Chaos reigns within the NFL

As Week 14 winds down, with solely three video games left on the schedule, we will 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 will check out the present playoff image. That features what video games every group 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 huge 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 evening, one in every convention. On the AFC aspect 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 are going to 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 … rather a lot.

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 competition, 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 intervening time. Tampa Bay beat New Orleans earlier this season, and the Buccaneers maintain a tiebreaker over the Falcons in the intervening time, as a result of their successful share towards widespread opponents.

However there may be quite a lot of soccer left to be performed amongst these three groups, together with a Week 18 recreation the place the Saints host the Falcons. My pricey good friend JP Acosta and I’ve been saying for a very long time that the Saints-Falcons recreation shall be put into the Sunday evening 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 evening, 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 intervening time. Below 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 “remove” groups from every division, leaving simply the highest-ranked group in every division. Then, further tiebreakers are utilized.

Below this components, the Seahawks are “eradicated” by the Rams, as Los Angeles has swept that season collection. Atlanta at the moment 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 as a result of a greater document within the NFC. The Rams are 4-4 within the convention, whereas the Falcons are 4-5.

In relation to 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 document within the NFC, in contrast with Atlanta’s 4-5 convention document.

Obtained 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 had 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 break up their season collection. Dallas takes the lead within the NFC East, due to a 4-1 document within the division, which places them forward of the Eagles, who now have a 3-1 document within the division.

That drops Philadelphia down into the fifth seed.

Dallas, nevertheless, 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 similar 14-3 data. As famous above, they break up the season collection, 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 recreation left within the division, towards Washington, whereas the Eagles play the Giants twice.

The third tiebreaker? Win-loss share in widespread video games. That will even be tied if each groups win out from right here.

That will go to the following tiebreaker, document within the NFC. If each the Eagles and the Cowboys win out, Philadelphia would win as a result of this tiebreaker. The Eagles at the moment have a 6-2 document within the NFC, whereas Dallas has a 7-3 document 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, nevertheless, solely has a pair of convention video games left. The most effective they’ll end — even when they win out — is 9-3. That will 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 had been “fascinating” within the AFC.

They obtained 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 extra time, the Baltimore Ravens not solely pulled out the win towards 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 drag again into the highest spot with a win over the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night time Soccer. That will give Miami seven convention wins, juxtaposed to 6 for Baltimore.

Nonetheless, these two groups are set to satisfy in Week 17.

The Jaguars and Chiefs have matching 8-5 data, however Kansas Metropolis’s win again in Week 2 offers 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 document.

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 group 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 document amongst widespread 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 last 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 trying in, Houston has the benefit in the intervening time, with a 4-4 document within the AFC. Denver slots in on the ninth spot, due to a greater convention document than Cincinnati, and a head-to-head win over Buffalo. That leaves Cincinnati and Buffalo left, and due to the Bengals’ win again initially 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.