titans handle the Jaguars and move into a two game lead over the bye week Colts.

4:05/4:25 results: We had two wild overtime games with the Buccaneers beating the Bills and the 49ers beating the Bengals. The Chargers beat the Giants to maintain pace with the Chiefs and the Broncos beat the Lions to hang around the wild card picture.

SNF update: It was wild in the first half but the Packers pulled away in the third quarter to beat the Bears. They can clinch the NFC North with a win or Vikings loss in Week 15.

MNF update: The Rams beat the Cardinals, which drops Arizona into third place in the overall standings.

Here’s a look at what the playoff picture looks like Tuesday morning with Week 14 a wrap.

AFC playoff picture

1. New England Patriots, 9-4
2. Kansas City Chiefs, 9-4
3. Tennessee Titans, 9-4
4. Baltimore Ravens, 8-5

5. Los Angeles Chargers, 8-5
6. Indianapolis Colts, 7-6
7. Buffalo Bills, 7-6

Outside looking in: Cleveland Browns (7-6), Cincinnati Bengals (7-6), Denver Broncos (7-6), Pittsburgh Steelers, (6-6-1), Las Vegas Raiders (6-7), Miami Dolphins (6-7)

NFC playoff picture

1. Green Bay Packers, 10-3
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-3
3. Arizona Cardinals, 10-3
4. Dallas Cowboys, 9-4

5. Los Angeles Rams, 9-4
6. San Francisco 49ers, 7-6
7. Washington Football Team, 6-7

Outside looking in: Minnesota Vikings (6-7), Philadelphia Eagles (6-7), Atlanta Falcons (6-7), New Orleans Saints (6-7), Carolina Panthers (5-8), Seattle Seahawks (5-8)