With Christmas approaching, the whole hot phase in the NFL begins. What do the playoff contenders have in store in the coming weeks? Who will make it into the postseason? This and more can be found in our large overview of the current playoff picture!
The NFL teams still have three long weeks ahead of them, three weeks in which a lot will be decided. From participation in the playoffs to a first round bye to many a job, a lot of things hang by the thread of an uncertain future, which of course makes the next three game days particularly dramatic. So that you can still keep a cool head, we would like to give you a brief overview of the current situation in the National Football League. What is the current standing? Who has a difficult remaining program? What potential matchups could await us in the first round of the NFL Playoffs? You can find out here.
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens are currently at the top of the table, although the Ravens have actually flown a little under the radar all year. Their eleven wins are now compared to only three defeats, meaning they currently have the upper hand over supposedly more prominent teams like the Miami Dolphins (10-4) or the Kansas City Chiefs (9-5). Despite their relatively comfortable position, the Ravens are far from finished, as a look at the rest of the program shows.
After a really top game in San Francisco, the Ravens will host the Dolphins for a direct duel in Week 17, and they also have two teams breathing down their necks in the AFC North: the Browns (9-5) and the Bengals (8-6). This means that the rest of their program is anything but easy, especially since the traditional Rivalry Game against Pittsburgh in Week 18. The direct opponents don’t have it easy either, they each have two away games on the program including hot division matchups.
Hardly contested AFC South, Buffalo with increasing form
There is also high tension in the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars are still ahead due to tiebreakers, but their record (8-6) is identical to that of their pursuers from Houston and Indianapolis. With three defeats in a row, the form curve also speaks completely against the Jags, although their remaining program with away games in Tampa Bay and Tennessee as well as a home game against Carolina seems anything but scary. But that only applies on paper.
The Buffalo Bills, on the other hand, are particularly hot. After a narrow defeat in Philly, their playoff chances seemed almost gone, but convincing performances in Kansas City and at home against Dallas give new hope. Many people are already saying that no one actually wants to see the battle-tested Bills in the NFL postseason because of their great potential. With games against the Chargers and the Patriots it is of course a very realistic scenario. In Week 18, Miami could even be about winning the division in the AFC East, as the Dolphins have probably the toughest remaining program in the entire NFL with the Cowboys, the Ravens and the Bills.
TABLE AFC including remaining program
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-3, @ SF, vs MIA, vs PIT)
2. Miami Dolphins (10-4, vs DAL, @ BAL, vs BUF)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5, vs LV, vs CIN, @ LAC)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6, @ TB, vs CAR, @ TEN)
5. Cleveland Browns (9-5, @ HOU, vs NYJ, @ CIN)
6. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6, @ PIT, @ KC, vs CLE)
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-6, @ ATL, vs LV, vs HOU)
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8. Houston Texans (8-6, vs CLE, vs TEN, @ IND)
9. Buffalo Bills (8-6, @ LAC, vs NE, @ MIA)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7, vs CIN, @ SEA, @ BAL)
11. Denver Broncos (7-7, vs NE, vs LAC, @ LV)
UPDATED PLAYOFF PICTURE 🚨 pic.twitter.com/xW7OyuLL76
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 19, 2023
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
While only one team in the AFC, the Ravens, has already made it to the playoffs, three teams in the NFC can already make firm plans for the NFL postseason: San Francisco, Dallas and Philadelphia. The 49ers can almost be specific: they can even lose one of their last three games and still secure the top seed in the conference. Their difficult upcoming matchup against Baltimore is followed by manageable tasks against the Rams and the Commanders, so the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC seems to lead through Santa Clara.
This is not a rosy outlook for Dallas and Philadelphia, as neither looked good at all in a direct duel with the Niners. Both teams are still playing for seeding advantages and want to secure a home game with the help of the division win, but at least for the Eagles it’s all about finding their own form again after three weak performances. Two games against the weak New York Giants and a meeting with the Arizona Cardinals may be exactly what Philly needs right now.
There is a lot of mediocrity behind the top teams in the NFC
Behind the already qualified teams, Detroit also looks good with a record of 10-4 and would already have the NFL playoffs in the bag if not for the Eagles’ last-minute loss to Seattle. But they can actually fill out their dance card in secret, because they only need one more win or loss from the Rams, Vikings or Seahawks to be in the postseason. What’s spicy is that two of Detroit’s last three games are against Minnesota, which will probably decide the race for the NFC North.
The final places in the NFC playoff race are currently still hotly contested, but hardly any team is currently making truly sustainable claims. The Buccaneers are a weak division leader at 7-7 and only benefit from the miserable NFC South, Minnesota, Seattle, New Orleans and the Rams (all at 7-7) also have a lot of work to do. With nine defeats, Green Bay and Atlanta only have outside chances.
TABLE NFC including remaining program
1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3, vs BAL, @ WAS, vs LAR)
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-4, @ MIA, vs DET, @ WAS)
3. Detroit Lions (10-4, @ MIN, @ DAL, vs MIN)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, vs JAX, vs NO, @ CAR)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4, vs NYG, vs ARZ, @ NYG)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-7, vs DET, vs GB, @ DET)
7. Los Angeles Rams (7-7, vs NO, @ NYG, @SF)
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8. Seattle Seahawks (7-7, @ TEN, vs PIT, @ ARZ)
9. New Orleans Saints (7-7, @ LAR, @ TB, vs ATL)
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-8, vs IND, @ CHI, @ NO)
11. Green Bay Packers (6-8, @ CAR, @ MIN, vs CHI)
About the author
Moritz Wollert
Moritz Wollert writes for TOUCHDOWN24 about, among other things, the NFL. He writes, among other things, the NFL History articles for the monthly print magazine
2023-12-20 09:38:31
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