NFL Playoff standings: AFC picture has Patriots clinch AFC East, Miami alone in 6th

The NFL’s Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football games are both all NFC matchups, meaning the AFC completed their Week 15 schedule with the conclusion of the Sunday late games. That also means the AFC side of the Playoff picture is now completed through Week 15.

The New England Patriots visited the Denver Broncos during the two AFC games on the schedule, coming away with the win. That victory clinched the AFC East for the Patriots for the eighth straight year. More importantly, at least for Miami Dolphins fans, was the other half of that game’s final score, with the Broncos losing and falling to 8-6 on the year. That pushes Miami into the second Wildcard position in the AFC Playoff picture. Miami faces the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots in the final two weeks of the year, so they have a tough schedule in front of them, but they are in position to make the Playoffs heading into Week 16.

The late games also included the Oakland Raiders at the San Diego Chargers in an AFC West showdown.

Here is the AFC Playoff picture through all of the conference’s Week 15 games:

AFC playoff picture through Week 15

1. New England Patriots (12-2) - AFC East champion

2. Oakland Raiders (11-3) - AFC West leader (Clinched playoff berth)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) - AFC North leader

4. Houston Texans (8-6) - AFC South leader

5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) - Wildcard 1

6. Miami Dolphins (9-5) - Wildcard 2

In the hunt:

Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

Tennessee Titans (8-6)

Denver Broncos (8-6)

Indianapolis Colts (7-7)

Buffalo Bills (7-7)

Eliminated:

Cincinnati Bengals (5-8-1)

San Diego Chargers (5-9)

New York Jets (4-10)

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)

Cleveland Browns (0-14)