Playoff Picture After Week 15

The NFL gave us an impressive slate of games yesterday and, in case you didn't already know,

- You shouldn't kick to DeSean Jackson

- The Steelers did not suspect Sanchez to run.

- Matt Flynn won a national championship at LSU and can still play some QB (he just struggles with time management).


Now to the playoff picture in the AFC.
- New England clinched a playoff spot and will win the AFC East and homefield advantage with a win.
- Pittsburgh clinched a playoff spot and can win the AFC North with a Baltimore loss.
- Kansas City clinches a playoff spot with a win and a San Diego loss.
- Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with a win or San Diego and Jacksonville losses.
- New York Jets clinch a playoff spot with a win or San Diego and Jacksonville losses.

To stay alive:
- San Diego needs to win, Kansas City to lose, or a win, Baltimore loss, and New York loss.
- Jacksonville needs a win or an Indianapolis loss.
- Oakland needs a win and a Kansas City loss.


Now on to the NFC, which is far muddier.
- Atlanta clinched a playoff spot yesterday. The Falcons can clinch the NFC South Division and homefield advantage with a win.
- Chicago clinches the NFC North with a win tonight against the Minnesota Vikings.
- Philadelphia clinches a spot with a win or Green Bay and Tampa Bay losses.
- Saint Louis cannot clinch this weekend.
- New Orleans clinch a playoff spot with a win or Green Bay and Tampa Bay losses.
- The New York Giants clinch a spot with a win.

To stay alive:
- Green Bay needs to win against the Giants.
- Tampa Bay has a daunting task ahead, but they can stay alive with a win and a Green Bay win.

NFC West Disaster:
- Saint Louis and Seattle are tied atop the division with 6-8 records, respectively. San Francisco (5-9) is amazingly still alive for the division title. The Rams control their own destiny with games against San Francisco and Seattle to finish the regular season. If the Rams win out, they will win the division outright.
- Seattle wins the division if they win their last games against Tampa Bay and STL. The Seahawks also control their own destiny. The Week 17 game in Saint Louis will be a division championship game if the Seahawks and Rams win this weekend.
- San Francisco needs to win this weekend against STL and needs SEA to lose. A loss knocks the Niners out of the playoffs.



- Jeff Laboon