Week 15 began with 20 teams either in or within one game of a playoff spot, including 11 teams that did not advance to the postseason in 2017. Since the 12-team playoff format began in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
Two teams that finished in or tied for last place in their division in 2017 — Chicago (NFC North) and Houston (AFC South) — are currently in first place in their respective divisions this season. In 14 of the past 15 seasons, at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place. Of the 46 teams in league history to go from “worst-to-first,” 23 of them have done so in the past 15 years (2003-17), including an NFL-record three such teams in 2005 and 2006.
With that as the backdrop, below are Week 15 NFL scores, highlights and injury updates from Sunday’s action around the league.
