NFL Playoff Picture: Week 15 Predictions, Draft Order Update (2026)

NFL Playoff Picture and Projected Draft Order

The NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly snapshot of the teams racing toward a shot at the Super Bowl LVIII. Here’s where things stand as the season unfolds.

AFC

Seed Team Division Record
1 Broncos (x) West 12-2
2 Patriots East 11-3
3 Jaguars South 10-4
4 Steelers North 7-6
5 Chargers West 10-4
6 Bills East 10-4
7 Texans South 9-5

x = clinched playoff berth

In the hunt

Rank Team Division Record
8 Colts South 8-6
9 Ravens North 7-7
10 Dolphins East 6-7

Baltimore defeated Cincinnati on Sunday, knocking a divisional rival’s slim postseason hopes to the side and boosting its own odds in the AFC North race. The Steelers hold first place and will face the Dolphins on Monday. Baltimore and Pittsburgh also meet in the season finale, keeping the battle for the conference tight.

NFC

Seed Team Division Record
1 Rams (x) West 11-3
2 Bears North 10-4
3 Eagles East 9-5
4 Buccaneers South 7-7
5 Seahawks West 11-3
6 49ers West 10-4
7 Packers North 9-4-1

x = clinched playoff berth

The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the playoffs after their win over the Detroit Lions, but the rest of the NFC picture remains fluid. The Chicago Bears climbed to the No. 2 seed this week after dominating Cleveland and watching Green Bay fall to Denver, reshuffling the conference standings.

In the hunt

Seed Team Division Record
8 Lions North 8-6
9 Panthers South 7-7
10 Cowboys East 6-6-1

Carolina briefly surged to claim a one-game lead in the NFC South, but New Orleans and Tampa Bay each won on the same weekend. The Buccaneers currently own the tiebreaker over the Panthers due to a better winning percentage in common games. Those two clubs still have two head-to-head meetings left in the final stretch.

Projected NFL Draft Order

Pick Team
1 Giants
2 Raiders
3 Titans
4 Browns
5 Jets
6 Cardinals
7 Saints
8 Commanders
9 Bengals
10 Rams (via Falcons)

A pivotal two-week stretch could decide who lands the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially if the Giants and Raiders keep their positions. The Titans linger near the bottom with only a couple of victories, keeping the stakes high. When tiebreakers come into play, the team with the lower winning percentage on its schedule earns the higher draft choice.

Would you like this rewritten version to include even more detailed explanations of the tiebreakers or add quick glossary definitions for common playoff terms?

NFL Playoff Picture: Week 15 Predictions, Draft Order Update (2026)
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