Tag: Playoff Picture

5 results Jaguars fans should be rooting for in Week 13

With the Jaguars not playing until Monday, there are a few games that Jacksonville fans should keep an eye on Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will try to improve to 9-3 on Monday night when they play against the Cincinnati Bengals in a Week 13 game.

Before that primetime contest kicks off, most of the rest of the NFL will be in action Sunday. And for a Jaguars team that is in the thick of the battle for top seeding in the AFC playoff picture, there are plenty of games that could impact Jacksonville’s future.

The Jaguars’ spot at the top of the AFC South standings isn’t in jeopardy after they took a two-game lead with a 24-21 win against the Houston Texans last week. Instead, it’s the race for the No. 1 spot in the conference that has Jacksonville’s attention. That seed currently belongs to the Baltimore Ravens, who are on bye in Week 13.

With the Jaguars sitting at home, here are the five results that Jacksonville fans should hope to see Sunday:

NFL playoff picture: Broncos are knocking on the door

Right now, the Colts (6-5) are the AFC’s seventh seed based on a tiebreaker over the Broncos (6-5). Denver is knocking on the door!

After winning five straight games, the Denver Broncos are now 6-5 and back in the mix to compete for a spot in the NFL playoffs.

Here’s a look at how the AFC’s playoff picture looks ahead of Week 13.

Division Leaders

1. Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3)
4. Miami Dolphins (8-3)

Wild Card Leaders 

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)
6. Cleveland Browns (7-4)
7. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

In the Hunt 

8. Houston Texans (6-5)
9. Denver Broncos (6-5)
10. Buffalo Bills (6-6)

The top seven teams in each conference make the playoffs each season. Right now, the Colts are above the Texans and Broncos based on tiebreakers (Indy beat Houston and has a better win percentage in conference games than Denver).

With six games remaining, the playoffs are certainly within reach for the Broncos. Coming off a 29-12 win over the Browns (sixth seed), Denver now has a huge game on deck against the Texans (eighth seed) in Week 13. Depending on the results of other games, the Broncos could potentially jump into playoff position with a win in Houston on Sunday.

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Saints’ loss to Falcons hurt their playoff chances, but they aren’t out yet

The Saints’ loss to the Falcons hurt their playoff chances, but they aren’t out yet. A weak schedule is keeping their postseason hopes alive:

A weak schedule is the gift that keeps on giving — or at least one that can keep a bad New Orleans Saints team in the hunt for a playoff seed. The Saints’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12 hurt their chances, but they aren’t out of the playoff picture just yet.

ESPN’s Football Power Index predictions give the Saints and Falcons an equal chance of winning the division (42%) with New Orleans slightly ahead (49% to 47%) when it comes to making the playoffs. That suggests the Saints are seen as the team more likely to squeeze in as a wild-card seed should they fail to win the division, but each team’s best path to the postseason runs through the NFC South.

It would take a miracle (and a lot of incompetence from the other wild card hopefuls in the conference) for either the Saints or the Falcons to lose the division and still get into the playoffs. They need the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks to start losing games.

What are other forecasts saying? The New York Times playoff simulator gives Atlanta a 60% chance of making the playoffs with New Orleans behind at 43%, fueled by a 55% chance of the Falcons winning the division compared to a 34% shot for the Saints. It’s a more competitive race than other division title fights around the league, but not by much, and neither team is very impressive with their 5-6 records.

The Saints haven’t been in control of their own destiny for very long this season, and when they have had chances they’ve ended up fumbling them. The stakes are high with just six games left to play.

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Packers’ playoff hopes alive and well entering Week 13

The Packers are 5-6 entering Week 13. Here’s an updated look at the NFC playoff picture.

Don’t look now, but the Green Bay Packers are in the thick of the NFC playoff race following two wins in their last three games.

The Packers currently sit at 5-6 on the season, just one game behind the Seattle Seahawks for the final wildcard spot in the NFC. Here are the up to date complete standings, ahead of Minnesota’s Monday night matchup with Chicago.

1. Philadelphia 10-1
2. San Francisco 8-3
3. Detroit 8-3
4. Atlanta 5-6
5. Dallas 8-3
6. Minnesota 6-5
7. Seattle 6-5
8. Green Bay 5-6
9. Los Angeles 5-6
10. New Orleans 5-6
11. Tampa Bay 4-7
12. New York 4-8
13. Washington 4-8
14. Chicago 3-8
15. Arizona 2-10
16. Carolina 1-10

Out of the teams on the outside looking in at the playoffs at the moment, the Packers are positioned well, having the head-to-head tie-breaker over Los Angeles and New Orleans, having beaten both teams earlier in the season. They’ll also have the opportunity to have that same tie-breaker over Tampa Bay, as they play them at home in December.

As far as the teams currently in the playoffs, given where the Packers sit, all eyes should be on Minnesota and Seattle, with Dallas as the five seed out of reach. Green Bay still plays the Vikings once more, while Minnesota still has both of their matchups with Detroit to be played. Minnesota owns the head-to-head matchup with the Packers and is 2-0 in the NFC North with the Packers sitting at 2-2. The Vikings remaining schedule has a total record of 34-33.

Seattle, meanwhile, has a very difficult stretch to finish up their season, with games against Dallas, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh still upcoming. The combined record of the Seahawks’ remaining opponents is 39-28, with four of their final six games taking place on the road.

The Packers will have a challenging matchup this coming Sunday Night with the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs—although the 2023 Chiefs have looked more beatable this season compared to previous ones. However, after that game, Green Bay has a very favorable schedule to finish up the year with. In the Packers’ final five games, only Minnesota at 6-5 has a winning record. Including that game, Green Bay’s opponent record to finish out the last five weeks of the season is 18-38.

At this moment, the New York Times have the Packers current playoff odds at 45 percent. If they finish the season 4-2, with a 9-8 record overall, their playoff odds sit at 79 percent. If they finish the year 3-3, Green Bay’s playoff odds drop to just 13 percent. Basically, if the Packers win the games that they are likely to be favored in – at New York, vs. Tampa Bay, at Carolina, vs. Chicago – they have a pretty good chance of being in the postseason.

It’s not just the fact that Green Bay has won two of three to put them on the cusp of being a playoff team that has generated excitement, but it’s how this team has performed over the last month, specifically on offense, that has provided hope. Jordan Love has looked better each week since the Rams’ game and put together a masterful performance in Detroit, sparked by much improved offensive line play and the continued growth of the Packers’ young pass catchers, all of which has contributed to the offense being much better at creating chunk plays.

For us on the outside looking in, we can take a peak at what lies ahead for the Green Bay Packers to try to get an idea of where this team could finish in regards to the rest of the NFC. But for Matt LaFleur and those within 1265 Lombardi Avenue, that is not an option. With areas still to improve upon, it’s about the process, and taking things day-by-day to make sure that the progress they’ve made becomes the norm and not the outlier. Looking ahead is not an option.

”While I don’t own a periscope, first of all,” said Matt LaFleur when asked about looking ahead at the NFC playoff picture. “I think we always try to keep it one game at a time. I don’t want to go Jim Mora on you, but we’ve got a hell of an opponent (Detroit) staring us on a short week, and that’s our sole focus, and we will worry about that other stuff down the road. I think we’re a long way from even thinking about that. Our focus is on getting better each and every day.”

One stat that highlights the importance of Week 12 vs. Falcons

There’s a lot on the line in the first game versus the Atlanta Falcons. This stat highlights how important the game is for the Saints.

This one stat shows how important the game against the Atlanta Falcons is to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are clearly attempting to make the playoffs and this game will be impactful to their aspirations. The Saints chances of making the playoffs rise to 80% with a victory and fall to 44% with a loss.

New Orleans’ easiest path to the postseason is winning the division. This is reflected in the percentages above. The Saints would have a two game lead on the division, and it doesn’t seem like any team would be able to string together enough wins to close the gap.

A loss would put the Saints in second place. This isn’t an unsurmountable deficit. The division would remain well within reach. New Orleans could drop as low as the 11th seed, with potentially four teams with five wins.

NFL playoff picture: Broncos are back in the hunt

The Broncos are three spots out of the playoffs at the moment and their next two games are against teams above them in the standings.

Winning cures all woes.

After winning four straight games, the Denver Broncos are now 5-5 and right back in the mix to compete for a spot in the NFL playoffs.

The Broncos are currently the 10th seed in the AFC and the top seven teams in each conference reach the postseason each fall. Denver has ground to make up, but a playoff push is within reach with seven games remaining on their schedule.

One team above the Broncos in the standings (Indianapolis) has the same record, and three teams (Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Houston) only have one more win than Denver. Here’s a look at the AFC’s playoff picture going into Week 11:

Division Leaders

1. Baltimore Ravens (8-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)
4. Miami Dolphins (7-3)

Ward Card Leaders 

5. Cleveland Browns (7-3)
6. Houston Texans (6-4)
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)

In the Hunt 

8. Buffalo Bills (6-5)
9. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
10. Denver Broncos (5-5)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5)

The Broncos have back-to-back games upcoming against the Browns and Texans, and those in-conference matchups could have huge implications for the AFC’s playoff picture. Nothing is guaranteed, but Denver certainly has a chance to make things interesting over the next two months.

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NFC Playoff Picture: Where the Saints stand after Week 11’s games

NFC Playoff Picture: Where the Saints stand after Week 11’s games

The New Orleans Saints were resting on their bye during Week 11’s games, and there’s a lot to learn about the state of the NFC playoff picture. If the postseason started today, the Saints would be hosting a home playoff game.

But about the other teams? Who is still in the hunt for a playoff seed? Let’s break it down:

NFL standings 2023: AFC South lead will be on the line in Week 12

The Jaguars stayed on top of the AFC South with a win against the Titans, setting up a duel for the lead next week against the Texans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of business Sunday at EverBank Stadium, cruising through the Tennessee Titans for a 34-14 blowout win in Week 11.

While the victory pushed the Jaguars’ record to 7-3 and kept them atop the AFC South standings, the Houston Texans stayed hot on their heels by getting a 21-16 win against the Arizona Cardinals. That sets up a duel for first place in the division next week in Houston.

With the Texans already owning one win over the Jaguars this year, a season sweep would secure the tiebreaker and put them on top if they can improve to 7-4 next week.

Here’s what the standings and playoff picture look like in the AFC after Week 11:

Broncos’ path to the playoffs: Can Denver get to 10 wins?

The Broncos would need to win six of their last eight games to end the year 10-7, presumably a playoff record. Can they do it?

After winning three straight games, the Denver Broncos are currently 4-5 and the 14th seed in the AFC. There’s a lot of work to be done to get back into the playoff hunt, but a postseason push is within reach.

Two of the teams above Denver in the standings have the same record, and five of the teams above the Broncos only have one more win than Denver. The Broncos are just two games back from the Houston Texans, who are currently the AFC’s seventh seed (the final playoff spot) with a 5-4 record.

Last year, the Baltimore Ravens were a sixth seed with a 10-7 record and the Miami Dolphins squeaked in as a seventh seed with a 9-8 record, just edging out the 9-8 Pittsburgh Steelers with a tiebreaker.

While there’s certainly no guarantee that such a record would guarantee a playoff spot, a 10-win season could put the Broncos in position to reach the postseason. With eight games remaining, Denver would need six victories to end the year with a 10-7 record.

How feasible is that? Here’s a roadmap of how it could happen, with a bolded emphasis added to what seems to be perhaps the most crucial game remaining.

Week 11: Win at home vs. Vikings (5-5)

Week 12: Loss at home vs. Browns (5-6)

Week 13: Win on road at Texans (6-6)

Week 14: Win on road at Chargers (7-6)

Week 15: Loss on road at Lions (7-7)

Week 16: Win at home vs. Patriots (8-7)

Week 17: Win at home vs. Chargers (9-7)

Week 18: Win on road at Raiders (10-7)

What do you think, Broncos fans? Do you think that’s a realistic scenario for Denver? Can the team win ten games this season? Let us know your take by voting in the poll below!

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AFC West standings, playoff picture ahead of Week 11

A look at the AFC West standings and playoff picture after Week 10.

The Chargers dropped to 4-5 after losing to the Lions.

After the win, how does Los Angeles stack up with the other teams in the AFC West?

Here’s a look at the division standings entering Week 11:

1. Chiefs (7-2)

2. Raiders (5-5)

3. Chargers (4-5)

4. Broncos (4-5)

And, a look at the playoff picture:

*There are (7) available Playoff spots

1. Chiefs (7-2)

2. Ravens (7-3)

3. Jaguars (6-3)

4. Dolphins (6-3)

5. Steelers (6-3)

6. Browns (6-3)

7. Texans (5-4)

8. Bengals (5-4)

9. Colts (5-5)

10. Bills (5-5)

AFC playoff matchups if the season ended today:

  • No. 2 Ravens vs. No. 7 Texans
  • No. 3 Jaguars vs. No. 6 Browns
  • No. 4 Dolphins vs. No. 5 Steelers