NFL Analysis
12/4/23
5 min read
2023 NFL Playoff Bracket: Latest Matchups after Week 13
The San Francisco 49ers' resounding victory at Philadelphia tightened up the race for the top of the NFC a lot. Not only are the 49ers in contention for the top seed, but there are windows open for the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys as well.
The Miami Dolphins took over the AFC's top spot with a blowout victory at Washington and losses by Kansas City and Jacksonville.
2023 NFL Playoff Picture
AFC First-Round Matchups
7. Cleveland at 2. Baltimore
6. Indianapolis at 3. Kansas City
5. Pittsburgh at 4. Jacksonville
Bye: Miami
AFC Playoff Contenders
1. Miami Dolphins (9-3, 1st East)
Playoff Prospects: The high-flying version of the Miami Dolphins' offense returned, dominating Washington by land and by air.
Remaining schedule: vs. TEN, vs. NYJ, vs. DAL, at BAL, vs. BUF
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3, 1st in North)
Playoff Prospects: The Baltimore Ravens' Week 14 matchup got more interesting when their opponent, the Rams, knocked off the AFC North-rival Browns for their third consecutive victory.
Remaining schedule: vs. LAR, at JAX, at SF, vs. MIA, vs. PIT
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4, 1st in West)
Playoff Prospects: This week, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense couldn't overcome a first-half deficit at Green Bay. Still, the Chiefs have a very manageable finishing schedule and should easily win the West.
Remaining schedule: vs. BUF, at NE, vs. LV, vs. CIN, at LAC
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, 1st in South)
Playoff Prospects: The Jacksonville Jaguars’ overtime loss to the Bengals was overshadowed by QB Trevor Lawrence's potentially serious leg injury. The Jaguars' AFC South lead is just one game over the Colts and Texans.
Remaining schedule: at CLE, vs. BAL, at TB, vs. CAR, at TEN
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5, 2nd North)
Playoff Prospects: The Pittsburgh Steelers' 24-10 loss to the Cardinals — at home — defies explanation, so we won't even try.
Remaining schedule: vs. NE, at IND, vs. CIN, at SEA, at BAL
6. Indianapolis Colts (7-5, 2nd South)
Playoff Prospects: Gardner Minshew passed for 312 yards and the winning TD in overtime, but the Indianapolis Colts also had to settle for field goals four times against Tennessee. The Cinderella story adds another chapter.
Remaining schedule: at CIN, vs. PIT, at ATL, vs. LV, vs. HOU
7. Cleveland Browns (7-5, 3rd North)
Playoff Prospects: Joe Flacco had his moments but he didn't appear to be the answer at quarterback for the reeling Cleveland Browns either. The defense allowed 36 points to the Rams, another warning flare.
Remaining schedule: at LAR, vs. JAX, vs. CHI, at HOU, vs. NYJ, at CIN
In the Hunt
8. Houston Texans (7-5, 3rd South)
Remaining schedule: at NYJ, at TEN, vs. CLE, vs. TEN, at IND
9. Denver Broncos (6-6, 2nd in West)
Remaining schedule: at LAC, at DET, vs. NE, vs. LAC, at LV
10. Buffalo Bills (6-6, 2nd in East)
Remaining schedule: at KC, vs. DAL, at LAC, vs. NE, at MIA
11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-6, 4th in North)
Remaining schedule: vs. IND, vs. MIN, at PIT, at KC, vs. CLE
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-7, 4th in West)
Remaining schedule: vs. DEN, at LV, vs. BUF, at DEN, vs. KC
13. Las Vegas Raiders (5-7, 3rd in West)
Remaining schedule: vs. MIN, vs. LAC, at KC, at IND, vs. DEN
NFC Playoff Picture
NFC First-Round Matchups
7. Green Bay at 2. San Francisco
6. Minnesota at 3. Detroit
5. Dallas at 4. Atlanta
Bye: Philadelphia
NFC Playoff Contenders
1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2, 1st East)
Playoff Prospects: The 49ers tore through the Philadelphia Eagles' defense for 42 points. Next up is another high-scoring outfit, the Cowboys, with the NFC East lead and possibly the top seed on the line.
Remaining schedule: at DAL, at SEA, vs. NYG, vs. ARZ, at NYG
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-3, 1st West)
Playoff Prospects: The San Francisco 49ers emphatically answered one question about what might have been had QB Brock Purdy not been injured during the NFC Championship game with a thrashing of the Eagles.
Remaining schedule: vs. SEA, at ARZ, vs. BAL, at WAS, vs. LAR
3. Detroit Lions (9-3, 1st North)
Playoff Prospects: Don't look now but the Detroit Lions are 9-3 for the first time since 1962. They control the North and should host a playoff game.
Remaining schedule: at CHI, vs. DEN, at MIN, at DAL, vs. MIN
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6, 1st South)
Playoff Prospects: It's fitting that the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons won ugly against the Jets. Their closing schedule has several winnable games.
Remaining schedule: vs. TB, at CAR, vs. IND, at CHI, at NO
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3, 2nd East)
Playoff Prospects: QB Dak Prescott continued to build an MVP case during Thursday night's Dallas Cowboys victory against Seattle. The NFC East game of the season awaits in Week 14.
Remaining schedule: vs. PHI, at BUF, at MIA, vs. DET, at WAS
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6, 2nd North)
Playoff Prospects: The bye week came at a good time for the Minnesota Vikings after a disappointing loss to Chicago. Will Joshua Dobbs remain the starting quarterback in Week 14?
Remaining schedule: at LV, at CIN, vs. DET, vs. GB, at DET
7. Green Bay Packers (6-6, 3rd North)
Playoff Prospects: The playoffs no longer are a pipe dream for the Green Bay Packers after they knocked off a division leader for the second week in a row. Sunday night, it was the Chiefs on the heels of defeating the Lions in Detroit.
Remaining schedule: at NYG, vs. TB, at CAR, at MIN, vs. CHI
In the Hunt
8. Los Angeles Rams (6-6, 2nd West)
Remaining schedule: at BAL, vs. WAS, vs. NO, at NYG, at SF
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-6, 3rd West)
Remaining schedule: at SF, vs. PHI, at TEN, vs. PIT, at ARZ
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7, 2nd South)
Remaining schedule: at ATL, at GB, vs. JAX, vs. NO, at CAR
11. New Orleans Saints (5-7, 3rd South)
Remaining schedule: vs. CAR, vs. NYG, at LAR, at TB, vs. ATL
