NFL playoff picture and standings 2014: Patriots, Broncos, Colts close to clinching

The Patriots, Broncos and Colts could all clinch divisional crowns in Week 15 with wins.

With three weeks left to play, there still isn't a team in the NFL that has punched a ticket to the postseason, but a few teams will have the chance to do so in Week 15.

Thanks to big wins over postseason-contending opponents in Week 14, the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts are all just one win in Week 15 away from earning divisional crowns. Things aren't as clean in the NFC though, as no team has more than a one-game divisional lead.

For the most part, Week 14 was a week without many upsets, as six of the eight teams at the top of their respective divisions were able to earn victories. However, no team suffered a bigger upset loss than the San Francisco 49ers, who dropped a game to the Oakland Raiders, damaging any hopes at an NFC West title and making a wild card spot an uphill battle.

AFC North

The NFL's toughest postseason race didn't see much separation, as the Cincinnati Bengals blew an opportunity to separate from the field. With a 42-21 victory over the Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers drew even with the Bengals in wins, as did the Baltimore Ravens, although a tie instead of a loss still gives Cincinnati the divisional lead. The Cleveland Browns dropped to the basement of the division with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but will have a chance to climb back in to contention with a Week 15 game against the Bengals.

AFC South

The Indianapolis Colts could clinch in Week 15 with a victory over the Houston Texans that would give the team a three-game lead with two weeks left to play. With the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars far from contention, holding off the Texans is the only thing left for the Colts. For the Texans, a loss would not only end the team's chances at winning the AFC South, but severely hurt the team's chances in a tight AFC wild card race.

AFC East

No team is closer to being in the postseason than the New England Patriots, as the team carries a three-game lead in the AFC East with three weeks left to play after a 23-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers. With the New York Jets eliminated long ago, the Patriots need just one win or a loss from both the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in any of the next three weeks and it'll be a sixth-straight AFC East crown.

AFC West

The final score made it appear closer than it actually was, but the Denver Broncos cruised to a third-straight win over the Buffalo Bills and, thanks to losses by the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos are close to cruising to a fourth-straight AFC West crown. Despite the loss, the Chargers will have a chance to cut the divisional-lead to just one game if they can beat the Broncos at home. If not, Denver will clinch in Week 15.

NFC North

The Green Bay Packers have four-straight wins and can make it five-in-a-row on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons. They need to keep the wins coming too, as the Detroit Lions earned a 34-17 victory for a second-straight week, this time over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to improve to 9-4. With a victory over the Packers earlier in the year, the Lions still control their own destiny in the NFC North and will have a chance to win the division in a Week 17 game in Green Bay, as long as they can stay within striking range of the Packers.

NFC South

Week 14 isn't quite over for the NFC South, as New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers fans will certainly want to tune in to a Monday Night Football matchup between the Packers and Atlanta Falcons. After the Panthers dismantled the Saints, 41-10, the Falcons have a chance to take a one-game lead over the Saints for the divisional lead with an upset victory. If the Packers get a win, it'll be the Falcons and Saints tied at 5-8 with the Panthers just behind at 4-8-1.

NFC East

The Dallas Cowboys earned a 41-28 victory on Thursday, and now sit tied atop the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles after the Seattle Seahawks dealt Chip Kelly and co. a 24-14 loss on Sunday. With Washington and the New York Giants out of postseason contention, it's a two-team race and those two teams meet in Week 15 in Philadelphia. The Eagles earned a win over the Cowboys in Week 13, so another win would put the Eagles comfortably in control of the divisional race.

NFC West

The Arizona Cardinals rebounded from back-to-back losses and earned a 17-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the back of a second half shutout. It was needed to keep the lead in the NFC West too, as the Seattle Seahawks improved to 9-4 with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. A Week 16 matchup between the two teams at the top of the NFC West could decide the divisional crown, especially after the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Oakland Raiders, 24-13, on Sunday.

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