The Kansas City Chiefs are 13-1, but the team isn't playing like their record. Despite the 21-7 victory in Cleveland, the offense struggled again, and Patrick Mahomes exited the game prematurely due to an ankle injury.
This was a game Kansas City should have won by at least three touchdowns. They forced six takeaways but only created 14 points off those turnovers. Despite the scoreboard, the team's performance failed to inspire confidence as the offense continued to spin its tires.
After the 15th week of the 2024-25 NFL season, which teams in the AFC and NFC are still fighting for playoff positioning?
NFC Playoff Standings, Week 16
1. Detroit Lions (12-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
7. Washington Commanders (9-5)
In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-6), Atlanta Falcons (7-7), Arizona Cardinals (7-7), and San Francisco 49ers (6-8).
The Rams and 49ers kicked off the week with an ugly Thursday Night Football game, which the Rams won. The Giants suffered a blowout home loss to the Ravens. The Commanders narrowly stopped a Saints comeback, stopping a game-winning two-point conversion at the final moment. The Cowboys easily defeated the Panthers, with Bryce Young throwing two interceptions. The Buccaneers dominated the Chargers, while the Cardinals flew past the Patriots.
The Lions were stamped by the Bills in a high-scoring matchup. The Eagles won the battle of Pennsylvania against the Steelers. On Sunday Night Football, the Packers secured a comfortable victory against the Seahawks. The Vikings decisively beat the Bears, improving their playoff their odds for the #1 seed. In a close contest, the Falcons narrowly defeated the Raiders, with Kirk Cousins continuing to struggle.
The NFC race is now very interesting. The Lions, Vikings, and Eagles are 12-2 and the race for the #1 seed is wide open. The Lions and Vikings will square off in Week 18, which could very well determine the top seed.
A look at the NFC playoff odds
According to Team Rankings, the Lions are still the strong favorites to secure the NFC's #1 seed with a 61.2% chance. The Eagles are behind them at 30.1%, while the Vikings (8.7%) still have a small glimmer of hope, but need to win out to have the best opportunity.
The Lions also remain the favorites in the NFC to win Super Bowl LIX at a whopping 27.4%. The Eagles are second with an 11.5% chance of winning it all. They're followed by the Packers at 5.5%, while the Vikings (4.7%), Buccaneers (2.8%), Commanders (1.0%), and Rams (0.6%) are right behind them.