Five Week 15 games with major postseason implications

There are just four weeks left in the NFL regular season as we get ready to kick off Week 15 with Thursday Night Football’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers tonight. While four teams have already clinched a playoff berth and quite a few others already know their sad postseason-less fate, there are still several games being played this week which will have serious playoff implications...starting with tonight’s game. Let’s take a look at which of this week’s games have postseason implications and what a win or loss could mean for some of those team.

NFL Playoff Picture heading into Week 15

Five games from Week 15 that could determine teams' postseason fates

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams

Thursday Night Football, Levi’s Stadium - 8:15 p.m. ET

Both the 49ers and the Rams are still fighting their way into the postseason, but the 7-6 Rams, at No. 8 in the NFC standings, are currently in a much better position to make it, even if they lose tonight.

The 6-7 Niners, at 11th in the NFC standings, need a win. They won’t be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, but it would severely harm their chances. A win also won’t guarantee them a spot, but it would help them a long way. Right now, the Niners have a 9% chance of making the playoffs. The Niners' chances of making the postseason if they lose to the Rams is 0.13%. If they win, it’s 14%. To even stay relevant in this race, the 49ers need to win this one tonight. If they can then win their next divisional game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 18, they’ll be in even better shape.

New Orleans Saints vs Washington Commanders

Sunday, Ceasars Superdome - 1 p.m. ET

This game doesn’t mean much for the Saints, but it does for Washington. The Commanders are currently in position to make the playoffs if the season ended today, but they’re not safe yet. At 8-5, they are currently seventh in the NFC seeding. The 5-8 Saints should be an easy team to beat, which is good for Washington because a win would significantly improve their chances of making the postseason.

A win will not guarantee them a playoff berth this week, but it would take their chances up from 79% to 88%. A loss drops their chances to 60%. It would also seal the Eagles' fate as winners of the NFC East if they beat the Steelers as well.

Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, Empower Field at Mile High - 4:25 p.m. ET

The 6-7 Colts are one spot and two games behind the 8-5 Broncos in the playoff race. This game is hugely important for the Colts, whose current odds to make the playoffs are 25%. Those would surge to 51% with a win and plunge all the way down to 6% with a loss.

Winning in Denver is not an easy ask for the Colts, who have a 1-6 record against teams with a winning record this season. But if they lose, even if they win out after that to go 9-8, they’d still need help from other teams in order to make it into the postseason, so this week’s game against the Broncos is a must-win.

Detroit Lions vs Buffalo Bills

Sunday, Ford Field - 4:25 p.m. ET

Both of these teams are already safely in the playoffs, and the No. 2 Bills have already clinched the AFC East. However, at 10-3 after last week’s upset by the Rams, Buffalo is still two games behind the No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC seeding.

A loss to the Lions on Sunday would drop their already low chances (17%) of overtaking the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed in the AFC to even lower. It could even plunge them into the No. 3 spot if the 10-3 Steelers continue to win games.

If the Bills do lose to the Lions, they would need to win out the rest of their games and have the Chiefs lose at least three of their final four games, which is extremely unlikely to happen so this game is a must-win if they want even a chance to steal the top seed. If they win, they’ll be in great position considering their final three games are against losing teams (New England Patriots and New York Jets).

Las Vegas Raiders vs Atlanta Falcons

Monday Night Football, Allegiant Stadium - 8:30 p.m. ET

The Raiders have already been eliminated from playoff contention, so at the moment, the best they can hope for is a nice spot in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons, however, are desperate for a win. Currently at 6-7 and No. 9 in the NFC seeding, they’re actually just one game behind the No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are on a four-game skid, but luckily for them, their remaining schedule favors them. They have just one game left against a team which has more than three wins (Commanders in Week 17).

The Falcons' current odds of making the playoffs are 39%. A win over the Raiders bumps that up to 50%. A loss plunges it to just 19%. Losing to a 2-10 Raiders team would also highlight much deeper problems within the team.

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