Week 15 is nearing its conclusion and we had some wild games and major developements in the AFC postseason picture. With a win over the Packers, the Denver Broncos became the first team in the AFC to clinch a postseason berth as they improve to an impressive 12-2 record. The Broncos also extended their AFC […]
Week 15 is nearing its conclusion and we had some wild games and major developements in the AFC postseason picture. With a win over the Packers, the Denver Broncos became the first team in the AFC to clinch a postseason berth as they improve to an impressive 12-2 record. The Broncos also extended their AFC lead over the Patriots who blew a double digit second half lead to the Buffalo Bills who kept their slim AFC East hopes alive. The Chargers defeated the Chiefs and eliminated them from the postseason, the Texans dominated the Cardinals, and the Jaguars dropped nearly 50 points on the Jets. Meanwhile. the AFC North remains tight as the Ravens defeated the Bengals while the Steelers host the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
Things are starting to take shape in the AFC and these final three games will ultimately decide seeding and if any other teams can sneak into the AFC playoffs.
Before we get to that, let us take a look at the updated AFC West Standings and see where things stand with three weeks left to go in the 2025 NFL regular season.
AFC West standings
- Denver Broncos: 12-2
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 6-8
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2-12
AFC updated NFL playoff picture
Division Leaders
1. Denver Broncos (12-2)
With a big victory over the Green Bay Packers, the Denver Broncos improve to 12-2 on the year and have officially clinched a postseason berth. However, they have their eyes set on bigger prizes and are nearing an AFC West title and perhaps the number one seed in the AFC.
A loss by the Patriots now has them trailing the Broncos by one game in the loss column and the Broncos have the tie-breaker advantage over them as well. They also hold a 2-game lead over the Chargers with 3 games to go which includes a season finale game between the two teams.
Barring an absolute collapse during these final three games, the Broncos appear to be heading towards an AFC West title, the number one seed in the AFC, and homefield throughout the playoffs.
Looking ahead, they do have a big game against a very hot Jacksonville Jaguars team. They beat up a bad Jets team this week, but will have a tougher test next week, on the road in Mile High. Following that is a Christmas Night game vs. the Chiefs and quarterback…Gardner Minshew. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL vs. the Chargers and will be out for the remainder of the year which makes this game a bit less difficult for the Broncos. Still, it’s Arrowhead in late December, so it won’t be the easiest game. Finally, they have a season finale against the Chargers, but hopefully, the Broncos will have everything locked up before this game, and we see Jarrett Stidham get the start for the Broncos.
Remaining Games: Jaguars, at Chiefs (Christmas Night), and vs. Chargers
2. New England Patriots (11-3)
The Patriots were leading the Bills 21-0 at one point and appeared to be stomping out their AFC East rivals at home in Foxboro. However, Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills back from this 3 touchdown hole and and would end up defeating the Patriots by the score of 35-31.
The Patriots now fall one game back of the Broncos in the loss column in the AFC and do not have the tie-breaker advantage either. So, the Patriots will need some help if they want to be the number one seed in the AFC. This loss kept the Bills faint postseason hopes alive and while the Patriots remain the favorites to win the AFC East, the Bills are lurking.
Next Sunday, the Patriots will face an inconsisent Ravens team on the road as they look to keep their number one seed hopes alive and the Bills behind them in the AFC East. A loss would make getting the one seed difficult and put the Bills back in the AFC East race(if they win) with two games to go. After that, the Patriots face a bad Jets team on the road and then host the Dolphins in the season finale.
Remaining Games: vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs (Christmas Night), and vs. Chargers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
The Jaguars absolutely dominated and blew out the New York Jets on Sunday and nearly scored 50 points on them. With this win, the Jags improved to 10-4 on the year and keep their one-game lead over the Texans who are also on a win streak and lurking one game back of the Jags in the AFC South.
This division is far from over.
First-year Head Coach Liam Coen has quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing the best ball of his career and they look like a sneaky Super Bowl contender in the AFC. Add in a good run game and tough defense, and the Jags are a team to keep an eye on moving forward.
Next up for the Jags is a potential AFC Playoff preview on the road against the 12-2 Broncos. A win over the Broncos would keep their hopes of winning the one seed alive while a loss could allow the Texans to leapfrog them in the division. This will very much be a playoff-like game for both teams.
After that game, the Jags finish out the year against Grandpa Phillip Rivers and the Colts and Cam Ward and the Titans. If the Jags can beat the Broncos, they have a favorable final two games of the season.
Remaining Games: at Broncos, at Colts, and vs. Titans
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football and have yet to play at the time of this writing. However, win or lose, they will still lead the AFC North division over the Ravens. This division will likely go down to the season finale against both teams and could go either way due to both team playing inconsisent football throughout the year.
A win over the Dolphins would give the Steelers a cushion over the Ravens while a loss will still keep that at the top of the AFC North but both teams will have a 7-7 record.
Looking ahead, the Steelers host a Dolphins teams fighting to keep their slim postseason hopes alive before back-t0-back road games against the Lions and Browns before the season finale at home vs. the Ravens.
Remaining Games: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, and vs. Ravens
Wildcard Teams
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
A tough win on the road vs. the Chiefs kept them two games back of the Broncos in the AFC West and as the top wildcard team in the AFC. They are doing this despite quarterback Justin Herbert dealing with a broken non-throwing hand, down both offensive tackles, and dealing with pressure and hits each and every week.
With three games left, the Chargers will need to win out and hope the Broncos slip up moving forward if they want to win the AFC West. They are two games back and play at Mile High in the season finale. However, the Chargers have a tough road ahead which could eliminate them from AFC West contention before they reach the season finale.
Following their win over the Chiefs, the Chargers will have a road game vs. the explosive Dallas Cowboys offense, a tough home game vs. the dominant Texans defense, and another road game vs. the Broncos. Facing two of the top pass rushing teams in the final two weeks will be a tough test for the banged up Chargers offensive line.
Remaining Games: at Cowboys, vs. Texans, and at Broncos
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
With a big comeback win over the Patriots, the Bills keep their slim AFC East hopes alive and show the Patriots that they will be a tough test for them if they meet again in the playoffs. Led by Josh Allen, this Bills team, even with their flaws, will be a tough test for whoever plays them moving forward.
The Bills are comfortably in the playoffs and would need an absolute collapse for that to change. However, they will need to win out and get some help if they want to win the AFC East.
Next up for the Bills is a road game vs. Myles Garrett and the Browns, a home game vs. the defending champion Eagles, before a season finale against a very bad Jets team. If they can get by the Eagles, they should be able to win out and push for the AFC East title.
Remaining Games: at Browns, vs. Eagles, and vs. Jets
7. Houston Texans (9-5)
The Texan are getting hot at the right time and appear to be one of the better teams in the AFC despite their 7th seed ranking in the AFC. Led by their dominant defense, the Texans will be a tough out for whoever faces them and they still have a good shot at winning their division.
They trail the Jaguars by one game in the loss column with three games to go and we could see this division come down to the final week of the season.
Next up for the Texans is a home game vs. the Raiders, a game they should dominate, a key game on the road vs. the Chargers, and a season finale matchup vs. 44 year old Grandpa Phillip Rivers and the Colts.
Remaining Games: vs. Raiders, at Chargers, and vs. Colts
In The Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6): After losing quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury, the Colts signed retired quarterback and grandpa Phillip Rivers to their practice squad and started him this Sunday vs. the Seahawks. Rivers played well for a guy signed off the street who last played in 2020, but the Colts still lost and now fall farther out of playoff contention.
9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7): The Ravens only way in to the playoffs will be by winning the AFC South, but to do that, they need to get past the Steelers who currently lead that division and hold the tie-breaker over them. They play against each other in the finale and that game may very well decide who wins that division and goes to playoffs and who goes home.
10. Miami Dolphins (6-7): The Dolphins play the Steelers on Monday Night and will need to win to keep their slim postseason hopes alive. Even with a win, they will need a ton of help and likely a Texans collapse if they want to make the playoffs. A loss to the Steelers would likely eliminate them from postseason contention.
Category: General Sports
