NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: Scenarios for AFC and NFC 2023 Postseason Matchups

The 2023 NFL regular season is winding down and the playoff picture in both the AFC and NFC is becoming clearer.

In the AFC, multiple teams will compete for the top spot in the conference while the NFC will realistically be a two-team race for the No. 1 overall seed.

Where does your favorite team stand entering a potentially pivotal week in their schedule and which match-ups could prove crucial in contenders' chases for the Lombardi Trophy?

Find out with this early look at the NFL postseason.

AFC Playoffs and Wildcard

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 03: Quarerback Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second quarter at FedExField on December 03, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Current Playoff Standings

1. Miami Dolphins (9-3, AFC East)
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3, AFC North)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4, AFC West)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, AFC South)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5, Wildcard)
6. Indianapolis Colts (7-5, Wildcard)
7. Cleveland Browns (7-5, Wildcard)

---

On the Bubble

Houston Texans (7-5)

Denver Broncos (6-6)

Buffalo Bills (6-6)

Cincinnati Bengals (6-6)

Los Angeles Chargers (5-7)

Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)

New York Jets (4-8)

Tennessee Titans (4-8)

New England Patriots (2-10)

An Ultra-Competitive Conference

Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) drops back to pass during the NFL regular season game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers on November 26, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Parody is alive and well in the AFC, where any given team in the top seven or eight can beat another at any given point.

The Miami Dolphins lead the conference but have struggled against other winning teams, meaning their place at the top is anything but safe, especially with a season-ending stretch against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills.

Speaking of the Ravens, Lamar Jackson and Co. may very well be the team to watch in the conference. Baltimore has repeatedly proven that no matter which player goes down with injury, or how under-performing their wide receiver room may still be, they can still win any game.

They will have to in Week 14 against a Los Angeles Rams team that has won three straight and is eyeing a playoff berth.

The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are reeling after losing three of their last five and things do not get easier for them this week against a Buffalo Bills team that has been inconsistent all season but is still capable of throwing 35 points up on anyone, thanks to an explosive offense.

An 8-5 record for the AFC West leaders would, potentially, drop them to the fourth seed in the conference and keep them from attaining the bye week they have benefited from in recent years.

Finally, the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars lost a heart-breaker against Cincinnati Monday night in overtime and now face the one-two punch of a dominant Cleveland defense and the aforementioned Ravens a week later.

Do not be surprised if rookie sensation CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans are sitting atop the South by the time the final two weeks of the season arrive, if the Jags falter in the slightest.

NFC Playoffs and Wildcard

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 3: Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 3, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Current Playoff Standings

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2, NFC East)
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-3, NFC West)
3. Detroit Lions (9-3, NFC North)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6, NFC South)
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3, Wildcard)
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6, Wildcard)
7. Green Bay Packers (6-6, Wildcard)

---

On the Bubble

Los Angeles Rams (6-6)

Seattle Seahawks (6-6)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)

New Orleans Saints (5-7)

New York Giants (4-8)

Chicago Bears (4-8)

Washington Commanders (4-9)

Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

Watch Out for the Packers

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 03: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers participates in warmups prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field on December 03, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 27-19. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Green Bay Packers have won three straight to pull their record to .500, something that appeared rather unlikely a month ago.

First-year starter Jordan Love struggled early but has settled into his role and is playing the best football of his season, hurling eight touchdowns to zero interceptions in his last three games, including a dominant victory over division rival Detroit.

The team, once left for dead in the NFC, has a very winnable record the rest of the way and should find themselves eclipsing a floundering Minnesota Vikings team for the sixth playoff spot in short order.

Green Bay has a Monday night showdown with the New York Giants in Week 14, then round out the regular season with Tampa Bay, Carolina, the aforementioned Minnesota, and a Chicago squad that figures to be playing out their season by the time Week 18 arrives.

If Love can continue to build momentum and play mistake-free football and the defense can hold up as it has against top-tier offenses like the Chargers, Chiefs, and Lions, the Packers could be the hottest team entering the postseason and a squad destined to play spoiler for higher-seeded teams chasing a Super Bowl.