Merry Christmas NFL followers!
And Merry Christmas to you studying from the Detroit space.
The Detroit Lions locked down their first division title since 1993, due to their win over the Minnesota Vikings. Thanks to outcomes round the remainder of the convention, the Lions are actually sitting second within the NFC.
Over within the AFC, the Miami Dolphins clinched a playoff spot of their very own, with a subject purpose on the ultimate play of the sport to beat the Dallas Cowboys. However, they’ve but to clinch the division, because the Buffalo Bills are nonetheless alive.
And now in a playoff spot as effectively.
Here is the up-to-the-minute playoff image, forward of the Christmas Eve primetime recreation between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots.
This piece will probably be up to date following the conclusion of the Patriots-Broncos recreation, after which following the three video games on Christmas Day.
NFC
In proper now
1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3) – z
Remaining video games: Ravens, at Commanders, Rams
2. Detroit Lions (11-4) – z
Remaining video games: at Cowboys, Vikings
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) – x
Remaining video games: Giants, Cardinals, at Giants
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
Remaining video games: Saints, at Panthers
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-5) – x
Remaining video games: Lions, at Commanders
6. Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
Remaining video games: at Giants, at 49ers
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Remaining video games: Steelers, at Cardinals
In the hunt
8. Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
Remaining video games: Packers, at Lions
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
Remaining video games: at Bears, at Saints
10. Green Bay Packers (7-8)
Remaining video games: at Vikings, Bears
11. New Orleans Saints (7-8)
Remaining video games: at Buccaneers, Falcons
z – Clinched division
x – Clinched playoff spot
Christmas got here early for Lions followers, as Detroit clinched their first division title 1993. They are actually within the second spot, due to the Cowboys’ loss to the Dolphins. Dallas slides out of the division lead, and right into a Wild Card spot, with their loss to Miami. Cowboys followers could have their eyes on the Eagles’ recreation, as Philadelphia might inch nearer to the division title with a win over New York.
The Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks are the opposite two Wild Card groups within the combine proper now, with matching 8-7 data. The Rams have the tiebreaker over the Seahawks on account of their season sweep of Seattle.
As for the combination of groups at 7-8, the Vikings come out on high after tiebreakers are utilized. Division tiebreakers are initially used to get down to at least one group in every division. The Vikings have the head-to-head benefit over Green Bay, which eliminates the Packers. The Falcons have the identical benefit over New Orleans, which eliminates the Saints. Then Minnesota’s win over Atlanta offers the Vikings the eight spot.
Between the Falcons, Packers, and Saints, the Saints are once more eradicated on account of their head-to-head report in opposition to Atlanta. Between the Falcons and the Packers, the Falcons have the benefit due to their win earlier within the season. So Atlanta slots in ninth.
Between the Packers and the Saints, the Packers have the benefit due to their win again in Week 3. So Green Bay is within the tenth spot, and the Saints have dropped to eleventh.
NFC playoff matchups if the postseason began at this time
If the NFC playoffs started at this time, these can be the three matchups on Wild Card Weekend:
- Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
- Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
- Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The San Francisco 49ers would have the first-overall seed, and the first-round bye, within the NFC.
AFC
In proper now
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-3) – x
Remaining video games: at 49ers, Dolphins, Steelers
2. Miami Dolphins (11-4) – x
Remaining video games: at Ravens, Bills
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)
Remaining video games: Raiders, Bengals, at Chargers
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7)
Remaining video games: Panthers, at Titans
5. Cleveland Browns (10-5)
Remaining video games: Jets, at Bengals
6. Buffalo Bills (9-6)
Remaining video games: Patriots, at Dolphins
7. Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
Remaining video games: Raiders, Texans
In the hunt
8. Houston Texans (8-7)
Remaining video games: Titans, at Colts
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
Remaining video games: at Seahawks, at Ravens
10. Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
Remaining video games: at Chiefs, Browns
11. Denver Broncos (7-8)
Remaining video games: Chargers, at Raiders
z- Clinched division
x – Clinched playoff spot
Sunday night time replace: The Broncos’ shocking loss to the Patriots put an enormous dent of their playoff possibilities. They now sit eleventh within the AFC, needing to get forward of plenty of groups to get into playoff place. While they’ve two winnable video games remaining, they may want lots of assist to get into the playoffs.
Previous replace: The Jaguars are fading, however are nonetheless on high within the AFC South even with their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Losses by the Colts and the Texans means the Jaguars nonetheless personal tiebreakers over each groups.
The Buffalo Bills are actually in a playoff place, sitting within the sixth spot with a 9-6 report. They now management their playoff future, which appeared unimaginable just some weeks in the past.
However, 4 groups are at present tied with 8-7 data: The Colts, the Texans, the Steelers, and the Bengals. Denver can be part of them later tonight with a win over the Patriots. But between these 4 groups, Indianapolis comes out on high for the seventh and remaining spot, a minimum of in the intervening time.
Under the tiebreaking guidelines, division tiebreakers are used first, to “eliminate” a group till only one is left in every division. Pittsburgh eliminates Cincinnati due to a season sweep of the Bengals. Indianapolis eliminates Houston due to their win over the Texans again in Week 2. Those two groups play in Week 18, which could possibly be a win-or-go-home contest.
Then between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, the Colts are in, due to their win over the Steelers again in Week 15.
That leaves Pittsburgh, Houston, and Cincinnati. The Steelers once more get rid of the Bengals, leaving simply Pittsburgh and Houston. The Texans take the ninth spot, on account of Houston’s win over the Steelers in Week 4.
Pittsburgh then slides into the tenth spot, forward of the Bengals, on account of their season sweep of Cincinnati.
AFC playoff matchups if the postseason began proper now
If the AFC playoffs started at this time, these can be the three matchups on Wild Card Weekend:
- Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins
- Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
- Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Baltimore Ravens would have the first-overall seed, and the first-round bye, within the AFC. Their recreation with the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 actually looms massive.
This will probably be up to date after the video games on Christmas Day.