The NFL playoff landscape
In any case, it is worth noting that we had to wait until Week 15 to know the first official playoff invitee: the first NFL divisional champion came out of the NFC North.
Also, at least there is the good news that, for the time being, no team has added its name to the list of clubs eliminated from the big postseason party.
We review how the outlook for the playoffs looks after the conclusion of all the Sunday games of the day:
American Conference
The Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) — the same team everyone has been complaining about for the past couple of months — have taken over the top spot in the conference standings after a thrilling overtime win in Thursday’s action against the divisional rival Los Angeles Chargers (8-6), who were nipping at their heels in the AFC West.
In Saturday’s game, the New England Patriots (9-5) were swept by the Indianapolis Colts (8-6), temporarily dropping Bill Belichick’s charges into second place in the AFC, but still leading the AFC East.
Next come the AFC South leaders, the Tennessee Titans (9-5), who suffered a defeat in their visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1), missing the opportunity to improve their position in the Conference.
Finally, in the NFC North, there was a change of leadership. The Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) took advantage of a victory over the Denver Broncos (7-7) to take over the top spot in the division, displacing the Baltimore Ravens (8-6), who fell flat on their faces against the Green Bay Packers (11-3).
The team with the best wild-card ticket, if they were to be dealt today, would be Indianapolis, which would have to pack its bags to visit Cincinnati in the Wild Card Round. If clinched, it would be the first meeting between these two clubs this season.
Next, the Chargers would have to schedule a visit to Nashville to meet the Titans, another unprecedented matchup for the first round of the postseason.
Finally, the Buffalo Bills (8-6) hold on to the last provisional ticket to the playoffs, which would mean a trip to Foxborough to play the Patriots, a team they must play twice a year as divisional rivals in the regular season. The Pats beat the Bills a week ago and that match-up is repeated in New England next week.
National Conference
The Green Bay Packers (11-3) took full advantage of the multiple absences of the Baltimore Ravens (8-6) and despite this, suffered until the last minute to escape with a critical victory. The win clinched the NFC North title for the Packers, and punched the first playoff ticket of the season for Aaron Rodgers and Co.
In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys (10-4) crushed the New York Giants (4-10) and are already in second place in the National League standings, taking advantage of the losses of the teams leading the NFC South and NFC West.
How important was Baltimore’s failed two-point conversion against Green Bay? Had they pulled it off and beaten the Packers, the Ravens would have put the Cowboys in the driver’s seat in the NFC, not to mention not lost their provisional ticket in the AFC.
The third spot in the National Conference order belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4), who were blanked at home by the New Orleans Saints (7-7). More than the loss to a tough divisional rival – which, by the way, is in the top seven in the NFC – the Bucs should be concerned about the number of injuries they left the game with.
Finally, the NFC West leaders, Arizona Cardinals (10-4), succumbed incredibly to the worst team in the conference, Detroit Lions (2-11-1). In a very short time, the Cards have gone from leading the league with the best record to just the fourth-best divisional lead in the National League, with the Los Angeles Rams (9-4) nipping at their heels. That means the Rams and Cardinals, who already split wins in the regular season, would meet again in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The San Francisco 49ers (8-6), who also inhabit the West, would have to make the trip to Tampa for Jimmy Garoppolo to meet his former mentor, Tom Brady, as another Wild Card Round matchup. This is a game that was not contemplated in the regular season.
Finally, the Saints, whose loss would have automatically qualified the Cowboys, have clinched the final conference ticket for now, elevating Dallas over Tampa Bay. That would send New Orleans to play at Jerry Jones’ palace, a rematch of a game the Cowboys already won, 27-17, earlier this month.
