Sunday was a pivotal day when it comes to the NFL playoff picture.
Tonight could be even bigger.
Let’s dive into where things stand, and how Monday Night Football between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers could change things even more.
AFC Playoff Picture
- Indianapolis Colts (8-2, 1st place AFC South) –
Week 11: Bye - Denver Broncos (8-2, 1st place AFC West) –
Week 11: vs. Kansas City - New England Patriots (8-2, 1st place AFC East) –
Week 11: vs. New York Jets - Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4, 1st place AFC North) –
Week 11: vs. Cincinnati - Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) –
Week 11: at Jacksonville - Buffalo Bills (6-3) –
Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay - Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) –
Week 11: vs. Los Angeles Chargers - Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) –
Week 11: at Denver - Houston Texans (4-5) –
Week 11: at Tennessee - Baltimore Ravens (4-5) –
Week 11: at Cleveland - Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) –
Week 11: at Pittsburgh - Miami Dolphins (3-7) –
Week 11: vs. Washington (Game in Madrid) - New York Jets (2-7) –
Week 11: at New England Patriots - Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) –
Week 11: vs. Dallas - Cleveland Browns (2-7) –
Week 11: vs. Baltimore - Tennessee Titans (1-8) –
Week 11: vs. Houston
With the Colts, Broncos, and Patriots all winning, those three teams remained atop the AFC with matching 8-2 records. However, the order changed slightly from last week. Indianapolis remains in the No. 1 spot thanks to a 6-1 record in AFC play, ahead of Denver at 5-2 and New England at 4-2.
Denver’s AFC record — and their win over Las Vegas on Thursday night — is the reason the Broncos are now at No. 2.
Pittsburgh’s loss to the Chargers on Sunday Night Football dropped their record to 5-4, but did not drop them out of the No. 4 spot in the conference. However, the Baltimore Ravens are on the march, and now sit at No. 10 in the AFC standings at 4-5. The Texans’ comeback win moved them to 4-5 as well, and Houston does have a tiebreaker advantage over the Ravens thanks to their win over Baltimore earlier this season.
NFC Playoff Picture
- Seattle Seahawks (7-2, 1st place NFC West) –
Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams - Philadelphia Eagles (6-2, 1st place NFC East) –
Week 11: vs. Detroit - Green Bay Packers (5-2-1, 1st place NFC North) –
Week 11: at New York Giants - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3, 1st place NFC South) –
Week 11: at Buffalo - Los Angeles Rams (7-2) –
Week 11: vs. Seattle - Detroit Lions (6-3) –
Week 11: at Philadelphia - Chicago Bears (6-3) –
Week 11: at Minnesota - San Francisco 49ers (6-4) –
Week 11: at Arizona - Carolina Panthers (5-5) –
Week 11: at Atlanta - Minnesota Vikings (4-5) –
Week 11: vs. Chicago - Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1) –
Week 11: at Las Vegas - Arizona Cardinals (3-6) –
Week 11: vs. San Francisco - Atlanta Falcons (3-6) –
Week 11: vs. Carolina - Washington Commanders (3-7) –
Week 11: vs. Miami (Game in Madrid) – - New Orleans Saints (2-8) –
Week 11: Bye - New York Giants (2-8) –
Week 11: vs. Green Bay
While Monday Night Football can reshape the NFC standings tonight — more on that game in the moment — right now the Seattle Seahawks are atop the conference. Seattle’s win over Arizona on Sunday moved the Seahawks to 7-2, and while the Rams have the same record, Seattle’s 2-1 record in the division gives them the tiebreaker advantage for now.
Those two teams meet in Week 11.
Tampa Bay’s loss to the New England Patriots slides them down to No. 4 in the NFC. The Rams slot in at No. 5 as the top Wild Card team, followed by the Lions and the Bears. Yes, if the playoffs began right now, Ricky O’Donnell’s Chicago Bears would be in as the No. 7 team.
How can Eagles-Packers impact the NFL Playoff Picture?
Last’s week’s Monday Night Football meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals did not move the needle much when it came to the NFL playoff picture.
Tonight is a much different story.
With a win tonight the Philadelphia Eagles would move to 7-2 on the season, and a victory would also give them a 6-1 record in NFC play. That would be enough to see Philadelphia back at No. 1 in the NFC, and drop Seattle down to No. 2. A loss by the Eagles would drop them to 6-3 on the season and they would slide down a spot to No. 3. They would have the same record as the Buccaneers, but hold a tiebreaker thanks to their win over Tampa Bay earlier this year.
This game might be more pivotal for Green Bay. With a win the Packers would improve to 6-2-1 on the year, and bump up a spot to No. 3.
A loss would drop them to 5-3-1, and out of the playoff picture for the moment. They would drop to No. 8, as the Lions would inherit the lead in the NFC North. Detroit would slot in at No. 4 and Tampa Bay would bump up to No. 3, as the Buccaneers have a better conference record (4-2 versus 3-2). The Rams would stay at No. 5, the Bears would bump up to No. 6, and the 49ers would move into the No. 7 spot.
