NFL playoff picture 2021 – Standings, brackets, scenarios after Chiefs-Chargers, plus Week 15 outlook

The dawn of Week 15 brought us another shake-up in the AFC playoff picture. The Chiefs’ thrilling overtime victory Thursday night over the Chargers elevated them to the conference’s No. 1 seed. The Patriots can regain that position with a victory Saturday over the Colts, but for a few days at least, the Chiefs have returned to the spot they spent so much of the previous three seasons in.

Regardless, the NFL’s playoff field is wide open with four weeks remaining in the regular season. Of the league’s 32 teams, 26 are either in a playoff spot or within one game of a berth. There are 24 teams with at least six wins, the most in NFL history through 14 weeks of a season.

What follows is a preview of our weekly snapshot of the NFL’s playoff picture, incorporating ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) and a bit of our own instincts to give you a sense of short- and long-term stakes. We’ve threaded playoff and/or division clinching scenarios for a handful of teams, and we’ll update how it all worked out on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

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AFC

The Chiefs’ seventh consecutive win completed their journey from a losing record to the top spot in the AFC, even if it’s temporary. Just as importantly, they also eliminated the possibility of the Chargers holding a head-to-head tiebreaker in the AFC West race. That’s a good thing, because it’s not like the Chiefs have an easy schedule the rest of the way. They’re playing three AFC wild-card contenders, none of whom are likely to be playing out the string: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Denver. Regardless, this is going to be fun.

Next up: vs. Steelers (Week 16)

The Patriots got knocked out of the AFC’s top spot by Thursday night’s outcome, but they can regain it with a win on Saturday. Now the Patriots head into a two-week stretch that could well decide the AFC East title. They could clinch the division if they win Saturday at Indianapolis and then beat the Bills at home in Week 16. To clinch a playoff berth in Week 15, the…