NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: Latest AFC, NFC Standings and Bracket Scenarios

The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford another loss to one of the worst teams in the NFL on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh must beat the New England Patriots to remain in front of all the AFC wild-card contenders.

Mike Tomlin's team slipped up in Week 13 with a home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in which it lost Kenny Pickett to an injury.

Pittsburgh will be expected to beat the Patriots, no matter who is at quarterback, to put some pressure on the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, who are the other three 7-5 teams in the AFC.

The only playoff clinching scenarios in Week 14 come from the NFC, where the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys all could secure their spot in the postseason,

AFC Playoff Picture

Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 03: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) looks to connect with wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) before making a touchdown in the second half of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on December 3, 2023. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Division Leaders

1. Miami (9-3)

2. Baltimore (9-3)

3. Kansas City (8-4)

4. Jacksonville (8-4)

Wild-Card Race

5. Pittsburgh (7-5)

6. Cleveland (7-5)

7. Indianapolis (7-5)

8. Houston (7-5)

9. Denver (6-6)

10. Cincinnati (6-6)

11. Buffalo (6-6)

The Steelers enter Week 14 as the least popular team in the wild-card race.

All of the teams at 7-5 and 6-6 need the Steelers to slip up against one of the worst teams in the NFL once again to gain ground in the standings.

Pittsburgh is holding on to the No. 5 seed thanks to a handful of tiebreakers.

The Steelers own a better division record than the Browns, who they split the regular-season series with. They could use a Thursday win to improve their conference record, which is at 5-3 is tied with Cleveland and Indianapolis for the best among the wild-card contenders.

Mike Tomlin's team plays the Colts next Saturday and then has a chance to complete the season sweep over the Cincinnati Bengals.

A three-game winning streak would all but confirm Pittsburgh's postseason spot, but first it needs to beat New England on Thursday.

Sunday's slate is overloaded with important games in the AFC playoff hunt.

The Browns host the Jacksonville Jaguars is what will likely be a battle of backup quarterbacks.

Indianapolis visits a Bengals team that all of a sudden has new life under backup Jake Browning.

The Buffalo Bills will try to keep their bleak playoff hopes alive against the Kansas City Chiefs, who can't afford another loss in the race for the No. 1 seed.

The Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens should remain in the top two spots after Week 14. The Dolphins host the Tennessee Titans on Monday night, while Baltimore welcomes the Los Angeles Rams to M&T Bank Stadium.

NFC Playoff Picture

Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 3: The San Francisco 49ers take the field before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 3, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 49ers defeated the Eagles 42-19. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

Division Leaders

1. Philadelphia (10-2)

2. San Francisco (9-3)

3. Detroit (9-3)

4. Atlanta (6-6)

Wild-Card Race

5. Dallas (9-3)

6. Minnesota (6-6)

7. Green Bay (6-6)

8. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)

9. Seattle (6-6)

10. Tampa Bay (5-7)

11. New Orleans (5-7)

The top of the NFC got more interesting last week when the 49ers dominated the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagles have to rebound against the Cowboys on Sunday night to not only preserve their No. 1 overall seed, but to remain in front of the NFC East.

Jalen Hurts and Co. beat the Cowboys in their first meeting, but a loss would level the head-to-head tiebreaker and put Dallas ahead in the standings on divisional record.

A win for either side combined with some help confirms their spot in the postseason.

Philadelphia's simplest clinching scenarios feature a win and a loss from either the Seattle Seahawks or Minnesota Vikings. There are other combinations with multiple defeats from other teams that also get them in with a win, per NFL.com.

Dallas gets into the postseason with a win and a lot of help from across the NFC.

San Francisco can confirm its playoff spot with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks and a loss from either the Green Bay Packers or Vikings.

Seattle enters Levi's Stadium with its playoff hopes on life support after a loss to the Cowboys.

The Packers and Rams vaulted ahead of the Seahawks in Week 13 and they need a win to avoid falling completely out of the wild-card hunt.

Green Bay has the easiest matchup on paper in the NFC wild-card hunt, as it visits the New York Giants on Monday.

Minnesota takes its shaky quarterback situation on the road to Las Vegas and the Rams visit the Ravens.

First place in the NFC South is also on the line in Week 14, as the Atlanta Falcons host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs would jump the Falcons and move into the No. 4 seed with a win, while an Atlanta victory makes it an overwhelming favorite to capture the NFC South. That would give the Falcons three wins over the Bucs and Saints.