Four weeks remaining in the regular season and it appears the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs have one hand on the AFC’s No. 1 seed following a contender’s upset loss.
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Staying in the AFC, and three teams were eliminated, including the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets, who have been a complete basket case this season.
Meanwhile in the NFC, despite another win, the Lions find themselves in a tight tussle for the premium playoff advantage. They have been the best team in football this season, but can they stand tall at the business end of the season?
Read on for our NFL playoff picture!
AFC
(Seed, Team, Record)
1. Kansas City Chiefs 12-1
Run home: at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, vs. Broncos
They just keep on finding a way. They sunk the Chargers on Sunday Night Football with a 31-yard field goal that went through off the upright as time expired to move to 12-1 and lock up their ninth straight AFC West title. The 19-17 victory also extended another streak – games won by one score or less. With the Bills’ loss to the Rams, the Chiefs have a two-game lead in the AFC. Three wins from their last four will be enough to earn the No. 1 seed and a first round bye.
2. Buffalo Bills 10-3
Run home: at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots
In very worrying signs a month out from the playoffs, their typically solid defence was non existent in the 44-42 loss to the Rams. On the other hand, QB Josh Allen strengthened his MVP case with a historic performance. Against the Rams, Allen became the first player to ever throw for three touchdowns and run for another three. The loss is a blow to their hopes of capturing a first round bye, but with the form Allen is in, they can’t be discounted against anyone. Buffalo should finish with the second seed as a very favourable draw awaits following a bumper clash against the 12-1 Lions in Week 15.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-3
Run home: at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals
Pittsburgh move two full games ahead in the AFC North after defeating the Browns and with the Ravens on a bye. They also move level with the Bills on 10-3 but are the third seed for the moment as Buffalo holds the strength of victory tie-breaker. Both the Bills and Steelers are two games ahead of the next four seeds, who are all 8-5. Pittsburgh will need to be careful over the last month as they have a murderers row of opponents coming up, including games against the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs who are a combined 31-8.
4. Houston Texans 8-5
Run home: vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans
After their bye week, they still hold a two-game lead over the Colts in the AFC South and one hand on the fourth seed. A home final awaits if they can win of their last four games, although it won’t be a gimme given they have a difficult run home. They have the talent to make some noise in the postseason but consistency has been an issue of late.
5. Baltimore Ravens 8-5
Run home: at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns
They’ve lost two of their last three games but they’ve been against teams with at least 10 wins. Their record doesn’t reflect just how good this team is as they’ve had a tricky draw this season. With extremely winnable games against the Giants and Browns on the docket, the Ravens are all but certain to make the postseason. They’re a couple of games behind the Steelers in the race for the AFC North and a home final. Considering they play the Steelers in Week 16 and the fact that the Steelers have a mighty tough run home, Baltimore are every chance of usurping their fierce rivals.
6. Los Angeles Chargers 8-5
Run home: vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders
Became another team to lose in heartbreaking fashion to the Chiefs after being sunk by last second field goal. They won’t win their division but boast a handy two win cushion over the next best Colts, Dolphins who are both 6-7. Another thing going for them is their easy run home, which can’t be said about the other three 8-5 teams. Because of that, the Chargers are in the best position to avoid a daunting task like the Bills in Buffalo in Week 1 of the playoffs.
7. Denver Broncos 8-5
Run home: vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs
Like the Chargers, they can’t top the Chiefs in the AFC West, but with a two-game lead on the rest of the pack, they are odds on to make the playoffs and earn a wild card spot. Interestingly, they play the Colts this weekend. If they are to lose that, they’re position becomes much more precarious. Tough games against the Chargers and Chiefs also await. You’re in a good position Broncos fans but don’t breathe easy yet.
In The Hunt
The Indianapolis Colts (6-7) don’t look like a playoff team if we’re being honest and will probably be easy fodder for their opponent in Wild Card round if they make it. After a very slow start, the Miami Dolphins (6-7) are one of the form teams in the NFL. They need a bit of luck but if they can reel off four straight wins to finish the season, that could be enough. The Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) have one of the league’s best offences but their defence is downright dreadful. That will be the reason they won’t be making the postseason despite the fact they haven’t yet been mathematically eliminated.
Eliminated – Las Vegas Raiders (2-11), New England Patriots (3-10), Tennessee Titans (3-10), New York Jets (3-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10), Cleveland Browns (4-9)
NFC
(Seed, Team, Record)
1. Detroit Lions (12-1)
Run home: vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings
Didn’t have it all their own way against the Packers but another gutsy call by coach on Dan Campbell to go for it on fourth down sealed a 34-31 Week 14 win against their division rivals. In the process, Detroit locked in a playoff spot but they can’t seem to shake those pesky Vikings, who remain just one game back in the NFC North. The Eagles are also just one game back in the race for the No. 1 seed.
Lions lock in Playoff spot! | 00:58
2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)
Run home: vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants
Made it nine straight when they barely beat the 3-10 Panthers but alas, it’s a win. Despite the fact they’re 11-2, the offence isn’t clicking on all cylinders, as evidenced by wide receiver AJ Brown’s postgame potshot at QB Jalen Hurts. Still, Philly have a three game buffer on the Commanders for the NFC East title and are still engaged in an epic three-way shootout with the Lions and Vikings for the No. 1 seed.
3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)
Run home: vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams
They plateaued during the middle of the season but they’ve bounced back with two straight wins to take an outright lead in the NFC West. It’s the only division in football where all four teams are still with a chance of winning, so the Seahawaks have teams nipping at their heels. The next two weeks could make or break their season as they have tough matchups against the red-Vikings and Packers.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Run home: at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints
The Bucs took a huge leap towards a fourth straight division title with a huge win over the Raiders and a Falcons loss to the Vikings. Tampa Bay now have a one-game advantage over Atlanta but need to finish the season with a better record than the Falcons. That’s because Atlanta are 2-0 against the Bucs this season and hold the tie-breaker. Tampa Bay are two games clear of the Saints.
5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)
Run home: vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions
You have to love the way they put the pedal to the gas in the fourth quarter against the Falcons. Their offence was absolutely humming, with wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison combining for 265 yards and five touchdowns. Still contenders for the NFC North and 1st seed, and with three of four games left against teams within their division, the next month is quite obviously a crucial patch. There’s a scenario where the Vikings-Lions clash in the final week of the regular season decides the division and No. 1 seed in the NFC.
6. Green Bay Packers (9-4)
Run home: at Seahawks, vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears
Proved they can match it with anyone in the NFL when they kept pace with the Lions last Friday. There are no moral victories in the NFL but that effort against the Lions was as close to one as you can get. They host a hot-and-cold Seattle team in Week 15 – a game they should win if they want to be taken seriously at Super Bowl contenders. They are two games ahead of the teams just outside the current playoff picture.
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
Run home: at Saints, vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
Had the bye in Week 14. Seeing the Eagles narrowly escape with victory against the Panthers was a blow to their hopes of winning the NFC East as they are now three games behind Philadelphia. However, losses by Green Bay, Atlanta and Arizona improved their case for a wild card spot. If they don’t win a game they should against the Saints this weekend though, things will get dicey.
In The Hunt
Unlike the AFC, the NFC still have a handful teams outside of the playoff picture that have a shot of progressing. All teams in the NFC West fit into this category. The Los Angeles Rams (7-6) stunned the NFL world by beating up on Buffalo’s impressive defence. They’ll need a hiccup from the Seahawks over the final month. The Arizona Cardinals (6-7) had a golden chance to lead the division but they couldn’t match motors with Seattle, while the San Francisco 49ers (5-8) kept their slim postseason hopes alive by thrashing Chicago. The Atlanta Falcons (6-7) have lost the plot of late, losing four straight. They do hold the tie-breaker over the NFC South leading Buccaneers. Based on their record, they’ll need to win the division to be a chance. That applies to the New Orleans Saints (5-8) as well. The Dallas Cowboys (5-8) aren’t mathematically eliminated yet but it’s hard to see enough teams fall over ahead of them.
Eliminated – New York Giants (2-11), Carolina Panthers (3-10), Chicago Bears (4-9)
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