When Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season lastly drew to a detailed, the playoff image was slightly chaotic.
Within the AFC alone, six groups boasted matching 7-6 data, crowding the sphere for the ultimate two Wild Card spots. Over within the NFC, a glut of groups with an identical 6-7 data left us resorting to a number of tiebreakers to see who could be in, and who could be out, if the playoffs have been upon us.
Due to outcomes this weekend, the image has turn out to be the slightest bit clearer. There are nonetheless two video games remaining this week — the Sunday Evening Soccer tile between the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a giant NFC conflict between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night time — however right here is how issues stand for the time being.
We are going to replace the NFL playoff image after every of the ultimate two video games this week.
Additionally, earlier than we get going you may 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 (11-3)
Remaining video games: Ravens, at Commanders, Rams
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
Remaining video games: at Seahawks, Giants, Cardinals, at Giants
3. Detroit Lions (10-4)
Remaining video games: at Vikings, at Cowboys, Vikings
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
Remaining video games: Jaguars, Saints, at Panthers
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
Remaining video games: at Dolphins, Lions, at Commanders
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-7)
Remaining video games: Lions, Packers, at Lions
7. Los Angeles Rams (7-7)
Remaining video games: Saints, at Giants, at 49ers
Within the hunt
8. New Orleans Saints (7-7)
Remaining video games: at Rams, at Buccaneers, Falcons
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
Remaining video games: Eagles, at Titans, Steelers, at Cardinals
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
Remaining video games: Colts, at Bears, at Saints
11. Inexperienced Bay Packers (6-8)
Remaining video games: at Panthers, at Vikings, Bears
We will begin on the high of the NFC. San Francisco inched nearer to clinching the highest spot with their win over the Cardinals. Dallas, resulting from their loss to the Payments, drops out of the highest spot within the NFC East for the second, though they may transfer again there if the Eagles lose Monday night time to the Seahawks.
It was not all unhealthy information for the Cowboys, as they clinched a playoff spot because of losses by the Packers and the Falcons. Philadelphia clinched a playoff spot as nicely, because of ends in different video games.
On the subject of the Wild Card spots, the Saints, Rams, and Vikings are all tied with matching 7-7 data. Minnesota has a tie-breaker benefit over each groups resulting from a greater file within the convention. The Vikings have a 6-3 convention file, whereas the Rams are 5-4 and the Saints are 4-5.
That leaves the Saints and the Rams combating for the final playoff spot, and for the time being the Rams have the benefit as they’re 5-4 within the NFC, whereas the Saints have a 4-5 file within the convention, as outlined above.
Nevertheless, these two groups play Thursday night time, in a recreation that instantly looms giant.
NFC playoff matchups if the postseason began in the present day
If the NFC playoffs started in the present day, these could be the three matchups on Wild Card Weekend:
- Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
- Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The San Francisco 49ers would have the first-overall seed, and the first-round bye, within the NFC.
AFC
In proper now
1. Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
Remaining video games: at Jaguars, at 49ers, Dolphins, Steelers
2. Miami Dolphins (10-4)
Remaining video games: Cowboys, at Ravens, Payments
3. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (9-5)
Remaining video games: Raiders, Bengals, at Chargers
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
Remaining video games: Ravens, at Buccaneers, Panthers, at Titans
5. Cleveland Browns (9-5)
Remaining video games: at Texans, Jets, at Bengals
6. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
Remaining video games: at Steelers, at Chiefs, Browns
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Remaining video games: at Falcons, Raiders, Texans
Within the hunt
8. Houston Texans (8-6)
Remaining video games: Browns, Titans, at Colts
9. Buffalo Payments (8-6)
Remaining video games: at Chargers, Patriots, at Dolphins
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)
Remaining video games: Bengals, at Seahawks, at Ravens
11. Denver Broncos (7-7)
Remaining video games: Patriots, Chargers, at Raiders
Let’s begin on the high. With their win on Sunday towards the Jets, the Dolphins moved to 10-4 on the yr. However they’re nonetheless behind the Ravens for the highest spot within the convention for the time being. Nevertheless, ought to Baltimore lose tonight, Miami would slide into the highest spot, as they’d have the higher convention file.
Concerning the ultimate two spots, the Bengals are tied with the Colts, the Payments, and the Texans. Below the tiebreaker guidelines, the 2 AFC South groups are pitted towards one another till one is left standing. On this course of the Colts “eradicate” the Texans, as Indianapolis has the higher head-to-head file.
Then between the three. remaining groups, Cincinnati has wins over each Indianapolis and Buffalo, so that they slide into sixth. Between Indianapolis and Buffalo, the Colts have the higher convention file, so that they drop into seventh, whereas the Payments slide out of playoff place.
Between the Texans and the Payments, Houston has the sting proper now resulting from a greater convention file. So the Texans are in eighth, and the Payments in ninth.
AFC playoff matchups if the postseason began proper now
If the AFC playoffs started in the present day, these could be the three matchups on Wild Card Weekend:
- Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
- Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
The Baltimore Ravens, as outlined above, would have the first-overall seed, and the first-round bye, within the AFC.
This might be up to date after each ‘Sunday Evening Soccer’ and ‘Monday Evening Soccer’.
