Each contest carries significant weight as the regular season progresses, with teams vying for advantageous playoff seeds and aiming to secure divisional championships.
The current state of the NFL playoff landscape, reflecting the majority of Week 13’s outcomes, is detailed below:
NFC
1. Chicago Bears (9-3): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Following the Panthers’ surprising victory over the Rams, the Bears ascended to the top spot in the NFC standings on Sunday afternoon. Chicago’s prior triumph against the Eagles on Friday bolstered their chances of winning the NFC North to 30%, according to The Athletic’s playoff forecasting model.
2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: The Rams experienced a sharp decline in their prospects of securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed, falling to 42% in The Athletic’s simulator, subsequent to their defeat against the Panthers on Sunday. This loss resulted in them relinquishing the conference’s top position.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: While the Eagles maintain a firm grip on the NFC East, recent setbacks, including a Black Friday defeat at the hands of the Bears, have severely diminished their aspirations for a No. 1 seed. The Athletic estimates their chances of securing the top NFC seed at just 10%.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5): Next encounter — Traveling to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: The Buccaneers hold a substantial lead in the NFC South division race and possess a 73% likelihood of participating in the playoffs.
5. Seattle Seahawks (9-3): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Although practically assured of a playoff berth (with probabilities hovering around 90% across various projections), the Seahawks find themselves in a highly competitive NFC West division.
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1): Next encounter — Hosting the Chicago Bears in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Currently favored to win the NFC North with a 66% probability, according to The Athletic. The upcoming game against Chicago looms as a pivotal contest.
7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4): Next encounter — Hosting the Tennessee Titans in Week 15
Projected Probabilities: Considered strong contenders for a playoff spot with a 94% probability, as indicated by The Athletic.
Still in the NFC picture
8. Detroit Lions (7-5): Next encounter — Hosting the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Estimated to have a 42% chance of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com. Their chances of winning the division are down to 4%, as per The Athletic.
9. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Detroit Lions in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Given a 23% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic, and 16% percent, per NFL.com.
10. Carolina Panthers (7-6): Next encounter — Traveling to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 15
Projected Probabilities: Evaluated to have a 30% chance of making the playoffs and a 28% chance of winning the division, according to The Athletic.
AFC
1. New England Patriots (10-2): Next encounter — Hosting the New York Giants on Monday
Projected Probabilities: Holding a 2.5-game advantage over the Bills, the Patriots are on the verge of securing the AFC East title, with a 93% probability of achieving this feat. Moreover, they possess the highest likelihood among all AFC teams of claiming the No. 1 seed, estimated at 61% by The Athletic.
2. Denver Broncos (9-2): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday
Projected Probabilities: Following another loss by the Chiefs, Denver has solidified its position as the favorite to win the AFC West crown, with a 77% probability, coupled with a 27% chance of securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed, according to The Athletic.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4): Next encounter — Hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: The Jags have ascended to the top of the AFC South standings and are projected to have an 83% chance of reaching the postseason, according to The Athletic.
4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6): Next encounter — Hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Baltimore’s playoff prospects suffered a setback following Thursday’s defeat to the Bengals. However, they swiftly regained the top spot in their division after the Steelers’ loss on Sunday. The Ravens still maintain a 71% playoff probability, as per the NFL.com.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4): Next encounter — Hosting the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: The Chargers continue to possess favorable odds of making the playoffs at 63%, according to NFL.com. However, overtaking Denver for the division title remains a remote possibility at 18%, as per The Athletic.
6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: The Colts now trail the Jaguars in the AFC South standings but are assessed to have a 69% likelihood of making the playoffs by The Athletic and NFL.com.
7. Buffalo Bills (8-4): Next encounter — Hosting the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: While Buffalo’s chances of catching up to New England to win the division title are minimal (9% according to The Athletic), the Bills remain highly likely to secure a postseason berth, with an 89% probability.
Still in the AFC picture
8. Houston Texans (7-5): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: The Texans experienced a surge in their playoff odds following their victory over the Colts, rising to 61%, as per The Athletic.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6): Next encounter — Traveling to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Pittsburgh entered the week with a 38% chance of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com. However, this figure plummeted to 28% after their recent defeat. Failure to defeat the Ravens in the upcoming week may render a playoff berth unattainable.
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6): Next encounter — Hosting the Houston Texans in Week 14
Projected Probabilities: Kansas City’s Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys proved costly. NFL.com’s model indicates that the Chiefs’ playoff chances declined from 52% to 38%. Trailing the Broncos by 3.5 games in the AFC West, hopes of securing a division title have effectively vanished.
Latest eliminated
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New Orleans Saints (2-10)
