Current NFL Playoff Picture: Who’s In and Who’s Out

scottclause.com via Flickr

NFL

The NFL Playoff Picture as it Currently Stands. Mediocrity is the Name of the Game.

With the exception of the AFC West, the second standing team in every NFL division has a record of 6-5 or worse. The Los Angeles Chargers are currently 9-3 sitting behind the 9-2 Kansas City Chiefs. The average record of Wild Card teams in the NFC is a mediocre 6-5. Last year in Week 13 it was 8-4.

The divide between the top teams and bad teams seems to be growing, while the number of high-average teams appears to be dwindling. Out of 32 teams, only seven have a winning record greater than 6-5. This mediocrity has left the postseason door wide open for several teams. Only a handful of teams have solidified their future come January.

American Football Conference

AFC East

New England Patriots (8-3), Miami Dolphins (5-6), Buffalo Bills (4-7), New York Jets (3-8)

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1), Baltimore Ravens (6-5), Cincinnati Bengals (5-6), Cleveland Browns (4-6-1)

AFC South

Houston Texans (8-3), Indianapolis Colts (6-5), Tennessee Titans (5-6), Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8)

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (9-2), Los Angeles Chargers (8-3), Denver Broncos (5-6), Oakland Raiders (2-9)

Current Bracket

Currently, the Chiefs and the Patriots hold the first and second seed respectively within the AFC. Following them are the Texans and Steelers at third and fourth respectively.

The Wild Card teams, as of now, are the Chargers and Ravens at the fifth and sixth seeds respectively. Waiting in the wings to try and steal a Wild Card position are the Colts, Titans, Dolphins, Bengals, and Broncos. The rest of the AFC has four or fewer wins.

Teams that can be eliminated from the playoff run are the Jaguars, Jets, and Raiders.

So as of now, the Chiefs and Patriots would receive the bye and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs until they potentially faced each other. In that scenario, the game would take place in Kansas City. The Ravens would play the Texans in Houston; the winner would face the Chiefs. The Steelers would play the Chargers in Pittsburgh, and the winner would go onto play the Patriots.

National Football Conference

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (6-5), Washington (6-5), Philadelphia Eagles (5-6), New York Giants (3-8)

NFC North

Chicago Bears (8-3), Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1), Green Bay Packers (4-6-1), Detroit Lions (4-7)

NFC South

New Orleans Saints (10-1), Carolina Panthers (6-5), Atlanta Falcons (4-7), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)

NFC West

Los Angeles Rams (10-1), Seattle Seahawks (6-5), Arizona Cardinals (2-9), San Francisco 49ers (2-9)

Current Bracket

The Saints currently lead the NFC followed right by the Rams. After them, the Bears and the Cowboys hold the third and fourth seed respectively. The Wild Card spots would go to the Vikings and Washington. However, with Washington’s quarterback, Alex Smith, out for the season, and Dallas and Minnesota’s narrow lead on the rest of the NFC, this bracket is likely to change.

The four major teams in contention for a playoff spot in the order of their ranking are the Seahawks, Panthers, Eagles, and Packers. The road for the Eagles and Packers to see postseason action is uphill and improbable.

Teams that can safely be considered out of the running for an NFC playoff spot are the Giants, Cardinals, and 49ers.

With the current standings, the Saints and Rams would be granted the bye week and enjoy home-field advantage, with a meeting between the two taking place in New Orleans. The Bears would play Washington in Chicago, the winner playing the Saints. The Cowboys would play the Vikings in Dallas, the winner playing the Rams.

Super Bowl LIII

Super Bowl LIII will take place in Atlanta, Georgia in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, February 3rd. If the bracket doesn’t change, which it inevitably will, the Kansas City Chiefs will represent the AFC against the New Orleans Saints playing for the NFC.

As of November 20th, according to ESPN, the Saints have the best odds to win it all at 2-1. They opened the season at 16-1. The Rams follow the Saints at 3-1, followed by the Chiefs (7-2), Steelers (6-1), Patriots (8-1), and then the Bears (14-1).

The Eagles who opened the season at 10-1 odds now hold 100-1 odds of winning the Super Bowl. The Falcons, who opened at 16-1, are now 300-1 to win the Super Bowl. The National Football League is many things, one thing it is not is predictable. The current standings will change, to what extent is unknown, but as of now, this is the postseason picture.

Photo Credit

Featured Image courtesy of scottclause.com

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