NFL Analysis
12/11/23
5 min read
2023 NFL Playoff Bracket: Latest Matchups after Week 14
The Dallas Cowboys' resounding victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, coupled with another San Francisco 49ers blowout reshuffled the top of the NFC playoff picture. The 49ers seized the top spot, while the Cowboys slotted in at No. 2 and the Eagles fell to No. 5.
The Baltimore Ravens kept their hold on the AFC's top seed, while losses by the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars dropped them two games behind. And the Miami Dolphins' shocking loss Monday night moved them one game back. Meanwhile, a logjam of six teams sits at 7-6.
AFC First-Round Matchups
7. Indianapolis at 2. Miami
6. Pittsburgh at 3. Kansas City
5. Cleveland at 4. Jacksonville
Bye: Baltimore
AFC Playoff Contenders
1. Baltimore Ravens (10-3, 1st North)
Playoff Prospects: The Baltimore Ravens badly needed Sunday's OT win against the Rams because the final month of their schedule is brutal.
Remaining schedule: at JAX, at SF, vs. MIA, vs. PIT
2. Miami Dolphins (9-4, 1st East)
Playoff Prospects: The Miami Dolphins coughed up a 14-point lead in the final three minutes vs. Tennesse but retained the No. 2 spot because four of the five teams behind them in the playoff picture also lost. Â
Remaining schedule: vs. NYJ, vs. DAL, at BAL, vs. BUF
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5, 1st West)
Playoff Prospects: The Kansas City Chiefs have lost three of four games and seen their West lead shrink to just one game over the Broncos, who they split with this season.
Remaining schedule: at NE, vs. LV, vs. CIN, at LAC
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5, 1st South)
Playoff Prospects: Extra credit to QB Trevor Lawrence for gutting out Sunday's game on an injured ankle, but the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the team they're staring at in the first round of the playoffs with two first-place teams, including the top-seeded Ravens, on deck.
Remaining schedule: vs. BAL, at TB, vs. CAR, at TEN
5. Cleveland Browns (8-5, 2nd North)
Playoff Prospects: Joe Flacco — he of three TD passes and 311 yards — to the rescue for the Cleveland Browns! The Browns are well-positioned to get to 10 wins and lock up a playoff berth.
Remaining schedule: vs. CHI, at HOU, vs. NYJ, at CIN
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6, 3rd North)
Playoff Prospects: If Week 13's loss to the Cardinals was inexplicable, what do the Pittsburgh Steelers do with Thursday night's loss — at home — to the now-three-win Patriots? The Steelers' closing stretch features four games against teams in the playoff chase.
Remaining schedule: at IND, vs. CIN, at SEA, at BAL
7. Indianapolis Colts (7-6, 2nd South)
Playoff Prospects: The Indianapolis Colts gave up the final 20 points and showed almost nothing on offense in the second half at Cincinnati. Sunday's loss could have wild-card tiebreaker implications.
Remaining schedule: vs. PIT, at ATL, vs. LV, vs. HOU
In the Hunt
8. Houston Texans (7-6, 3rd South)
Remaining schedule: at TEN, vs. CLE, vs. TEN, at IND
9. Denver Broncos (7-6, 2nd West)
Remaining schedule: at DET, vs. NE, vs. LAC, at LV
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6, 4th North)
Remaining schedule: vs. MIN, at PIT, at KC, vs. CLE
11. Buffalo Bills (7-6, 2nd East)
Remaining schedule: vs. DAL, at LAC, vs. NE, at MIA
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8, 4th West)
Remaining schedule: at LV, vs. BUF, at DEN, vs. KC
13. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8, 3rd West)
Remaining schedule: vs. LAC, at KC, at IND, vs. DEN
14. New York Jets (5-8, 3rd East)
Remaining schedule: at MIA, vs. WAS, at CLE, at NE
15. Tennessee Titans (5-8, 4th in South)
Remaining schedule: vs. HOU, vs. SEA, at HOU, vs. JAX
NFC First-Round Matchups
7. Green Bay at 2. Dallas
6. Minnesota at 3. Detroit
5. Philadelphia at 4. Tampa Bay
Bye: San Francisco
NFC Playoff Contenders
1. San Francisco 49ers (10-3, 1st West)
Playoff Prospects: The San Francisco 49ers amassed 527 yards — including 368 yards passing by QB Brock Purdy — to extend their NFC West lead to four games and move into the top seed.
Remaining schedule: at ARZ, vs. BAL, at WAS, vs. LAR
2. Dallas Cowboys (10-3, 1ST East)
Playoff Prospects: QB Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys gashed the Eagles for 33 points to take over the East lead. The win also put the Cowboys in striking distance of a top seed should the 49ers lose a game and they win out.
Remaining schedule: at BUF, at MIA, vs. DET, at WAS
3. Detroit Lions (9-4, 1st North)
Playoff Prospects: Trouble in Motor City? The Detroit Lions have lost two of their past three convincingly, to the Packers and, on Sunday, the Bears. A playoff bye seems unrealistic.
Remaining schedule: vs. DEN, at MIN, at DAL, vs. MIN
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7, 1st South)
Playoff Prospects: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers discovered a running game and knocked off host Atlanta to take over first in the NFC South.
Remaining schedule: at GB, vs. JAX, vs. NO, at CAR
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3, 2nd East)
Playoff Prospects: One week after the 49ers tore through the Philadelphia Eagles defense for 42 points, the Cowboys rang up 33. That two-game slide streak has knocked the Eagles out of the conference's and East's top spots.
Remaining schedule: at SEA, vs. NYG, vs. ARZ, at NYG
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6, 2nd North)
Playoff Prospects: It wasn't pretty, but the Minnesota Vikings got a much-needed win in Las Vegas heading into Saturday's game at the Bengals and then three consecutive NFC North games.
Remaining schedule: at CIN, vs. DET, vs. GB, at DET
7. Green Bay Packers (6-7, 3rd North)
Playoff Prospects: The Green Bay Packers didn't make things easier on themselves with Monday's last-second loss to the Giants. Three turnovers and untimely penalties plagued Green Bay, which still has a manageable schedule ahead.
Remaining schedule: vs. TB, at CAR, at MIN, vs. CHI
In the Hunt
8. Los Angeles Rams (6-7, 2nd West)
Remaining schedule: vs. WAS, vs. NO, at NYG, at SF
9. Seattle Seahawks (6-7, 3rd West)
Remaining schedule: vs. PHI, at TEN, vs. PIT, at ARZ
10. Atlanta Falcons (6-7, 2nd South)
Remaining schedule: at CAR, vs. IND, at CHI, at NO
11. New Orleans Saints (6-7, 3rd South)
Remaining schedule: vs. NYG, at LAR, at TB, vs. ATL
12. New York Giants (5-8, 3rd East)
Remaining schedule: at NO, at PHI, vs. LAR, vs. PHI
13. Chicago Bears (5-8, 4th North)
Remaining schedule: at CLE, vs. ARZ, vs. ATL, at GB
