We will surely always remember this season’s homestretch because the NFL playoff races are as strange and perplexing as ever. The AFC had the most winning teams of any conference through Week 14 since 1970, with 11 teams having winning records and six having 7-6 records going into Week 15.
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Divisions will no longer be used to determine playoff rankings; instead, conferences will be used. The details of each team’s tiebreaker are provided below.
AFC playoff Standing ( NFL 2023 )
| SEED | TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yz-Ravens | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | +159 |
| 2 | y-Dolphins | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | +147 |
| 3 | y-Chiefs | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | +74 |
| 4 | y-Jaguars | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | +6 |
| 5 | x-Browns | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | +20 |
| 6 | x-Bengals | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | -4 |
| 7 | x-Colts | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | +1 |
| 8 | Texans | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | +11 |
| 9 | Bills | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | +125 |
| 10 | Steelers | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | -57 |
| 11 | Broncos | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | -47 |
| 12 | Raiders | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | -15 |
| 13 | Chargers | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -42 |
| 14 | e-Titans | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -44 |
| 15 | e-Jets | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -86 |
| 16 | e-Patriots | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | -113 |
Below is a summary of the current standings and the challenges that each athlete faces as we approach Week 15.
The Ravens of Baltimore
Important facts: The Ravens are the top seed in the league and lead the AFC North by two games. If they triumph, they will be assured of being the top seed in the AFC.
The 49ers, Dolphins, and Steelers are the opponents for the remaining games.
Dolphins of Miami
What to know: As a result of the Ravens’ victory on Sunday night, Miami, which came into Week 15 as the second seed in the AFC, will stay there. In Week 17, the Dolphins take on the Ravens, with the winner receiving the first seed.
The games against the Cowboys, Bills, and Ravens are still to come.
The Chiefs of Kansas City
What to know: Following their victory over the Patriots, the Chiefs now lead the AFC West by two games over the Broncos. They are two games behind the Ravens for the top slot as the third seed.
Up next: away games against the Raiders, Bengals, and Chargers.
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: Despite the setback, the Jaguars are still the AFC’s fourth-seeded team. Head-to-head tiebreakers favour the Jaguars over the Texans and Colts, even though they are tied for first place in the AFC South.
Three games remain: against the Titans, away to the Buccaneers, and against the Panthers.
The Browns of Cleveland
Interestingly, the Browns are ranked fifth in the AFC. They lead the AFC North by two games and the final wild card slot by one game.
The next games on the schedule are for the Bengals at home against the Texans and Jets.
Cincinnati Bengals Notable:
With their victory over the Vikings on Saturday, the Bengals are now qualified for the postseason. For the No. 6 seed, they will face the Colts and Bills in a head-to-head tiebreaker.
Browns games at home against the Steelers and Chiefs are still scheduled.
The Indianapolis Colts
What to know: The Colts, who are ranked seventh in the AFC, will play the Texans (ranked eighth) in a head-to-head tiebreaker to determine the final postseason place. The Colts play the Bills (No. 9) in the conference record tiebreaker as well in order to secure the final postseason spot. Indianapolis and Cincinnati will compete in a head-to-head tiebreaker for the sixth spot.
Other matchups on the schedule include the Raiders against the Texans and the Falcons at home.
Houston’s Texans
Important details: The Texans’ victory over the Titans in overtime maintained their postseason hopes. After losing to Indianapolis in the head-to-head tiebreaker that decided their No. 7 seed, Houston is currently ranked eighth. They are ahead of Buffalo (No. 9) in the conference record tiebreaker.
Remaining on the schedule are the Browns, Titans, and Colts.
The Buffalo Bills
What to know: The Bills, who are ranked ninth, defeated the Cowboys handily to maintain their chances of making it to the postseason. Buffalo loses the league record tiebreaker against Houston (No. 8) and Indianapolis (No. 7), as well as the head-to-head tiebreaker against Cincinnati (No. 6).
The remaining games will be played at home against the Chargers, Patriots, and Dolphins.
The Pittsburgh Steelers
What you should know: After losing a crucial game against the Colts on Saturday, the Steelers are currently on the outside looking in. They have the conference record tiebreaker over the Broncos and earned the 10th seed.
The Bengals, Ravens, and Seahawks are the teams that the team still has to play.
Denver Broncos
What to know: Following their Saturday loss to the Lions, the Broncos fell all the way to the No. 11 seed. Their loss to the Steelers in the conference record tiebreaker has left them one game out of the last postseason spot.
The remaining games will be played at home against the Raiders, Chargers, and Patriots.
The Raiders of Las Vegas
Important information: The Raiders are two games off of the last AFC postseason berth. They are the conference’s 12th seed.
Chiefs vs. Colts and Broncos vs. Broncos are still scheduled.
Chargers of Los Angeles
What to know: The Chargers may not make the playoffs after their Thursday loss to the Raiders.
Schedule remaining: @Bills, @Broncos, and @Chiefs
Notable Tennessee Titans:
The Titans’ defeat to the Texans resulted in their elimination from the playoff hunt.
Not to be overlooked: @Seahawks, @Texans, and @Jaguars
Jets in New York
Remarkable: The Jets’ defeat against the Dolphins resulted in their elimination from the playoff competition.
The remaining games are against the Patriots, the Browns, and the Commanders.
The Patriots of New England
Important information: There will be no postseason competition for the Patriots.
Schedule remaining: @Bills, @Brencos, and @Jets
NFC playoff picture
| RANK | TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | yz-49ers | 11 | 3 | 0 | .769 | +191 |
| 2 | yz-Eagles | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | +21 |
| 3 | y-Lions | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | +51 |
| 4 | y-Buccaneers | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | +6 |
| 5 | z-Cowboys | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | +167 |
| 6 | x-Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | +21 |
| 7 | x-Rams | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | +17 |
| 8 | Saints | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | +42 |
| 9 | Seahawks | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | -38 |
| 10 | Falcons | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | -20 |
| 11 | Packers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | -1 |
| 12 | Giants | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -149 |
| 13 | Bears | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | -42 |
| 14 | e-Commanders | 4 | 10 | 0 | .308 | -142 |
| 15 | e-Cardinals | 3 | 11 | 0 | .231 | -117 |
| 16 | e-Panthers | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | -142 |
49ers of San Francisco
What to know: Following their victory over the Cardinals, the 49ers still hold a half-game lead over the Eagles for the top NFC slot. The head-to-head tiebreaker against Philadelphia is also available to them. San Francisco prevailed over Arizona to win the NFC West.
For now, @Commanders, @Ravens, and @Rams are scheduled.
The Eagles of Philadelphia
What to know: The Cowboys would regain control of the NFC East with a one-game lead if the Eagles defeated the Seahawks on Monday. With the 49ers victory on Sunday and the defeats of the Falcons and Packers, they were assured a postseason berth.
The remaining games on the schedule are the Giants at home versus the Seahawks and the Cardinals.
The Lions of Detroit
Important information: The Lions are the third seed in the conference and lead the Vikings by three games in the NFC North. They are one game behind the 49ers for the conference’s best record.
Vikings versus. Cowboys at Vikings is still scheduled.
The Eagles of Tampa Bay
What to know: Following their victory over the Packers on Sunday, the Buccaneers are still atop the NFC South. Against the Saints, they have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The remaining games will be played at home against the Jaguars, Saints, and Panthers.
The Dallas Cowboys
What to know: Following their defeat over the Bills, the Cowboys drop to the No. 5 seed. Even if the Eagles fall on Monday night, they could still take the lead in the NFC East because of their superior division record, which counts as a tiebreaker. When the Lions won and the Falcons and Packers lost on Saturday, Dallas assured itself of a postseason spot.
The remaining games are with the Dolphins, the Lions, and the Commanders.
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings entered Week 15 ranked sixth in the conference, but their defeat dropped them to become one of the NFC’s seven-loss clubs. They own the conference record and will face the Saints and Rams in the sixth-place tiebreaker.
The Packers, the Lions, and the Lions are the opponents for the remaining games.
Rams of Los Angeles
Noteworthy: Following their victory over the Commanders, the Rams are currently ranked seventh in the conference. Despite having a better conference record than the Rams, who are placed No. 7 because of their superior conference record, the Vikings are ranked No. 6.
The remaining games will be played by the Giants, 49ers, and Saints.
Saints of New Orleans
Notably, the Saints defeated the Giants in Week 15 and are currently tied for first place in the NFC South. However, they lost the tiebreaker when the Buccaneers defeated them head-to-head. After losing to Minnesota and Los Angeles in the conference-record tiebreaker, New Orleans leaps to the eighth position.
The remaining games are at home against the Buccaneers, away against the Rams, and against the Falcons.
The Seattle Seahawks
What to know: The eighth-ranked Seahawks in the NFC will take on the Eagles on Monday night. Should they triumph, they would go into a four-way competition for the sixth-best spot in the NFC.
There are still games to be played against the Cardinals, Steelers, Titans, and Eagles.
The Falcons of Atlanta
Crucial information: The Falcons’ defeat against the Panthers puts them one game behind the Panthers for the NFC South lead. As the No. 10 seed, they are also one game away from the last wild card position. They are ahead of the Packers in the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The games against the Colts, Saints, and Bears are still to come.
Packers in Green Bay
Important information: After losing to the Buccaneers, the Packers relinquished their spot as the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs. They lose the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Falcons and fall to No. 11. They remain one game below the last postseason berth.
The Panthers, Vikings, and Bears are still scheduled to play.
Notable: Despite having the advantage over the Bears in the common record tiebreaker, the Giants’ defeat to the Saints severely harmed their prospects of making the playoffs. They are two games behind for the last postseason slot.
Schedule remaining: Eagles, Rams, Eagles
Bears of Chicago
Noteworthy: The Bears’ hopes of making the playoffs were severely harmed by their defeat to the Browns. They were two games out of the final playoff position and the No. 13 seed after losing to the Giants in the record vs. common opponents tiebreaker.
The remaining games will be played at home against the Cardinals, Falcons, and Packers.
officials in Washington
Important information: The Commanders’ defeat to the Rams in Week 15 resulted in their elimination from the postseason competition.
The teams they still play for are the 49ers, Jets, and Cowboys.
Cardinals of Arizona
Noteworthy: The Cardinals’ defeat against the 49ers in Week 15 resulted in their elimination from the postseason competition.
Schedule remaining: @Bears, @Eagles, and @Seahawks
Panthers of Carolina
Important facts: The Panthers are no longer eligible to participate in postseason play. In the NFL, they have the poorest record.
The Bucs’ home games against the Jaguars and the Packers are still scheduled.
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