Doric SamDecember 5, 2023
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The Jacksonville Jaguars had the chance to take over as the top seed in the AFC, but the Cincinnati Bengals had other plans and secured a 34-31 overtime victory on Monday Night Football to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Bengals improved to 6-6 to stay in the running for a playoff spot, while the Jaguars fell to 8-4 but remained in first place in the AFC South.
Monday’s game rounded off Week 13, and the playoff race is only getting more thrilling as we move into Week 14.
Here’s a look at the current playoff picture.
AFC
1. Miami Dolphins (9-3, first-round bye, tiebreaker over Baltimore Ravens)
2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) vs. 7. Indianapolis Colts (7-5, tiebreaker over Houston Texans)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4, tiebreaker over Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Cleveland Browns (7-5, tiebreaker over Indianapolis Colts)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) vs. 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5, tiebreaker over Cleveland Browns)
NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2, first-round bye)
2. San Francisco 49ers (9-3, tiebreaker over Detroit Lions) vs. 7. Green Bay Packers (6-6, tiebreaker over Los Angeles Rams)
3. Detroit Lions (9-3) vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6, tiebreaker over Green Bay Packers)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6) vs. 5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
The race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC is the most intriguing story as the 2023 season nears its conclusion. The top four teams are separated by just a single game in the loss column, with two teams tied with 9-3 records.
The Baltimore Ravens will have an impact on how things play out, with upcoming matchups against the Jaguars in Week 15 and the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.
Those games could determine who gets home-field advantage and the lone first-round bye in the AFC. The Kansas City Chiefs are still in the running despite their loss against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
At 6-6, the Bengals, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills are also still in the mix. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo after winning the Week 9 matchup between the two teams, but Denver holds the tiebreaker over the Bengals thanks to a better winning percentage in conference games.
Over in the NFC, the loss by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers helped close the gap in the quest for the top seed. The 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys all sit one game back in the loss column,