NFL playoff chances: Colts climbing in AFC; Vikings slipping in NFC

AccuScore

NFL playoff chances: Colts climbing in AFC; Vikings slipping in NFC image

Four teams in the AFC have a 7-6 record going into Week 15 (Ravens, Titans, Colts, Dolphins) fighting for one wild-card playoff spot. Even though the Ravens lost to the Chiefs last week, they still are holding the No. 6 seed and have a 57 percent chance to make the playoffs; Pittsburgh's slide is helping Baltimore, as well.

Miami, on the other hand, will need a few more miracles. The Dolphins have two games left on the road, and they have only one road victory so far this season. They have the lowest probability to get to the playoffs out of those four teams.

The NFC playoff picture is similar. Back-to-back losses have hurt Minnesota’s chances, but the Vikings still have the highest probability to reach the playoffs when compared to the odds for the Panthers and Eagles.

AccuScore has used data from the first 14 weeks of the 2018 season and simulated every remaining game. Updated playoff chances are below.

WEEK 15 NFL PICKS:
Against the spread | Straight up

NFL playoff chances

TEAMPlayoff chancesWeek-to-week change
LOS ANGELES RAMS100 percent0 percent
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS100 percent0 percent
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS100 percent0 percent
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS99.6 percent3.5 percent
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS99.6 percent-0.1 percent
CHICAGO BEARS98.6 percent13.3 percent
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS97.7 percent17.9 percent
HOUSTON TEXANS96.2 percent-1.7 percent
DALLAS COWBOYS95.9 percent29.2 percent
PITTSBURGH STEELERS67.3 percent-18.2 percent
BALTIMORE RAVENS57.2 percent-7 percent
MINNESOTA VIKINGS42.4 percent-12.5 percent
TENNESSEE TITANS28.7 percent17.4 percent
CAROLINA PANTHERS28.1 percent-17.5 percent
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS23.1 percent14.7 percent
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES22.1 percent-32 percent
DENVER BRONCOS14.5 percent-13.9 percent
MIAMI DOLPHINS12.4 percent5.6 percent
WASHINGTON REDSKINS5.3 percent0.2 percent
DETROIT LIONS3.2 percent2.6 percent
GREEN BAY PACKERS2.9 percent0.7 percent
NEW YORK GIANTS2.7 percent0.1 percent
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS1.2 percent-1.6 percent
CLEVELAND BROWNS0.8 percent0.6 percent
CINCINNATI BENGALS0.7 percent0.3 percent
ATLANTA FALCONS0 percent-0.6 percent
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS0 percent-1.1 percent
BUFFALO BILLS0 percent0 percent
NEW YORK JETS0 percent0 percent
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS0 percent0 percent
ARIZONA CARDINALS0 percent0 percent
OAKLAND RAIDERS0 percent0 percent

NFL playoff odds

Biggest improvements in playoff chances:

Dallas Cowboys29 percent
Seattle Seahawks18 percent
Tennessee Titans17 percent

Biggest drops in playoff chances:

Philadelphia Eagles-32 percent
Carolina Panthers-18 percent
Pittsburgh Steelers-18 percent

AccuScore's NFL playoff probabilities will be updated on a weekly basis.

AccuScore