The NFL playoffs haven't started yet.
But in many ways, they started Saturday night.
Week 18 of the 2023 NFL regular season began with two important AFC games. One team was already out and resting their starters, while the other three teams were fighting for the playoffs.
In the early game, pittsburgh steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over baltimore ravens. As outlined in his scenario breakdown for every playoff game in Week 18, the Steelers can qualify in one of two ways: buffalo bills loss to miami dolphins,or jacksonville jaguars loss to tennessee titans.
Then Saturday night houston texans And that indianapolis colts They will compete in a “win-or-get-out” game, with the winner earning a spot in the playoffs and the loser being eliminated. The game remained tense until the final minutes, but the Texans won with a final score of 23-17.
Here's how things stand heading into the final day of the 2023 NFL regular season.
NFC
right now
1. san francisco 49ers (12-4) – z*
Remaining games: Rams
2. dallas cowboys (11-5) – ×
Remaining games: Commanders game
3. detroit lions (11-5)-z
Remaining games: Vikings
Four. tampa bay buccaneers (8-8)
Remaining games: Panthers game
Five. philadelphia eagles (11-5) – ×
Remaining games: Giants game
6. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)-y
Games remaining: 49ers
7. green bay packers (8-8)
Remaining games: Bears
in the hunt
8. seattle seahawks (8-8)
Remaining games: Cardinals game
9. new orleans saints (8-8)
Remaining games: Falcons
Ten. minnesota vikings (7-9)
Remaining games: Lions game
11. chicago bears (7-9) – e
Remaining games: Packers game
12. atlanta falcons (7-9)
Remaining games: Saints game
z – Clinched Division
x – Confirm a place in the playoffs
y – confirmed wildcard
e – eliminated
* – Secure home field advantage
NFC playoff matchups if the postseason started today
If the NFC playoffs started today, Wild Card Weekend would feature three matchups:
- Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The San Francisco 49ers earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.
of NFC Playoffs Photos Will be updated after Sunday's game.Sunday's NFC, playoffs, and An overview of elimination scenarios can be found here.
A.F.C.
right now
1. baltimore ravens (13-4) – z*
2. miami dolphins (11-5) – ×
Remaining games: Bills
3. kansas city chiefs (10-6)
Remaining games: charger
4. Houston Texans (10-7) – ×
Five. cleveland browns (11-5)-y
Remaining games: vs. Bengals
6. buffalo bills (10-6)
Remaining games: Dolphins game
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
in the hunt
8. jacksonville jaguars (9-7)
Remaining games: Titans game
excluded
9. indianapolis colts (9-7) – e
z-Clinched Division
x – Confirm a place in the playoffs
y – confirmed wildcard
* – Secure home field advantage
e – eliminated
AFC playoff brackets if the postseason started now
If the AFC Playoffs started today, Wild Card Weekend would feature three matchups:
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins
- Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans
In the previous game, the Steelers defeated the Ravens to keep their playoff hopes alive. Pittsburgh currently sits in seventh place in the AFC, but will need some help to stay there. For the Steelers to make the playoffs, they need to either lose to the Bills, lose or tie with the Jaguars.
However, if both Jacksonville and Buffalo win on Sunday, the Steelers will be eliminated.
As for the Texans, thanks to their win over the Colts, they are currently in the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and are the AFC South champions. But to stay there, Jacksonville must lose or tie with Tennessee on Sunday. However, if Jacksonville wins, the Texans will fall to seventh place, ahead of Jacksonville. Sunday Night Football.
In a Jaguars win scenario, a Bills win would keep them in seventh place, but if the Bills lose to the Dolphins, Buffalo would be eliminated, the Steelers would be the seventh seed, and the Texans would be the sixth seed. seed.
With Saturday night's loss, the Colts are eliminated.
AFC playoff photos will be updated after Sunday's game.Sunday's AFC, playoffs, and An overview of elimination scenarios can be found here.
