Just a few more hours and the image of the 2020 NFL playoff will be completely clear.
For now, however, there is still a little bit in the air. Let’s take a look at how the postseason is setting up after the opening game window in Week 17, from who’s in to who’s out.
AFC PLAYOFF IMAGE
Who is at the moment:
1. Kansas City Chiefs (won 1 seed and bye in the first round)
2. Buffalo Bills (won 2 seeds)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (won 3 seeds and will face Cleveland in the Wild Card round)
4. Tennessee Titans (would win 4 seeds with victory OR loss of Colts)
5. Baltimore Ravens (won 5 seeds)
6. Cleveland Browns (won 6 seeds and will face Pittsburgh in the Wild Card round)
7 TBD
Who is still alive:
Indianapolis Colts (win a playoff spot with a win)
Miami Dolphins (win playoff spot with Colts defeat)
Tennessee Titans vs Houston Texans
What does it mean: The Titans would win AFC South and win the 4-seed with a victory. Tennessee won a playoff spot due to the Dolphins’ defeat.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts
What does it mean: The Colts would win AFC South and win the 4-seed with a victory and a defeat for the Titans to the Texans. Instead, Indianapolis would take 7th place (the final slot on the Wild Card) with a victory if the Titans win. Colts are eliminated at a loss.
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins
Result: Bills 35, Dolphins 13
What does it mean: Bills won the 2-seed in AFC with the win and fought the Steelers in the 3-seed. The Dolphins need a defeat in Indianapolis to win the 7-seed.
Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals
Result: Ravens 38, Bengals 3
What does it mean: Ravens won the 5-seed (the Wild Card spot) at AFC with Miami’s victory and defeat.
Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: Browns 24, Steelers 22
What does it mean: The Browns won the 6-seed (the second slot on the Wild Card) in the AFC with the victory, due to the Ravens conquering the 5-seed with the victory of Baltimore.
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
Who is at the moment:
1. Green Bay Packers (would win 1 seed with victory over Bears OR loss of Seahawks against 49ers)
2. New Orleans Saints (would win 2 seeds with victory and loss of Packers OR loss of Seahawks; could win 1 seed with victory, loss of Packers and victory of Seahawks)
3. Seattle Seahawks (won at least 3 seeds; would win 2 seeds with victory, Saints win and lose Packers OR win, Packers win and lose Saints; win 1 seed with victory, Packers lose and lose Saints)
4. Washington Football Team (would win 4 seeds with victory)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (won 5 seeds)
6 Los Angeles Rams (would win the playoff spot with Bears win OR loss)
7. Chicago Bears (would win the playoff spot with victory OR defeat of the Cardinals)
Who is still alive:
Arizona Cardinals (would win the playoff spot with a win)
New York Giants (would win the playoff spot with a loss in Washington)
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears
What does it mean: The Packers would win the 1-seed at NFC with a win. With a defeat, Green Bay can still conquer the 2-seed with the defeat of the Saints and the victory of the Seahawks. Bears would win the 7-seed (the final slot for the Wild Card) on the NFC with a win.
New Orleans Saints x Carolina Panthers
What does it mean: The Saints would win the 2-seed in the NFC with a win. New Orleans would win the 1-seed with a victory, the Packers ‘defeat and the Seahawks’ victory.
Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers
What does it mean: The Seahawks would win the 2-seed in the NFC with a victory, Packers win and Saints or a victory, Saints and Packers lose. The Seahawks would win the 1-seed with a victory, loss of the Packers and loss of the Saints.
Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams
What does it mean: Both Cardinals and Rams would win a playoff spot with a win.
Washington Football Team vs. Philadelphia Eagles
What does it mean: Washington would win NFC East and win the 4-seed at NFC with a win.
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Result: Giants 23, Cowboys 19
What does it mean: The Cowboys were eliminated with the defeat. The Giants would win the 4-seed if Washington lost to the Eagles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons
Result: Buccaneers 44, Falcons 27
What does it mean: The Buccaneers won the 5-seed (the Wild Card slot) at the NFC with the win.
This is a developing story.
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