NFL Playoff Picture 2023: Scenarios, Standings and Predictions Before Week 17
In Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens made it clear they're the best team in the league. In Week 17, they'll have an opportunity to prove it again.
The Ravens are set to host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in a battle of AFC division leaders. Baltimore, which has already clinched the AFC North title, will be looking to secure the conference's top seed. Miami will be trying to clinch the AFC East championship.
It should be a competitive contest, but the Ravens have a lot of positive momentum coming off a road win over the NFC-best San Francisco 49ers this past Monday night.
Here's the latest look at the full NFL playoff picture, followed by clinching scenarios for Week 17 and predictions for what will happen next.
NFL Playoff Picture
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AFC
Bye: No. 1 Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
No. 2 Miami Dolphins (11-4) vs. No. 7 Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) vs. No. 6 Buffalo Bills (9-6)
No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) vs. No. 5 Cleveland Browns (10-5)
In the hunt: Houston Texans (8-7), Cincinnati Bengals (8-7), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7), Las Vegas Raiders (7-8), Denver Broncos (7-8)
NFC
Bye: No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) vs. No. 7 Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
No. 3 Detroit Lions (11-4) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Rams (8-7)
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) vs. No. 5 Dallas Cowboys (10-5)
In the hunt: Minnesota Vikings (7-8), Green Bay Packers (7-8), New Orleans Saints (7-8), Atlanta Falcons (7-8), Chicago Bears (6-9)
AFC Clinching Scenarios, Predictions
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The Ravens can clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed (which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference playoffs) with a win over the Dolphins on Sunday. But they could already be the NFC North champions by that time, as they can clinch the division title with a Browns loss to the Jets on Thursday night.
Miami will clinch the AFC East title with either a win at Baltimore or a Buffalo loss to New England on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Bills could clinch a playoff berth with a win and getting help via several other wild-card contenders losing.
The Chiefs can clinch the AFC West title with a home win over the Bengals on Sunday. Kansas City would also clinch if Las Vegas (at Indianapolis) and Denver (vs. the Chargers) both lose that day.
The only way the tight AFC South race will be decided this week is if the Jaguars (vs. the Panthers) win and both the Colts (vs. the Raiders) and the Texans (vs. the Titans) lose on Sunday. In that scenario, Jacksonville would be crowned the division champion.
The Browns can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Jets or a loss by any of the Steelers (at the Seahawks), Bills or Jaguars. Cleveland would also secure a spot if both Indianapolis and Houston lose.
Predictions
Miami is a strong team, but Baltimore is better. On Sunday, that will become even more clear when the Ravens use their home-field advantage to beat the Dolphins and secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
That means the AFC East race won't be over, as the Bills aren't going to lose to the Patriots at home. So a division champion will be crowned in Week 18, when Miami hosts Buffalo in what should be an exciting matchup.
The Chiefs have been scuffling (five losses in eight games), but they have a get-right home matchup vs. the Bengals on Sunday. It should be a good bounce-back opportunity for Kansas City, which will win the AFC West title with a victory.
Don't expect an AFC South champion to be crowned. Even if the Jaguars beat the Panthers (which they should), it's unlikely the Colts and Texans both lose.
The Browns will clinch a playoff berth by beating the lowly Jets on Thursday night in a revenge matchup for quarterback Joe Flacco.
NFC Clinching Scenarios, Predictions
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The 49ers can clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed (with a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference playoffs) with a win at Washington and losses by both the Lions (at the Cowboys on Saturday) and the Eagles (vs. the Cardinals).
An NFC East champion could be crowned this weekend. Philadelphia can clinch with a win and a Dallas loss.
The Buccaneers will clinch the NFC South championship with a home win over the Saints on Sunday. Tampa Bay could also clinch the division title if Atlanta loses at Chicago and there's a tie between the Bucs and New Orleans.
The Rams can clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Giants on the road and the Seahawks lose to the Steelers at home. Meanwhile, Seattle could clinch a postseason spot if it wins and there's a tie between Green Bay and Minnesota.
Predictions
The Eagles' final two games are against the Cardinals and the Giants, so they'll likely win the NFC East title. But it isn't going to happen in Week 17.
Expect the Cowboys to pull out a home win over the Lions (who have already clinched the NFC North) and stay alive in the division race for another week. Dallas is unlikely to move up from the No. 5 seed, though.
Because Philadelphia will win, San Francisco won't be able to clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed. But the 49ers will remain in a good spot to do so in Week 18, as they're going to beat the Commanders on the road on Sunday.
The Buccaneers should wrap up the NFC South race on Sunday. It's highly likely they'll continue their recent momentum (four straight victories) by beating the Saints at home.
However, it's unlikely either the Rams or Seahawks clinch a playoff berth this week. Seattle should beat Pittsburgh, but there won't be a tie in the Green Bay-Minnesota game.
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