NFL Playoff Picture 2023: Predictions For Final Postseason Standings, Bracket
There are two weeks left in the NFL season as the calendar turns from 2022 to 2023, and only a quarter of the league has been eliminated from contention. Five of the 14 spots in the playoff picture remain undecided, and none of the final seeding has been settled.
The No. 1 seed in each conference is more important than ever in the new playoff format. The Philadelphia Eagles are one victory away from clinching the top spot in the NFC playoff bracket and a first-round bye. The Buffalo Bills are atop the AFC standings, but the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals are real threats to earn the conference's only bye. The Bills visit Cincinnati in a key Week 17 matchup.
All four of those teams have clinched spots in the playoff picture. The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers have won their divisions. The winner of the Week 18 matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will win the AFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 in a contest that could determine the NFC South champion.
The Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers have all clinched playoff spots.
The Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers are technically still in the playoff race, but the final AFC wild-card berth will likely come down to the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. Miami faces New England and New York in its final two games of the season.
Over in the NFC, the New York Giants and Washington Commanders are second and third in the wild-card standings, respectively. The Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are all a half-game behind Washington for the No. 7 seed.
How will the final playoff picture shake out? Here are predictions for the 2023 playoff standings in the AFC and NFC, along with matchups for Wild-Card Weekend.
AFC Playoff Bracket
1) Kansas City Chiefs — First-Round Bye
2) Buffalo Bills vs. 7) Miami Dolphins
3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. 6) Los Angeles Chargers
4) Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 5) Baltimore Ravens
NFC Playoff Bracket
1) Philadelphia Eagles — First-Round Bye
2) San Francisco 49ers vs. 7) Detroit Lions
3) Minnesota Vikings vs. 6) New York Giants
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5) Dallas Cowboys
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