NFL Playoff Picture 2023-24: Updated AFC, NFC Standings After Week 8 SNF
At the midway point of the NFL season, the teams that will ultimately vie for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February have established themselves.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins are among the favorites to make it to the playoffs and compete for a Super Bowl title.
After Sunday's action, where do the other potential contenders find themselves in the playoff picture and who stands a chance at knocking the top-seeded squads off their mantles?
Find out with this recap of the days play.
Week 8 Scores
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Thursday, October 26
Buffalo Bills defeated Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24-18)
Sunday, October 29
Carolina Panthers defeated Houston Texas (15-13)
Dallas Cowboys defeated Los Angeles Rams (43-20)
Minnesota Vikings defeated Green Bay Packers (24-10)
Miami Dolphins defeated New England Patriots (31-17)
Jacksonville Jaguars defeated Pittsburgh Steelers (20-10)
Tennessee Titans defeated Atlanta Falcons (28-23)
Philadelphia Eagles defeated Washington Commanders (38-31)
New Orleans Saints defeated Indianapolis Colts (38-27)
New York Jets defeated New York Giants (13-10)
Seattle Seahawks defeated Cleveland Browns (24-20)
Denver Broncos defeated Kansas City Chiefs (24-9)
Baltimore Ravens defeated Arizona Cardinals (31-24)
Cincinnati Bengals defeated San Francisco 49ers (31-17)
Los Angeles Chargers defeated Chicago Bears (30-13)
NFC Playoff Standings
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NFC Playoff Standings Following Sunday's Early Slate
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East, 6-1)
- Seattle Seahawks (NFC West, 5-2)
- Detroit Lions (NFC North, 5-2)
- Atlanta Falcons (NFC South, 4-4)
- Dallas Cowboys (5-2)
- San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-4)
In The Hunt
New Orleans Saints (4-4)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4)
Los Angeles Rams (3-4)
Washington Commanders (3-5)
AFC Playoff Standings
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AFC Playoff Standings Following Sunday's Early Slate
- Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West, 6-1)
- Miami Dolphins (AFC East, 6-2)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South, 6-2)
- Baltimore Ravens (AFC North, 5-2)
- Cleveland Browns (4-2)
- Buffalo Bills (5-3)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
In The Hunt
New York Jets (3-3)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Houston Texans (3-4)
Tennessee Titans (3-4)
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4)
Indianapolis Colts (3-5)
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Dallas Makes a Statement
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The Dallas Cowboys moved to 5-2 Sunday with a 23-point blowout victory over the Los Angeles Rams that was never close, thanks in large part to an explosive performance from wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb tallied 12 catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns, silencing critics such as former Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who denounced the idea of him as a No. 1 receiver.
The performance came on a day when Dak Prescott completed 25 of 31 passes for 304 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. The starting quarterback was sacked three times, though, with Tyron Smith ruled out due to a neck injury.
If Smith misses any time due to injury, the Cowboys will have to find a way to better protect their franchise QB or risk having him running around amid pressure and, thus, maximizing the potential for injury or turnovers.
The Dallas defense forced an interception and two sacks and knocked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford out of the game with a thumb injury suffered just before the half.
The outcome was never really in question as the Cowboys rolled to a one-sided victory that keeps them just behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the east after the defending NFC Champions narrowly escaped the Washington Commanders with 38-31 victory.
The play was not as crisp as it should have been and an opponent with their starting QB for the entirety of the game may have made it closer down the stretch, but there is no denying that this is a Cowboys squad that looks the part of a contender here in 2023.
If the playoffs began today, Prescott, Lamb, and company would be the top-seeded Wild Card and would face the upstart Atlanta Falcons, who fell to the Tennessee Titans Sunday after Taylor Heinicke replaced Desmond Ridder at quarterback after the second-year player entered concussion protocol.
The Bengals Are Back
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The Cincinnati Bengals got off to a rough start in 2023 and never really looked like they were playing up to their standard. They were sloppy, were run off the field by the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, and fell to 1-3 four games in.
Since then, the 2021 AFC Champions have gone 3-0 and Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, completed a sweep of the NFC West with a 31-17 victory.
Quarterback Joe Burrow lit up one of the best defenses in the league, completing 28-of-32 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Mixon added a tuddy on the ground to go along with his 87 yards, and Ja'Marr Chase caught 10 balls for 100 yards.
The defense gave up a ton of yardage, an issue that will ultimately plague them if it is not fixed, but the unit limited the Niners to 17 points and forced three turnovers (one fumble, two interceptions). They did their part, allowed the offense to operate efficiently, and got out of San Francisco with a victory.
This is a team that feels like they have reversed their fortunes at the right time.
Up next is a Buffalo Bills team that will be seeking revenge after being eliminated by Cincinnati in last year's divisional round of the playoffs, followed by an exciting upstart Houston Texans team playing everyone hard, and then, the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens.
From there, they have dates with the always-tough Pittsburgh, an Indianapolis team that has scored 20 points in every one of their games, and the 6-2 Jacksonville Jaguars.
It is a tough road for the Bengals, especially given the fact that they lost three early on and put themselves in a tough position. Luckily, they have shaken off the early season scaries and the offense is playing like the juggernaut fans had become accustomed to.
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