NFL Standings 2016: Results, Playoff Picture and Scenarios After Week 15

Week 15 isn’t quite complete. Yet, we already know that the week is going to have a major impact on the NFL playoff picture at large.

The Seattle Seahawks retook the No. 2 seed in the NFC by winning on Thursday night and then watching the Detroit Lions lose on Sunday.The Oakland Raiders did the same in the AFC with a win and a Kansas City Chiefs loss—and Oakland also secured a playoff trip for the first time in 13 years.

The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their slim lead over the AFC North with a comeback win over the rival Cincinnati Bengals. The Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans kept their playoff hopes alive with big statement wins.

The Houston Texans kept their spot atop the AFC South, but they also created some major quarterback controversy by benching starter Brock Osweiler.

What does all of this mean moving forward? That’s exactly what we’re going to examine here. We’ll be looking at the top-seeded teams in each conference and examining some of the top playoff storylines coming out of Week 15 and moving forward.

                  

Teams at the Top

          

Storylines to Follow

            

Tennessee Threatening

The Tennessee Titans finished the 2015 season tied for the fewest wins in the league with just three. After nearly 15 full weeks, the 2016 Titans are looking like dangerous playoff contenders.

The Titans needed a last-second field goal from Ryan Succop in order to win on Sunday, but win they did. They knocked off the rolling Kansas City Chiefs a week after knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

The Titans are suddenly a team that no one should want to face. They have a potent offense—rated sixth overall by Pro Football Focus—and an opportunistic defense led by respected coordinator Dick LeBeau. That defense seems to be figuring out how to close out games.

After allowing 14 points on the Chiefs 1st 2 drives of the game, the @Titans defense held KC to a total of 3 points on their final 9 drives

— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 18, 2016

If the Titans win out, they’ll finish 10-6 and with the AFC South title.

The Titans would win their division because their final game of the season is against the Houston Texans, who share an 8-6 record right now.

            

Houston’s Quarterback

The Texans maintain a lead in the AFC South because of their earlier win over the Titans. Houston’s comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday was absolutely critical to the team’s postseason hopes.

The Texans rallied from a 20-8 deficit to beat the Jaguars, and they did it with backup Tom Savage under center.

After watching months of subpar play from offseason prize Brock Osweiler, Texans head coach …

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