NFL Playoff Picture 2018: Ranking The NFC, AFC Wild-Card Contenders In Week 15

Even though only two division titles have officially been clinched, we pretty much know 10 of the 12 playoff NFL teams for the 2018 season. Nine teams are within a game of the No.6 seed in the two conferences.

The Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens have the second wild-card spot in the NFC and AFC, respectively, heading into Week 15. The Vikings are all but out of the NFC North race. Baltimore is only a half-game back of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

Assuming all of the current division leaders hold on, let’s rank the top five contenders for the final playoff spot in each conference.

NFC Wild-Card Race

1) Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1)

Not only do the Vikings have a half-game lead over three other teams, but they’ve got the easiest remaining schedule. It might only take wins at home against the Dolphins and in Detroit to lock up the No.6 seed. Minnesota ends the season against Chicago, who might have nothing on the line.

2) Green Bay Packers (5-7-1)

Things could get interesting if Green Bay manages to pull off the upset at Soldier Field Sunday. The Packers conclude the season against two bad teams in the Jets and Lions. Aaron Rodgers owns the Bears and has already beaten them once this season.

3) Carolina Panthers (6-7)

The Panthers need to steal at least one win against the Saints in order to reach the playoffs. That certainly won’t be easy, considering New Orleans is tied for the best record in football. Carolina hosts Atlanta in between their two meetings with the NFC’s top seed.

4) Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)

With the way the defending champions have played all season, there’s no reason to think they’ll beat the Rams in Week 15. The Eagles will have to beat Los Angeles or the Texans in Week 16 in order for their Week 17 showdown with the Redskins to mean anything. Carolina has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia.

5) New York Giants (5-8)

New York is in a better position than Washington to make the playoffs now that the Redskins are down to Josh Johnson and Mark Sanchez at quarterback. It’s not inconceivable for the Giants to beat the Titans, Colts and Cowboys to end the season, but even that probably wouldn’t get them into the postseason.

AFC Wild-Card Race

1) Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

The Colts will be favored at home against the Cowboys and Giants in the next two weeks. There’s a chance the Week 17 matchup between Indianapolis and Tennessee will be a play-in game. Andrew Luck and the Colts have won six of their last seven games.

2) Baltimore Ravens (7-6)

The Ravens currently have the tiebreaker with a 6-4 conference record, but they’ve probably got another AFC loss coming up when they visit the Chargers in Week 16. Baltimore should take care of business at home against the Bucs in Week 15. Week 17 against the Browns won't be easy, and Cleveland has already beaten the Ravens once this season.

3) Tennessee Titans (7-6)

Tennessee might have the easiest remaining schedule of the wild-card contenders with games against the Giants, Redskins and Colts. The Titans need to finish with a better record than the Ravens, who shut out Tennessee earlier this season.

4) Miami Dolphins (7-6)

It’s hard to believe the Dolphins have the same record as the rest of the potential wild-card teams. Their playoff hopes probably rest on their Week 15 trip to Minnesota. Miami hasn’t won on the road since beating the Jets in Week 2. They’ll end the season at home against the Jaguars and on the road against the Bills.

5) Denver Broncos (6-7)

There’s a decent chance the Chargers will have nothing to play for when they visit Denver in the season finale. Denver still needs to win at home against the Browns in Week 15, and winning in Oakland the following week is far from a given for a Broncos’ team that’s proven they can’t be trusted on the road. Denver needs to win three straight games in order to have a shot at the playoffs. They would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Ravens.