Who’s in and who’s out of the NFL playoffs?
Week 14 of the National Football League regular season concluded tonight. The post-season is approaching and teams began to punch their tickets for a playoff run. It’s time for an update on who’s in and who’s out for a chance to hoist the super bowl trophy come February.
AFC
Eliminated — Denver, Indianapolis, Cleveland
Despite yesterday’s commanding 23–0 victory over the Jets, the Denver Broncos saw their playoff chances crumble. The Buffalo Bills victory in overtime versus the Indianapolis Colts mathematically eliminated the Broncos from playoff contention. With a record of 4–9, Denver misses the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
The Indianapolis Colts lost 13–10 (OT) in a snowy overtime matchup versus the Buffalo Bills yesterday. The combination of the loss and their 3–10 record eliminated them from the post-season. Their franchise quarterback, Andrew Luck, missed this year due to injuries and looks to bring the Colts back into contention for the 2018 season.
The Cleveland Browns are 0–13 following an overtime loss yesterday to the Green Bay Packers. The team has been out of playoff contention since Week 12. The Browns are currently in line for the number 1 draft pick for the 2018 NFL Draft.
In the Hunt — Baltimore, L.A. Chargers, Oakland, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Cincinnati, Houston
The Baltimore Ravens lost a tough one last night. The Pittsburgh Steelers overcame an 11-point deficit to hand the Raven’s their 6th loss of the season. Despite this, the 7–6 team is only one game behind for the final playoff spot. The face the winless Cleveland Brown next week.
The Los Angeles Chargers started out their season 1–6. The team has rallied back and after their 30–13 win over the Redskins yesterday, they remain eligible for a Wild Card spot with a 7–6 record. Next week, they face a struggling Kansas City Chiefs team.
The Oakland Raiders lost 26–15 yesterday to the Kansas City Chiefs. At 6–7, the Raiders are two games behind for a playoff spot. Their poor performance this year is, in large part, due to multiple injuries to key players such as quarterback Derek Carr. They look for a win next week versus the Dallas Cowboys.
The Miami Dolphins are 6–7 after their upset win over the New England Patriots tonight. Coming in as the underdogs, quarterback Jay Culter and the Dolphins led an impressive 27–20 victory over the Patriots. The win prevents the team from being eliminated from the playoffs for another week.
The New York Jets suffered hardship this week. Their 0–23 loss to the Denver Broncos is minor compared to the broken hand of their quarterback Josh McCown. With their quarterback out for the rest of the season, the team needs to choose either Christian Hackenberg or Bryce Petty as their starter for week 15 versus the New Orleans Saints. The team is 5–8 and needs not only to win out, but also needs the Tennessee, Buffalo, Baltimore, Chargers, Oakland, and Miami to lose in order for them to make the playoffs.
With a 5–8 record, the Cincinnati Bengals appear in the same boat as the New York Jets. A 7–33 loss to the Chicago Bears pushes further back for playoff contention. They look to rebound and keep their post-season hopes alive next week with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
At 4–9, the Houston Texans are mathematically the last team with playoff hopes. A loss to the San Francisco 49ers solidifies what has been a disappointing season. Key injuries plagued the team. Their rookie quarterback DeShaun Watson and star tight-end J.J. Watt ended their seasons earlier in the year. This week, the team witnessed their back-up quarterback Tom Savage take a brutal hit to the head. Beat up from top to bottom, this team keeps their hopes alive with a matchup against Jacksonville Jaguars next week.
Wild Card — Tennessee & Buffalo
The Tennessee Titans are 8–5 and hold onto the first Wild Card spot despite their 7–12 loss to the Arizona Cardinals yesterday. The Titans face a poor San Francisco 49ers team next week. The following weeks may prove to be a challenge, as they face the Rams and Jaguars.
The Buffalo Bills are 7–6 and remain in the second Wild Card spot. Their 13–7 win over the Indianapolis Colts keeps their playoff hopes alive. They move forward and prepare for a matchup with the Miami Dolphins next week.
Divisional Leaders — Pittsburgh, New England, Jacksonville, Kansas City
Pittsburgh is riding hot hand this season. A comeback win against the Baltimore Ravens clinched their division and ensures a playoff appearance. At 11–2, they hold the number 1 seed in the AFC going into the postseason. A tough matchup against the New England Patriots next week could decide their official seating. With a win, they will be one step closer to a first-round playoff bye week.
The New England Patriots hold onto the Divisional lead despite an upset 20–27 loss to the Miami Dolphins tonight. With a win, the team would have clinched a playoff berth. However, they’ll have to wait till next week.
The Jacksonville Jaguars upset the Seattle Seahawks with a 30–24 win yesterday. They lead their division with a 9–4 record. This team is a win away from clinching their division and punching their ticket to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
The Kansas City Chiefs started their season 5–0. But a series of losses leaves them with a record of 7–6. Even with that record, they hold onto the lead for the AFC West division. They go into next week’s matchup with the Chargers in need of a win to remain in playoff contention.
NFC
Eliminated — Washington, Tampa Bay, Chicago, San Francisco, N.Y. Giants
The Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and the New York Football Giants are all eliminated from playoff contention. The teams all look to the offseason NFL Draft to help rebuild their chances for next year. Currently, the Giants hold onto the second-pick of the draft.
In the hunt — Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, Dallas, Arizona
The Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Arizona Cardinals remain mathematically capable of making the postseason. The Seahawks sit at 8–5 and need to win out and hope the Falcons lose at least once in the final three games. The Lions and Packers are both two games back and need the Seahawks and Falcons to both lose. Dallas and Arizona face much steeper conditions and a loss would eliminate them from the playoffs.
Wild Card — Carolina & Atlanta
The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons both pose threats to the New Orleans Saints divisional title. The Panthers hold a record of 9–4 while the Falcons are 8–5. Both teams are only one game behind the 9–4 Saints. If all three teams win out the remainder of the regular season, they will all make the playoffs. Any single loss could be detrimental to the playoff chances though as Seattle, Detroit, and Green Bay look to challenge their seating.
Divisional Leaders — Philadelphia, Minnesota, L.A. Rams, New Orleans
A 43–35 win last night over the Los Angeles Rams clinched the Philadelphia Eagles postseason appearance. But their victory is shadowed by the devastating loss of quarterback Carson Wentz. The MVP candidate suffered a torn ACL late in the game and is now out for the remainder of the season. The Eagles turn to their backup Nick Foles to lead the charge for the first super bowl in program history.
The Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans Saints lead their respective divisions. The Vikings hold onto the NFC North Division with a 10–3 record. A win next week versus the Bengals would clinch their playoff appearance. The Los Angeles Rams lead the NFC West with a record of 9–4. The Seattle Seahawks are on only one game behind and pose a serious threat to the Rams divisional title. The New Orleans Saints appear to have the toughest battle ahead. The lead the NFC South division at 9–4. But in their mirror are the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons just one game behind.
Next week could feature a series of teams clinching their playoff spots. Another week of competitive football is looming for Week 15.
