NFL Playoff Picture Unraveled: Live Updates, Seeding Scenarios, and Wild Card Matchups
Introduction
With the NFL regular season winding down, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Several teams are vying for the final Wild Card spots, and the seeding for the Divisional Round is still up for grabs. This article will provide live updates on the playoff picture, as well as analysis of the remaining scenarios and potential Wild Card matchups.
Current Playoff Picture
As of December 27th, 2023, the following teams have clinched a playoff spot:
| AFC | NFC |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) | Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) |
| Buffalo Bills (12-3) | San Francisco 49ers (12-4) |
| Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) | Minnesota Vikings (12-4) |
| Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) | Dallas Cowboys (12-4) |
| Baltimore Ravens (10-6) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) |
| New York Jets (7-9) | Seattle Seahawks (8-8) |
The remaining Wild Card spots are up for grabs, with several teams in contention.
Seeding Scenarios
The seeding for the Divisional Round will be determined by the following tiebreakers:
- Head-to-head record
- Win-loss record within the division
- Win-loss record against common opponents
- Strength of victory
- Strength of schedule
The current seeding scenarios are as follows:
| AFC | NFC |
|---|---|
| 1. Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) | 1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) |
| 2. Buffalo Bills (12-3) | 2. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) |
| 3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) | 3. Minnesota Vikings (12-4) |
| 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) | 4. Dallas Cowboys (12-4) |
| 5. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) | 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) |
| 6. New York Jets (7-9) | 6. Seattle Seahawks (8-8) |
These seeding scenarios are subject to change based on the results of the remaining games.
Wild Card Matchups
The Wild Card Round will be played on January 14-15, 2024. The matchups will be as follows:
| AFC | NFC |
|---|---|
| 7. New York Jets at 2. Buffalo Bills | 7. Seattle Seahawks at 2. San Francisco 49ers |
| 6. Baltimore Ravens at 3. Cincinnati Bengals | 6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3. Minnesota Vikings |
| 5. Jacksonville Jaguars at 4. Kansas City Chiefs | 5. Dallas Cowboys at 4. Philadelphia Eagles |
These matchups are subject to change based on the results of the remaining games.
Conclusion
The NFL playoff picture is starting to take shape, but there are still several scenarios that could play out. The remaining games will determine the final standings and seeding for the Divisional Round. The Wild Card Round will be played on January 14-15, 2024, and the Divisional Round will be played on January 21-22, 2024.
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