Welcome to the Party, Pal! (Week 15)
The first three tickets to this year's playoffs can be punched in during Week 15
We are now in the very pivotal stage of the season. No more bye weeks. Everyone plays. We are one week away from Saturday NFL action. Week 15 brings the season into mid-December; about two weeks away from Christmas, but very important. While some NFL teams look to get into the playoffs, in some fantasy football leagues, it is playoff time.
This past week saw a lot of movement in the overall playoff picture. With four weeks remaining in the season, here's how things stand:
The American Football Conference has the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots on top with identical 11-2 records, but it's Denver's 7-2 conference record that makes the difference, placing them at #1 while the Patriots sit at #2 (the two teams do not face each other this season). The Jacksonville Jaguars sit at #3 with a 9-4 record and sole possession of the AFC South lead following their win over Indy, and at #4, the Pittsburgh Steelers at 7-6, after defeating the Baltimore Ravens to take the AFC North lead.
Regarding the Wild Cards, the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills are dead even at 5-4, but the Chargers hold the #5 spot due to their 7-2 conference record. The Bills sit at #6, and below them are the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts at 8-5. In a big twist, it's Houston who sits above the line due to head-to-head, meaning that the Colts went from being #1 to being behind the playoff line in a span of over a month. Also behind the line are the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins at 6-7, with the Cincinnati Bengals at 4-9 and only alive because the North is bad. Three of the four teams can be eliminated this week, and yes, folks, the Chiefs are one of them. The Ravens can be eliminated from the Wild Card picture, leaving the division as their only chance.
Some big moves took place in the National Football Conference. The Los Angeles Rams moved back into #1 at 10-3, and at #2, it's the Green Bay Packers--the NFC North leading Packers--at 9-3-1. The Philadelphia Eagles, who have now lost three straight, remain at #3 at 8-5, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at #4 following their shocking home loss to the Saints, holding the NFC South lead via tiebreaker (common games).
Regarding the Wild Cards, the Seattle Seahawks remain at the #5 spot at 10-3, as the Rams still have head-to-head, though the two teams will meet again next Thursday. The San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears have identical 9-4 records, but it's the Niners' 8-2 conference record that moves them up to #6, while the Bears officially went from #1 to #7 in a week-long span. There's not much behind the playoff line in the NFC. The Detroit Lions sit at 8-5, one game behind the Niners and Bears, and speaking of the latter, if things stay as they are, Lions/Bears in the final week could be hugely important. The 7-6 Carolina Panthers have a slight outside shot at a Wild Card spot, but they have a better chance at the South, and then there's the Dallas Cowboys at 6-6-1. Dallas is hanging by a thread, but the only thing that kept them from facing elimination this week was the Eagles losing. This means that the 5-8 Minnesota Vikings are the only NFC team who can be eliminated this week. The Vikings are not only lose and out, they can be eliminated before they take the field.
So that's the playoff picture, and finally, for the first time this season, we have clinching scenarios! Three teams can get in this week, and one of them can win a division title:
The Denver Broncos have to be one of the worst 11-2 teams I've ever seen. 11-2 is impressive, but it all depends on how you get there. The Broncos have not had dominant wins, and they barely survived teams who a lot of other franchises would demolish. Nevertheless, Denver is 11-2, they've won 10 straight, and they sit atop the conference. In addition, the Broncos can get in three weeks earlier than they did last season. Just win, and they're in. That's not their only way in, though. If the Broncos tie, then there are four different ways to get in: a Colts loss or tie, a Texans loss or tie, a Chargers loss, or a Jaguars loss. Even if the Broncos lose (most likely because they're facing the Packers this week), they can still get in if the Texans lose and Indy fails to win, or if the Texans tie and Indy loses.
It's 2025, and the New England Patriots are tied for the best record in the NFL. I feel like we are all watching a reboot series of some kind. You know how those go. The main stars of the original are out, and they usually elevate one of the key supporting characters. In this case, it's Mike Vrabel, who was a key cog in the Patriots' dynasty in the original, but has now returned as the Patriots' head coach after being ousted from Nashville. Similar to the Broncos, the Pats started 1-2, but won 10 straight after that, but unlike the Broncos, NE's streak is a bit stronger. The Patriots have the same exact playoff clinching scenarios as Denver, but with one added bonus. If the Patriots win, they win the AFC East, and this is because NE's hosting the Bills this week. The Patriots lead Buffalo by two with four to play, and a win would increase that lead to three games with three to play, and the head-to-head sweep would give NE the division.
The Los Angeles Rams have made a lot of noise this season. Each of the last two seasons has seen the Rams start late, but win at the right time. This year, the Rams decided to give starting on time a chance, and that has worked for them as well. The Rams currently sit at 10-3, tied for first in the NFC West via tiebreaker over the Seahawks due to head-to-head (Rams @ Seahawks next Thursday), and also hold the #1 spot in the NFC. This week, the Rams host the Lions, the first team behind the playoff line. All the Rams have to do is win to get into the playoffs for the third straight year, and that will be followed by a pursuit to take the NFC West yet again.
Normally, that's the end of it. Normally, I don't mention elimination scenarios. This is not a normal season:
We are in a world where the Mahomes/Kelce/Reid Chiefs can be eliminated on the first day of Hanukkah. The Chiefs' nine year AFC West Championship streak came to an end last week. This iteration of the Chiefs has made it to the AFC Championship every year, winning five of their seven straight appearances, and turning three of their AFC crowns into Super Bowl Championships. They've also managed to do the impossible: they've managed to become even more insufferable and toxic than the old bosses in New England. The Chiefs have been sputtering since last year, but they got away with it then. Not this time. It can all end this week.
The Chiefs host the Chargers this week, and if they lose, the Jags win or tie, the Bills win or tie, and either the Texans win, Colts win, or both tie, then KC is done. KC is also out if they lose, the Bills win or tie, Houston wins, and Indy wins or ties. Those are the simple scenarios, others involve the Jags needing to clinch Strength of Victory, but the bottom line is that the Chiefs' reign of terror and arrogance can end as soon as Sunday!
* * *
Week 15 looks like it'll be a very delicious week in the NFL season for any and all NFL fans involved. I know this much, if the Chiefs do get officially eliminated this week, the schadenfreude will be big enough to fill up the entire continent!
About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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