Chaos reigns within the NFL
As Week 14 winds down, with solely three video games left on the schedule, we are able to check out how issues stand within the present playoff image. Because of outcomes throughout Sunday afternoon’s slate of video games, issues have gotten very chaotic in each the NFC, and the AFC.
Forward of the remaining video games, we are able to check out the present playoff image. That features what video games every workforce has left on their schedule in addition to the hypothetical playoff matchups in each the AFC and the NFC. There are nonetheless three video games left this week, beginning with the large matchup on Sunday Night time Soccer between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys that’s nearly to get underway.
Then there are a pair of video games on Monday night time, one in every convention. On the AFC facet of issues, the Tennessee Titans go to the Miami Dolphins. Over within the NFC, the Inexperienced Bay Packers go to MetLife Stadium and the New York Giants.
We’ll replace the NFL playoff image after every of these three video games, however right here is how issues stand after the Sunday afternoon video games.
Additionally, earlier than we get going you would possibly need to familiarize your self with the NFL’s tie-breaking procedures. We’re gonna be utilizing them … quite a bit.
NFC
In proper now
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
Remaining video games: at Cardinals, Ravens, at Commanders, Rams
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
Remaining video games: at Payments, at Dolphins, Lions, at Commanders
3. Detroit Lions (9-4)
Remaining video games: Broncos, at Vikings, at Cowboys, Vikings
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
Remaining video games: at Packers, Jaguars, Saints, at Panthers
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
Remaining video games: at Seahawks, Giants, Cardinals, at Giants
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
Remaining video games: at Bengals, Lions, Packers, at Lions
7. Inexperienced Bay Packers (6-6)
Remaining video games: at Giants, Buccaneers, at Panthers, at Vikings, Bears
Let’s begin with the chaotic NFC South.
Whereas the Carolina Panthers have already been eradicated from playoff rivalry, the opposite three groups are nonetheless alive. Because of outcomes on Sunday — New Orleans defeating Carolina, and Tampa Bay defeating Atlanta, who got here into the day main within the division — these three groups now all sit at 6-7.
Because of tiebreakers, the Buccaneers lead the division in the mean time. Tampa Bay beat New Orleans earlier this season, and the Buccaneers maintain a tiebreaker over the Falcons in the mean time, attributable to their profitable share in opposition to frequent opponents.
However there’s numerous soccer left to be performed amongst these three groups, together with a Week 18 sport the place the Saints host the Falcons. My pricey pal JP Acosta and I’ve been saying for a very long time that the Saints-Falcons sport can be put into the Sunday night time window to shut out the 2023 season, as it’d decide who wins the division. So … put together your self.
And as we are going to see in a second, due to outcomes on Sunday the groups within the NFC South now have a path to the Wild Card.
Turning to the Wild Card, Minnesota’s thrilling win over the Raiders retains them within the sixth spot, and even when the Packers win tomorrow night time, the Vikings personal the tiebreaker due to their win over Minnesota earlier this season. These two groups meet once more in Week 17.
The Rams, Seahawks, Falcons, and Saints all have matching 6-7 data in the mean time. Underneath the NFL tie-breaking procedures, when there are ties between three or extra groups from a number of divisions, division matchups are used first to “get rid of” groups from every division, leaving simply the highest-ranked workforce in every division. Then, extra tiebreakers are utilized.
Underneath this method, the Seahawks are “eradicated” by the Rams, as Los Angeles has swept that season sequence. Atlanta at present has the tie-breaker benefit over the Saints, due to their head-to-head outcomes.
Then between the Rams and the Falcons, the Rams come out forward and are subsequently within the eighth spot attributable to a greater file within the NFC. The Rams are 4-4 within the convention, whereas the Falcons are 4-5.
In terms of the ninth spot, Atlanta nonetheless has the benefit over New Orleans, however the Seahawks have a bonus over the Falcons, primarily based on a 5-5 file within the NFC, in contrast with Atlanta’s 4-5 convention file.
Received it?
Good.
Sunday Night time Soccer replace: Now let’s take a look at the highest of the convention. Heading into Sunday Night time Soccer, the Eagles have been within the prime spot within the convention, with Dallas down within the fifth seed.
Nonetheless, due to the Cowboys’ win on SNF, issues have modified dramatically.
Now the 49ers, the Eagles, and the Cowboys all have matching 10-3 data. We begin with the groups in the identical division. The Cowboys and Philadelphia have now cut up their season sequence. Dallas takes the lead within the NFC East, due to a 4-1 file within the division, which places them forward of the Eagles, who now have a 3-1 file within the division.
That drops Philadelphia down into the fifth seed.
Dallas, nonetheless, solely slots into second, due to the 49ers’ win over the Cowboys earlier this season.
It’s price nothing that the Eagles nonetheless have the within monitor to the division title. Ought to Dallas and Philadelphia each run the desk, they’d end with equivalent 14-3 data. As famous above, they cut up the season sequence, which might require using the second tiebreaker, their data within the division.
If each groups win out from right here, that will even be tied at 5-1. The Cowboys have only one sport left within the division, in opposition to Washington, whereas the Eagles play the Giants twice.
The third tiebreaker? Win-loss share in frequent video games. That might even be tied if each groups win out from right here.
That might go to the following tiebreaker, file within the NFC. If each the Eagles and the Cowboys win out, Philadelphia would win attributable to this tiebreaker. The Eagles at present have a 6-2 file within the NFC, whereas Dallas has a 7-3 file within the convention. Nonetheless, if Philadelphia wins out, they’ll decide up 4 extra convention wins, to enhance to 10-2 within the NFC.
Dallas, nonetheless, solely has a pair of convention video games left. The very best they will end — even when they win out — is 9-3. That might imply the distinction between the 2 is the Cowboys’ loss to Arizona again in Week 3.
So the Cowboys are within the prime spot within the division, however you may make the case that the Eagles, at the very least on paper, nonetheless have a bonus.
Within the hunt
8. Los Angeles Rams (6-7)
Remaining video games: Commanders, Saints, at Giants, at 49ers
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
Remaining video games: Eagles, at Titans, Steelers, at Cardinals
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
Remaining video games: at Panthers, Colts, at Bears, at Saints
11. New Orleans Saints (6-7)
Remaining video games: Giants, at Rams, at Buccaneers, Falcons
NFC playoff matchups if the postseason began right this moment
If the NFC playoffs started right this moment, these could be the three matchups on Wild Card Weekend:
- Inexperienced Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
- Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The San Francisco 49ers would have the first-overall seed, and the first-round bye, within the NFC.
The NFC playoff image has been up to date after Sunday Night time Soccer.
AFC
In proper now
1. Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
Remaining video games: at Jaguars, at 49ers, Dolphins, Steelers
2. Miami Dolphins (9-3)
Remaining video games: Titans, Jets, Cowboys, at Ravens, Payments
3. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (8-5)
Remaining video games: at Patriots, Raiders, Bengals, at Chargers
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
Remaining video games: Ravens, at Buccaneers, Panthers, at Titans
5. Cleveland Browns (8-5)
Remaining video games: Bears, at Texans, Jets, at Bengals
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Remaining video games: at Colts, Bengals, at Seahawks, at Ravens
7. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
Remaining video games: Steelers, at Falcons, Raiders, Texans
In final week’s playoff image, we famous that issues have been “fascinating” within the AFC.
They received much more fascinating on Sunday with the early outcomes.
Let’s begin on the prime. Because of the dramatic punt return landing from Tylan Wallace in time beyond regulation, the Baltimore Ravens not solely pulled out the win in opposition to the visiting Los Angeles Rams, however they moved into the highest spot within the AFC.
For the second, because the Miami Dolphins have an opportunity to tug again into the highest spot with a win over the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night time Soccer. That might give Miami seven convention wins, juxtaposed to 6 for Baltimore.
Nonetheless, these two groups are set to fulfill in Week 17.
The Jaguars and Chiefs have matching 8-5 data, however Kansas Metropolis’s win again in Week 2 provides them the sting for the third spot within the convention.
Now let’s take a look at the cloudy Wild Card image within the AFC. As issues stand proper now, the Browns are the fifth seed, due to their 8-5 file.
Behind them, a glut of six groups sit at 7-6 on the season. As outlined above, division tiebreakers are used to get the highest workforce from every division, leaving us with Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Denver, and Buffalo. Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker over Cincinnati, and Indianapolis has the tiebreaker over Houston.
The Steelers then come out on prime amongst these 4 groups, thanks to 5 wins within the AFC (forward of each Denver and Buffalo), after which a greater file amongst frequent opponents than Indianapolis.
With Pittsburgh slotted in at six, we do that once more with Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, and Buffalo. As we noticed a second in the past, Indianapolis “eliminates” Houston due to a win again in Week 2. That leaves the Colts, the Bengals, the Broncos, and the Payments vying for that remaining spot.
The tiebreakers then advance to convention data. Proper now the Colts have 5 AFC wins, whereas the Payments and Broncos every have 4. The Bengals have simply three. That places the Colts in.
For now.
Among the many 4 groups left on the skin wanting in, Houston has the benefit in the mean time, with a 4-4 file within the AFC. Denver slots in on the ninth spot, due to a greater convention file than Cincinnati, and a head-to-head win over Buffalo. That leaves Cincinnati and Buffalo left, and because of the Bengals’ win again at first of November, Cincinnati comes out ahad.
As for the Raiders and the Chargers, they dropped to 5-8 with their losses this week, and are thus dropped from the “Within the hunt” class
Within the hunt
8. Houston Texans (7-6)
Remaining video games: at Titans, Browns, Titans, at Colts
9. Denver Broncos (7-6)
Remaining video games: at Lions, Patriots, Chargers, at Raiders
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
Remaining video games: Vikings, at Steelers, at Chiefs, Browns
11. Buffalo Payments (7-6)
Remaining video games: Cowboys, at Chargers, Patriots, at Dolphins
AFC playoff matchups if the postseason began right this moment
If the AFC playoffs started right this moment, these could be the three matchups on Wild Card Weekend:
- Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
- Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The Baltimore Ravens, as outlined above, would have the first-overall seed, and the first-round bye, within the AFC.
