NFL Playoffs 2023-24: Updated Standings, Bracket Picture and Scenarios

The San Francisco 49ers moved one step closer toward the NFC's No. 1 seed Sunday with a 45-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals that earned them the NFC West Championship, their second in as many years.

Their emphatic win came in one of a handful of games with playoff implications that also saw the Dallas Cowboys crumble under pressure, the Los Angeles Rams scratch and claw their way into contention, and the AFC's hunt for the final Wildcard spot become that much more interesting.

What went down, who emerged victoriously in Sunday's afternoon slate and where does your favorite team stand now, with the end of the 2023 regular season rapidly approaching?

Find out with this look at the updated standings, playoff picture, and Week 15 results.

Week 15 Results

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 17: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs calls a play during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Thursday, December 14

Las Vegas Raiders def. Los Angeles Chargers (63-21)

---

Saturday, December 16

Cincinnati Bengals def. Minnesota Vikings (27-24)

Indianapolis Colts def. Pittsburgh Steelers (30-13)

Detroit Lions def. Denver Broncos (42-17)

---

Sunday, December 17

Carolina Panthers def. Atlanta Falcons (9-7)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers def. Green Bay Packers (34-20)

Miami Dolphins def. New York Jets (30-0)

New Orleans Saints def. New York Giants (24-6)

Kansas City Chiefs def. New England Patriots (27-17)

Cleveland Browns def. Chicago Bears (20-17)

Houston Texans def. Tennessee Titans (19-16, OT)

San Francisco 49ers def. Arizona Cardinals (45-29)

Los Angeles Rams def. Washington Commanders (28-20)

Buffalo Bills def. Dallas Cowboys (31-10)

AFC Playoff Picture and Wild Card Standings

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 17: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks on prior to an NFL football game against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

AFC Playoff Standings

1. Baltimore Ravens (10-3, AFC North)
2. Miami Dolphins (10-4, AFC East)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-5, AFC West)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5, AFC South)
5. Cleveland Browns (9-5, Wildcard)
6. Indianapolis Colts (8-6, Wildcard)
   
7. Houston Texans (8-6, Wildcard)
8. Cincinnati Bengals (8-6, Wildcard)
9. Buffalo Bills (8-6, Wildcard)

---

On the Bubble

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

Denver Broncos (7-7)

Las Vegas Raiders (6-8)

Los Angeles Chargers (5-9)

---

Eliminated

New England Patriots (3-11)

Tennessee Titans (5-9)

New York Jets (5-9)

NFC Playoff Picture and Wild Card Standings

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

NFC Playoff Standings

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3, NFC West) (X)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3, NFC East) (X)
3. Detroit Lions (10-4, NFC North)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South)
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-4, Wildcard) (X)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-7, Wildcard)
7. Los Angeles Rams (7-7, Wildcard)

---

On the Bubble

New Orleans Saints (7-7)

Seattle Seahawks (6-7)

Atlanta Falcons (6-8)

Green Bay Packers (6-8)

New York Giants (5-9)

Chicago Bears (5-9)

---

Eliminated

Carolina Panthers (2-12)

Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

Washington Commanders (4-9)

---

(X) - clinched playoff berth

Buffalo's Statement Win

Rich Barnes/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills and DeMarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys react after Dallas is called for roughing the passer, resulting in a first down for Buffalo, during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills reintroduced them as a legitimate contender in the AFC Sunday with a dominant, statement victory over the Dallas Cowboys, 31-10.

The three-touchdown victory saw the quarterback Josh Allen held under 100 yards passing but the run game accumulated 266 total yards, led by James Cook's 179 yards and 7.2 average.

The Bills bullied the Cowboys, beat them up, and overwhelmed them en route to a second playoff-saving win.

With the victory, Allen and Co. move into a virtual four-way tie for the final Wildcard spot in the AFC, along with the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis.

In a conference where every win already mattered, the Bills are facing a three-game stretch in which they face the very beatable Chargers and Patriots before finishing the season against Miami in a game where the Dolphins may not have much to play for.

The Bills are in as good a position to cash their ticket to the playoffs as any and certainly hope they can make a deeper dive into the postseason than last year when they lost to the Bengals in a snowy Divisional Round game.

The Cowboys' loss dropped them out of the NFC East lead and into the fifth seed as the top-ranked Wildcard. They could retake the No. 2 seed if the Eagles falter against Seattle, but that does not erase the humbling loss they endured Sunday.

The team had the ability, fresh off a victory over those same Eagles, to announce to the world that they were not the same old Cowboys.

Instead, they lost ugly and will now face the same questions they have after every big-time loss of the Dak Prescott era.

They have clinched a postseason appearance, but will have a tough time retaking the division lead as they play the AFC East-leading Dolphins in Week 16, the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions in Week 17, and finish up against a pesky Washington Commanders team that battled the Los Angeles Rams for four quarters Sunday.