Breaking down the NFL playoff picture coming out of Week 14

The NFL playoff discipline has begun filling as groups began clinching berths in Week 13. The Detroit Lions joined the sphere after they held off the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Thursday Night time Soccer. Just one different sport this weekend featured two groups holding one of many 14 playoff spots heading into Week 14.

With eight groups in playoff place in motion on Sunday, the positioning was certain to vary, and it shuffled in each conferences.

The one sport that includes two present playoff groups was in Minnesota, the place the 5 seed Minnesota Vikings hosted the 4 seed Atlanta Falcons. The division-leading Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans are on their bye weeks together with two wild card groups within the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders. Additionally on bye have been the Indianapolis Colts, who’re two video games out of a playoff spot.

What modified within the NFL Playoff Image in Week 14?

The Baltimore Ravens moved up within the AFC playoff image on their bye, passing the Los Angeles Chargers who misplaced to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday evening. Baltimore is fifth whereas the Chargers are sixth.

Within the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leapfrogged the Atlanta Falcons for the highest spot within the NFC South. Atlanta is now out of the playoff image in the meanwhile.

The Chiefs clinched the AFC West whereas the Eagles clinched a playoff spot.

Now onto the standings:

NFC standings throughout Week 14

1. x-Detroit Lions (12-1)2. x-Philadelphia Eagles (11-2)3. Seattle Seahawks (8-5)4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)5. Minnesota Vikings (11-2)6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-4)7. Washington Commanders (8-5) 8. Los Angeles Rams (7-6)9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7, 6-3 NFC)10. Arizona Cardinals (6-7, win over SF, 3-6 NFC)11. San Francisco 49ers (6-7, loss to ARI)12. New Orleans Saints (5-8, win over DAL)13. Dallas Cowboys (5-8, loss to NO)*14. Chicago Bears (4-8, 2-5 NFC)*15. Carolina Panthers (3-10)16. New York Giants (2-11) — eradicated

AFC standings throughout Week 14

1. y-Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (12-1)2. y-Buffalo Payments (10-3, SOV 59 wins)3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3, SOV 52 wins)4. Houston Texans (8-5)5. Baltimore Ravens (8-5, win over LAC)6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5, win over DEN, loss to BAL)*7. Denver Broncos (8-5, loss to LAC)*8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7, win over MIA)9. Miami Dolphins (6-7, loss to IND)*10. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8)*11. Cleveland Browns (3-10) — eliminated12. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) — eliminated13. New York Jets (3-10) — eliminated14. Tennessee Titans (3-10) — eliminated15. New England Patriots (3-10) — eliminated16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) — eradicated

Notice: Within the five-way tie between Cleveland, Jacksonville, New York, Tennessee, and New England, divisional tiebreakers first drop the Titans (loss to Jaguars) and the Patriots (frequent video games tiebreaker to Jets). The Jets then drop behind the Browns and Jaguars as a result of convention document tiebreaker and the Browns end forward of the Jaguars resulting from head-to-head. Then it’s the Jaguars and Jets, the place Jacksonville wins a head-to-head tiebreaker. The Jets and Titans go face to face after that, and New York beat Tennessee. The Titans beat the Patriots, so they’re subsequent.

Groups with an asterisk (*) have been eradicated from divisional contentionTeams with an “x” have clinched a playoff spotTeams with a “y” have clinched their division

Key playoff image takeaways in Week 14

Bengals preserve slim playoff hopes alive with a MNF win

The Cincinnati Bengals pulled out a wild win on Monday evening, defeating the Dallas Cowboys. It stored their slim playoff hopes alive at 5-8. They’re three video games behind the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos, however the Bengals play the Broncos in Week 17. Cincy continues to be alive, however barely.

Dallas Cowboys squeak out a loss in no-man’s land

The Cowboys performed an in depth sport with the Bengals on Monday evening, and now sit at 5-8 and twelfth within the NFC. They haven’t been eradicated, however they’re three video games again of Washington with 4 video games to play. They’re presently twelfth within the 2025 NFL Draft order. They will’t lose sufficient to get higher and might’t win sufficient to get into the postseason.

Chiefs win the AFC West for the ninth straight 12 months

The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have gained their division for the ninth straight 12 months, the second-longest streak in NFL historical past. The Patriots gained the AFC East from 2009 to 2019, a stretch of 11 seasons.

The Los Angeles Chargers got here so near toppling Kansas Metropolis

The Chargers have been inches from beating the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Sunday evening, however KC bought the bounce off the upright and thru on the game-winning discipline purpose attempt. The Chargers fall again into the group of untamed card groups at 8-5, however are nonetheless two video games away from the remainder of the sphere.

Rams pull inside one sport of a playoff spot with win over Payments

The Payments and Rams had an offensive showcase on Sunday, placing up a mixed 86 factors. The Rams got here out on prime and are only one sport out of the wild card in addition to the NFC West lead. The Payments, in the meantime, might have blown their probability on the one seed with the loss and their protection was uncovered in a giant means. It gained’t get simpler; they get the Lions subsequent week.

Seahawks wrestle management of the NFC West race with win over Arizona

The Seattle Seahawks took a two-game lead within the NFC West with their win over the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle picked off Kyler Murray twice and Geno Smith was environment friendly, however the Seahawks rode Zach Charbonnet’s 22 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Each landing runs got here within the first half because the Seahawks took a 24-10 lead into halftime and milked the clock successfully within the second half.

Dolphins stun the Jets in extra time to maintain playoff hopes alive

New York appeared like they have been going to deal Miami a devastating blow for his or her playoff possibilities. As an alternative, the Dolphins stormed again and claimed an extra time win. Miami is tied with the Colts as the primary staff out, two video games behind the three wild card groups with 4 to play. The loss eliminates the Jets from playoff competition.

Steelers get rid of Browns from playoff competition

The Steelers continued rolling and eradicated a rival within the course of. They beat the Browns 42-21 so as to add a half sport to their AFC North lead whereas the Ravens have been on a bye. Pittsburgh has a two-game lead within the division and maintains tempo two video games again of the Chiefs for the No. 1 seed. They tied the Payments for the 2 seed and in the event that they run the desk, can be second at worst.

Saints preserve faint playoff hopes alive

The Saints blocked a possible tying discipline purpose for the Giants within the last minute of the sport to safe a 14-11 win. New Orleans is 2 video games again of the Bucs with 4 remaining and faces Tampa in Week 18.

Eagles maintain off robust Panthers squad and clinch a playoff spot with assist

Philly was the most important favourite of the weekend however they needed to battle towards a not too long ago surging Panthers squad. They made a defensive cease within the last minute to safe a ninth straight win. With the Commanders on a bye, the Eagles at the moment are three video games up within the NFC East with 4 video games remaining. They continue to be a sport again of the Lions. The Eagles entered the week needing a win and losses by the Falcons and Cardinals. All three outcomes occurred, so Philly is within the playoffs.

Bucs take over NFC South lead

The Buccaneers jumped out early on the Raiders however stumbled within the center quarters. They held on late and that, coupled with the Falcons loss in Minnesota, means Tampa has a one-game lead within the division. The Falcons beat the Bucs in each matchups this season, so Tampa has to win the division outright to assert the playoff berth.

Vikings preserve tempo in NFC North race and NFC total

The Falcons have been giving the Vikings a tricky time within the first half, however Kirk Cousins fell aside and the wheels got here off the protection within the second half. Minnesota maintains tempo behind Detroit within the NFC North. The Vikings entered the weekend with an opportunity to clinch a playoff. berth with a win and losses by the Cardinals and Rams. The Rams gained, although, so Minnesota wants to attend yet one more week.

Which NFL groups have already clinched playoff spots?

Once they moved to 11 wins in Week 13, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs turned the primary NFL staff within the NFL to clinch a playoff spot. The Buffalo Payments clinched the AFC East final Sunday evening, making certain a house playoff sport. The Lions secured their playoff spot with the Thursday evening win whereas the Philadelphia Eagles joined them on Sunday.

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Buffalo Payments
Detroit Lions
Philadelphia Eagles

Which NFL groups have been eradicated from the playoffs?

In Week 13, the Giants turned the primary staff this season to be formally eradicated from the playoff race. On Black Friday, the Raiders joined them with their tenth lack of the season and they’re additionally eradicated. On Sunday, the Patriots have been additionally eradicated them with a loss and wins by the Chargers and Texans. With the Denver Broncos win on Monday evening, they eradicated the Jacksonville Jaguars from the playoffs. In Week 14, the Cleveland Browns joined the record.

New York Giants
New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns
New York Jets

NFL Division Standings

AFC East standings

Buffalo Payments, 10-3 — division clinched

Miami Dolphins, 6-7
New York Jets, 3-10 — eradicated from playoff competition
New England Patriots, 3-10 — eradicated from playoff competition

AFC North standings

Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-3
Baltimore Ravens, 8-5
Cincinnati Bengals, 5-8
Cleveland Browns, 3-10 — eradicated from playoff competition

AFC South standings

Houston Texans, 8-5
Indianapolis Colts, 6-7
Jacksonville Jaguars, 3-10 — eradicated from playoff competition
Tennessee Titans, 3-10 — eradicated from playoff competition