NFL Week 15 Recap: Broncos, Rams Clinch Playoff Spots as Chiefs Bow Out; Draft Order Shuffles After Sunday’s Action
Week 15 brought some clarity to the playoff picture-and a shakeup in the 2026 NFL Draft order. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the postseason race is heating up for some teams, while others are staring down a top-10 draft pick. Let’s break down what went down on Sunday and what it means moving forward.
Broncos and Rams Punch Their Tickets
The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams became the first two teams to officially clinch playoff spots this season. Both teams have been trending in the right direction for weeks, and Sunday’s results locked them into the postseason. For the Rams, it’s a particularly sweet moment-they not only secured their spot but also own the Falcons’ first-round pick, which is currently sitting high in the draft order.
End of an Era in Kansas City
For the first time in over a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs are out of the playoff picture before the final week of the season. The loss to the Chargers on Sunday sealed their fate, and with Patrick Mahomes sidelined for the rest of the year, the team’s focus now shifts to 2026. The Chiefs currently hold the No. 11 overall pick, but with three games still to play and no Mahomes magic to lean on, that number could climb.
Top of the Draft Order Holding Steady
The Giants remain in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall pick. After the Titans beat the Browns last week, New York slid into the top spot and stayed there following Sunday’s results. The Titans, Browns, and Giants all remain on track to land picks within the top four, keeping the top of the draft order largely intact.
Jets and Cardinals Rise, Saints and Commanders Fall Back
The most movement came in the middle of the top 10. The Saints and Commanders both earned wins-New Orleans took down Carolina, while Washington beat the Giants-so they dropped from No. 5 and No. 6 to No. 7 and No. 8 in the draft order. Taking their place are the Jets and Cardinals, who both lost and moved up to the No. 5 and No. 6 spots, respectively.
Falcons and Bengals Flip Spots
Thursday Night Football saw the Falcons get a much-needed win over the Buccaneers, while the Bengals were blanked by the Ravens on Sunday. That shutout loss not only eliminated Cincinnati from playoff contention but also dropped them behind Atlanta in the draft order.
Current 2026 NFL Draft Order (Top 10)
- New York Giants
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
- [Team not specified in original article]
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- New Orleans Saints
- Washington Commanders
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Atlanta Falcons (pick owned by Rams)
A few additional notes on picks outside the top 10:
- The Chiefs now sit at No. 11, and with Mahomes out, their slide could continue.
- The Panthers missed a golden opportunity to take control of the NFC South after the Bucs lost on Thursday.
Instead, Carolina fell to the Saints-again-and now faces an uphill battle to win the division. They’ll play Tampa Bay twice in the final three weeks, but if they can’t take care of business, they’ll be looking at another top-20 draft pick.
Looking Ahead
With just three weeks left in the regular season, every game is going to impact both playoff seeding and draft positioning. For teams like the Broncos and Rams, it's about fine-tuning before the postseason.
For teams like the Giants, Titans, and Browns, it's about evaluating talent and setting the course for April’s draft. And for the Chiefs?
For the first time in years, they’re in unfamiliar territory-playing for pride and positioning instead of a Lombardi Trophy.