2017 NFL playoff picture: Patriots and Raiders clinch postseason spots in AFC

Throughout the course of the afternoon on Sunday, it seemed like every AFC team in the playoff hunt had a clear path to the postseason. The Colts trounced the Vikings in Minnesota, the Steelers were losing and giving life to the Ravens, and the Texans trailed the Jaguars — putting the AFC South up for grabs.

And yet, all the recalibrating turned out to be a waste of time. The final scores of Week 15 proved much of what was already known: the Patriots are a machine, the Raiders are for real, and the Colts are all but out of it.

New England (12-2) weathered a well-below-average passing day from Tom Brady in Denver (16-of-32 for 188 yards), relying instead on the run game to power it past the Broncos. Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount split carries and racked up 126 yards and the only touchdown for either side. The victory not only clinches a playoff berth for the Patriots, but locks up the AFC East title and a first-round bye. It’s an NFL-record eighth consecutive division title for the Pats, and their 13th title in 14 years.

On the other side of the field, the reigning Super Bowl champs have some work to do. The Broncos (8-6) aren’t exactly out of the playoff race, but their schedule for Week 16 and 17 does them no favors with games against Kansas City and Oakland. Denver will need two wins and some losses from Miami, Tennessee and Baltimore — not to mention the Chiefs and Raiders — to get in.

The playoffs are now guaranteed an appearance from Oakland. The Raiders (11-3) clinched their first postseason berth since 2002 with a late comeback win at San Diego. That victory, coupled with a Kansas City loss (10-4), has Oakland leapfrogging the Chiefs to get back into the No. 2 seed. With games remaining at home against the Colts and on the road at Denver, that position certainly isn’t locked up.

And the Chiefs could have a lot to do with that.

Kansas City is now slotted in the No. 5 spot after the Tennessee Titans (8-6) kicked a game-winning field goal as regulation time expired. The Chiefs will get a rematch with the Broncos at home and the Chargers on the road in the final two weeks, but a season sweep over the Raiders gives them an edge in the AFC West if Oakland slips down the stretch.

The victory at Arrowhead Stadium provided a huge boost to the Titans (8-6), who sit just outside of the playoffs with a clear path in. While Houston (8-6) currently holds the AFC South lead, it’ll enter this week with a QB controversy as it prepares to face a Bengals team that gave the Steelers fits on Sunday. Most likely, Tom Savage will start for the Texans next week. If Houston tops Cincinnati, Tennessee will need to win out against the Jags and Texans for an AFC South title.

Pittsburgh still owns the No. 3 seed and the AFC North lead, but that could change quickly with a matchup against rival Baltimore (8-6) next week.

Miami (9-5) rounds out the current bracket as the No. 6 seed after a win against the Jets, but will have to face the Bills and Patriots next.

Here are the AFC standings after Week 15. The NFC standings can be found here.

Just outside: Baltimore Ravens (8-6), Tennessee Titans (8-6), Denver Broncos (8-6) Indianapolis Colts (7-7)