NFL playoff picture after week 14: Who’s in, Who’s out?
As the NFL playoff race heats up in mid-December, teams are vigorously jockeying for playoff position with only five weeks remaining in the season.
Despite having a Monday night win almost guaranteed against the Tennessee Titans, the Miami Dolphins managed to fumble it away, conceding two Titans touchdowns in the final three minutes, resulting in a devastating 28-27 loss at home. The loss drops their record to 9-4, and although they still hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC, they squandered a significant chance to keep pace with the 10-3 Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC.
After the Sunday games in Week 14, the NFL playoff races continue to be chaotic and enigmatic, ensuring a season homestretch that will be remembered. The AFC stands out with 11 teams sporting winning records and another six teams maintaining 7-6 records, surpassing the previous record for a single conference through Week 14 since 1970. Out of the NFC's five teams that have a 6-7 record, three of them belong to the NFC South.
While only one team in either the NFC or AFC has already guaranteed a spot in the dance (namely San Francisco), there are a few teams that seem ready to embark on legitimate journeys toward the Lombardi Trophy.
With week 15 approaching, there are 30 teams that still have a chance at making it to the postseason, while 24 teams are currently in a playoff position or within striking distance of one.
Regarding the remainder of the NFL, Week 14 witnessed significant shifts in the playoff landscape. Let's examine the current state of affairs as we enter Week 15.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens, the AFC's initial 10-win team, discovered another method to secure a captivating victory on Sunday through a walk-off punt return in overtime. In a rainy game against the Rams, quarterback Lamar Jackson had an impressive performance, amassing 316 passing yards, 70 rushing yards, and three passing touchdowns. It's impressive how this team consistently finds ways to win.
Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, at 49ers, vs. Dolphins, vs. Steelers
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were at a disadvantage in their defeat to the Titans, but a loss at home to a team in the process of rebuilding does not instill confidence in the playoff aspirations of a team that has been vying for the top seed. The Dolphins’ .325 strength of victory is the worst in the AFC and the third worst in the NFL, only better than the Saints and Giants. For a team that has yet to prove themselves, it's remarkable to see such a significant statistic going into the playoffs against established, talented teams.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, vs. Cowboys, at Ravens, vs. Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs' recent struggles continue as they lose four of their last six games, demonstrating a knack for self-sabotage in crucial moments. Their latest loss to the Bills saw Kadarius Toney's clear offside penalty nullify a potential go-ahead touchdown. From dropped passes to costly penalties and other self-induced blunders, the Chiefs have been coming up short in critical situations where they used to excel with the help of Patrick Mahomes, who simply can't shoulder the entire burden. Despite a manageable schedule for the final month, the Chiefs are pressed for time to remedy enduring transgressions from the season.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Raiders, vs. Bengals, at Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite battling a high ankle sprain, quarterback Trevor Lawrence deserves recognition for his unwavering determination as he took a pounding throughout the game, yet still led the Jaguars with a chance to win against the Browns. However, the Jaguars have a number of issues that need to be dealt with. They turned it over four times, including three interceptions by Lawrence, and it’s the seventh time this season they’ve had numerous giveaways. In back-to-back losses, the Jaguars have surrendered 31 points to backup quarterbacks, bringing to light their defensive weaknesses. The combination of frequent turnovers and an unreliable defense is not a winning formula for a long playoff run.
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Buccaneers, vs. Panthers, at Titans
Cleveland Browns
The Browns' 31-27 victory against the Jaguars not only improved their season record to 3-4 with a backup quarterback but also showcased a remarkable offensive performance. Their defense, which had a dominant start, has tapered off as they've allowed at least 27 points in four of their last five games. This poses a challenge since the team's success is built on its dominant defense.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Texans, vs. Jets, at Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite owning the tiebreakers over the other five AFC teams with 7-6 records, the Steelers' recent performances against the Cardinals and Patriots have been disappointing. If their performance against two three-win teams is any indication, can we have faith in their capacity to improve when faced with a much more formidable final set of opponents?
Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Bengals, at Seahawks, at Ravens
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts, despite their injury-riddled roster, have managed to outperform expectations, but they were defeated in a challenging game against the suddenly enhanced Bengals on Sunday. The games against the Steelers and Texans serve as high-stakes battles that frame a more feasible series of matchups. To secure their position, they'll have to win one of the tougher games and seek support from tiebreakers.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Falcons, vs. Raiders, vs. Texans
The 2024 NFL Playoffs may be in the distant future, but every win matters at this early stage of the season, with tie-breakers already at stake.
If the season were to conclude today, here's a breakdown of the AFC playoffs in the NFL.
NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
Miami Dolphins (9-4)
Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
Cleveland Browns (8-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Indianapolis Colts (7-5)
In the hunt:
Houston Texans (7-6)
Denver Broncos (7-6)
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
Buffalo Bills (7-6)
Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)
Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)
New York Jets (5-8)
Tennessee Titans (5-8)
Eliminated:
New England Patriots (3-10)
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers extended their winning streak to five games with a convincing 28-16 victory over the Seahawks, maintaining an impressive average point differential of 19.4. Their lone win a single by one score all season — 30-23 against the Rams back in Week 2.
With their latest win, the 49ers have officially clinched a playoff berth, setting a record for the earliest team to do so this season.
Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, vs. Ravens, at Commanders, vs. Rams
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys' success at home this season continued with their win against the Eagles, bringing their record to an impressive 7-0. They have been consistently averaging two takeaways per game in Dallas. On the flip side, their road record stands at 3-3, with an average of 23.7 points and 1.2 takeaways per game.
It's important to note that four out of their last five games were played at home, which has seemingly contributed to their recent upturn in form. Nonetheless, it highlights the escalated risk they will present if they can snatch the NFC East crown from Philly.
Remaining schedule: at Bills, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Commanders
Detroit Lions
Despite their close calls, the Lions have managed to cling to survival for several weeks. Yet, the Bears seemed to be in command for most of the 28-13 game, and quarterback Jared Goff's recurring turnovers have become a worrisome factor. Goff's struggles continued as he threw two interceptions and fumbled a snap from the center, further adding to his streak of multiple turnovers. Goff's precision with the ball rivaled that of any QB in the league when the Lions were dominating earlier in the season.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Vikings, at Cowboys, vs. Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With precision and determination, quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Bucs to a comeback victory over the Falcons, propelling them to first place in the division. There's a chance that, for the third time since 2014, the NFC South will have a team with a sub-.500 record in the playoffs. Their reward would likely be a wild-card date with either the Eagles or Cowboys, the two top contenders from the NFC East. With the Buccaneers, Falcons, and Saints all sitting at 6-7, the division is ripe with anticipation for more dramatic twists.
Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Colts, at Bears, at Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' ability to close out tight games in crunch time was instrumental in their impressive 10-1 start, even when they weren't at their peak performance. Yet, in the previous two defeats against the 49ers and Cowboys, the Eagles' slow starts proved fatal as they failed to match the performance of these formidable NFC rivals. At present, the Eagles are cognizant of the fact that they must make progress in order to surpass either team in the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Giants, vs. Cardinals, at Giants
Minnesota Vikings
Well, they all have identical significance. The Vikings' 3-0 victory over the Raiders kept them in the lead by one game over a group of four teams with a 6-7 record. There is apprehension that the magic of Josh Dobbs may be waning. Coach Kevin O’Connell conducted an evaluation of the QB situation during their bye week, leading to the substitution of Dobbs with Nick Mullens on Sunday. The Vikings cannot safely assume a playoff spot due to their challenging remaining schedule and the performance of their quarterback in the past three games.
Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Lions, vs. Packers, at Lions
Green Bay Packers
The Packers performed poorly in all areas during their loss to the Giants and missed a chance to maintain their lead over the other four teams with 6-7 records, so they are currently relying on the tiebreaker. Their chances of making the playoffs will be entirely contingent upon the performance of one player moving forward: Jordan Love. Is he the quarterback who led them to the recent three-game winning streak or the one who grappled with accuracy for much of the Monday night loss and earlier in the season? We’re soon going to find out.
Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Panthers, at Vikings, vs. Bears
If the season were to conclude today in the NFC, here's how the NFL playoffs would shape up.
NFL Playoff Picture
NFC
San Francisco 49ers (10-3)
Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
Detroit Lions (9-4)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
Green Bay Packers (6-7)
In the hunt:
Los Angeles Rams (6-7)
Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
New Orleans Saints (6-7)
New York Giants (5-8)
Chicago Bears (5-8)
Washington Commanders (4-9)
Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
Eliminated:
Carolina Panthers (1-12)
Thank you for dedicating your time to reading the article, and we hope you will remain engaged for future updates.
By subscribing below, you can ensure that you stay notified with fresh content, especially if you find this article illuminating.
Remember to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram for the latest Sports Breaking News updates throughout the day.
