With just a few weeks remaining in the regular season, only four NFL teams have punched their postseason tickets so far. The San Francisco 49ers were the first to crash the playoff party in Week 14, with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks and a loss by the Green Bay Packers. In Week 15, the Niners walloped the Arizona Cardinals 45-29 in their own backyard to clinch the NFC West crown. Brock Purdy tossed four touchdowns, and Christian McCaffrey racked up 187 all-purpose yards and three TDs for San Francisco.
MVP and OPOY odds heading into week 16
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 19, 2023
MVP:
• Brock Purdy: -200
• Lamar Jackson: +450
• Dak Prescott: +600
• Christian McCaffrey: +1000
OPOY:
• Christian McCaffrey: -150
• Tyreek Hill: +105
via: @DKSportsbook pic.twitter.com/R3ODoMl6nq
Both Purdy and McCaffrey are legitimate league MVP candidates, and the 49ers have won six straight games. By winning the NFC West, San Francisco has earned the right to host at least one playoff game, with expanded home field advantage within reach. A scenario exists where the 49ers could conceivably wrap up the NFC’s top seed on Christmas Day, which would also enable San Francisco to rest its starters in Week 17.
Believe it or not, the #49ers could clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed as soon as a week from tonight. Here's how:
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 18, 2023
SF win vs. Baltimore
+
PHI loss @ Seattle AND vs. NYG
+
DAL loss @ Miami
+
DET loss @ Minnesota
The 49ers last enjoyed home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs in 2019, and they made it all the way to Super Bowl LIV vs the Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-20, and San Fran hasn’t won the big game since 1995, during the Steve Young Era. This 49ers team seems primed for Lombardi Trophy #6. DraftKings lists San Francisco (+200) as the current favorite to win Super Bowl 58.
But wait!...There are 13 other squads who will be battling for the NFL throne as well. By the time the final whistle was blown in Week 15, the Niners were joined by the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Playoff bracket. First, the Cowboys slid in the back door following the Carolina Panthers 9-7 upset of the Atlanta Falcons. Dallas left the rear entrance cracked open a bit for Philadelphia, who crept in after the 49ers spanked the Cardinals. Surprisingly, both the Cowboys and Eagles suffered Week 15 losses, but each still managed to secure their spots in the postseason anyway.
eagles and cowboys lose in the same week? pic.twitter.com/zQj3szoHUq
— ۟ (@celtictripp) December 19, 2023
The AFC gained its first contestant for the postseason dance when the Baltimore Ravens bullied the Jacksonville Jaguars on their own turf this past Sunday. The Ravens’ stalwart defense stifled Trevor Lawrence and company, and Baltimore bashed the up-and-comers 23-7. Baltimore QB and MVP candidate Lamar Jackson led the Ravens in rushing with 97 yards and hit Mark-Andrews-replacement TE Isaiah Likely for a TD strike in the postseason-clinching victory. The Ravens became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season by winning, and Baltimore has won four straight games overall.
Let’s check out the losers’ lounge. Six squads are now officially eliminated from postseason contention. In the AFC, we have the New England Patriots, the New York Jets, and the Tennessee Titans. In the NFC, the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Washington Commanders will be polishing their golf clubs prematurely.
6 teams have been eliminated from playoff contention pic.twitter.com/5MhAJk69ox
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 19, 2023
As of this writing, the NFL Playoff picture looks like this:
The current playoff picture after Week 15. #NFL
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) December 19, 2023
Biggest surprise?! 👀 pic.twitter.com/6j53XyBOSW
Three teams which control their own destinies (win-and-in) this coming week are the Chiefs (vs Raiders), Miami Dolphins (vs Cowboys), and the Detroit Lions (at Minnesota Vikings). Kansas City can clinch its eighth-straight AFC West crown with a win over Las Vegas on Christmas Day. The Dolphins are in with a win and can also take the AFC East title with a win or tie, coupled with a Buffalo Bills loss to the injury-riddled Chargers.
If the Lions beat the Vikings in Minnesota, they punch their postseason ticket and win the NFC North division for the first time ever. There’s no doubt that Detroit head coach Dan Campbell will have his pride fired up for what is likely the most important game in Detroit Lions’ history, up to this point. Expect a focused attack from the Lions’ den.
Another gritty, magical team that is right on the cusp of reaching the postseason is the Cleveland Browns, who have overcome heavy-duty injuries (Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson) to stay firmly in the fight. Re-signing RB Kareem Hunt to help shoulder the load left by Chubb’s absence, signing former Super Bowl champion QB Joe Flacco, and playing consistently solid defense have been a recipe for success in Cleveland.
On deck for probable elimination in Week 16 are the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Las Vegas Raiders. The Pittsburgh Steelers are hanging on by a proverbial thread after suffering three straight losses. Meanwhile, several squads in each conference are legitimately “in the hunt”, which makes for a dizzying display of postseason probabilities.
The most intriguing AFC team heading into Week 16 is the Buffalo Bills, who have followed up their early underachievement with impressive victories over both the Chiefs and Cowboys. Despite being on the outside looking in, the Bills appear more likely to reach the postseason than both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts.
Not long ago, Buffalo was widely recognized as a legit Super Bowl contender, and we’re being reminded of that fact. No one in their right mind wants to face the herd right now. Never mind making the playoffs- winning the AFC East and even achieving the conference’s top seed are still within the realm of possibility for Buffalo. Perhaps being considered an underdog of sorts is what this highly-talented group from Western New York has needed all along. We’re about to find out.
Rich Eisen talks about the Buffalo Bills playoff chances...👀 pic.twitter.com/wvErMVM2EM
— MG 🦬 (@MGBFLO) December 18, 2023
