With just three weeks of regular-season games remaining, things are really starting to take shape around the NFL. Before Week 15 kicked off, there were a whopping six teams in the AFC tied with a 7-6 record. Now recent losses by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Browns proved to be a crushing blow to their playoff chances, while others like the Bengals and Colts proved to be the beneficiaries.
There was some wild stuff happening around the league in Week 15, and we are going to be in for a ride over the next three weeks as things unfold in the NFL. As we prepare for Week 16, here's a look at the NFL playoff bracket if the season ended today, per NFL.com's playoff picture.
First round byes if season ended today:
Baltimore Ravens (No. 1 seed)
San Francisco 49ers (No. 1 seed)
In the AFC, the 11-3 Baltimore Ravens sit on a one-game lead over the 10-4 Miami Dolphins. Surprisingly, the Browns still have a shot at the AFC North and the top seed in the conference if they win out and the Ravens have a colossal collapse. That isn't likely to happen, however. If Baltimore takes care of business down the stretch, they will earn a first-round bye.
In the NFC, the 49ers continue their run of dominance. But as good as they have been, they are neck-and-neck with the Philadelphia Eagles. The good thing for Niners fans is that they beat the Eagles in their head-to-head matchup, so if they finish with the same record by the end of Week 18, San Francisco will earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cowboys and Lions technically still have a chance, but it would take a collapse by both the Niners and Eagles.
AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff matchups if season ended today:
Indianapolis Colts (No. 7) @ Miami Dolphins (No. 2)
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (No. 3)
Cleveland Browns (No. 5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 4)
These would be the three Wild Card games in the AFC if the 2023 season ended today. The Dolphins would host the Colts in the first round of the playoffs. Indianapolis has come alive as of late and are surging at the right time. However, there are plenty of AFC teams still in the hunt that could leapfrog them if they don't take care of business in their final three games.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs would host the Bengals in the Wild Card round. The Patrick Mahomes vs. Jake Browning matchup doesn't quite hold the same appeal as it would have with Joe Burrow healthy, but Browning is playing better than expected. The Jaguars and Browns would round out the AFC Wild Card playoff matchups.
NFC Wild Card NFL Playoff matchups if season ended today:
Los Angeles Rams (No. 7) @ Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2)
Minnesota Vikings (No. 6) @ Detroit Lions (No. 3)
Dallas Cowboys (No. 5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 4)
In the NFC playoffs, the Eagles would host the Rams in round one. Los Angeles finally elevated themself into the playoff picture with a win in Week 15. The Lions are currently set to play the Minnesota Vikings, while the Cowboys and Buccaneers would square off in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.