The 2021 NFL season is entering double-digit weeks and nearing the end of its new 17-game schedule. It’s time to double-check the updated standings and what the playoff picture looks like for Week 14.
The League still keeps the playoff playing field open, with 14 of the 32 teams (43.8%) set to qualify for the most recent post-season. That number includes 7 people who attended the AFC and NFC, only the No. 1 seed said goodbye thanks to the home field advantage.
Who will join, who is still in contention, and who will think about next season? Here is a comprehensive view:
NFL POWER RANKINGS:
Chief, Steelworker, Climbing Dolphin; 49ers, Ravens, Vikings fade in Week 14
NFL Standings for Week 14
Pictures of the AFC playoff match
Who will participate?
1. New England Patriots (9-4), 1st place, AFC East. The Patriots entered the final game of Week 13 on Monday night at the Bills with the top seed in hand after Raven lost, but with the win, there was no tiebreak with them completely halfway through the game. The Patriots were also supported by a dazzling record against AFC (7-1) before a belated goodbye. Remaining schedule: at IND, versus BUF, versus JAX, at MIA
2. Tennessee Titans (8-4), 1st place, AFC South. The Titans also said goodbye to their Week 13 as Raven lost to the Steelers as they had the next best conference game record by 5-3 while Raven lost 5-4. They saw the division tighten up a bit with the Colts win but keep in mind they wiped out that team. Remaining schedule: versus JAX, at PIT, with SF, versus MIA, at HOU
3. Baltimore Ravens (8-4), 1st place, AFC North. The Raven slipped out of No 1 but retained the lead in the division as the Bengals lost and the Browns idled. The Steelers need Week 13’s game to survive, but Baltimore needs a quick recovery with three splits and two other tough games remaining. Remaining schedule: at CLE, versus GB, at CIN, versus LAR, versus PIT
4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4), 1st place, AFC West. The Chiefs walked out of Sunday night’s Week 13 home game against the Broncos with a bad conference record of 3-4, with losses to the Titans, Ravens, Bills and Chargers. The Captains took the lead to the winning Chargers in the division, with the Captains and Chargers re-entering the next table. Remaining schedule: versus LV, at LAC, versus PIT, at CIN, at DEN
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-5), 2nd place, AFC West. The Chargers have risen to a position by taking care of the Bengals, the team that had preceded them, on the road in Cincinnati. They look like stronger wild card contenders with Justin Herbert and Brandon Staley with some key AFC wins. They also put more divisional pressure on the captains, who they beat before and play again in two weeks. Remaining schedule: against NYG, against KC, at HOU, against DEN, at LV
6. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5), 2nd place, AFC North. The Bengals cooled off after their big late-stage wins over the Raiders and Steelers as they played sloppily against Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon and fouled too much against a hungry Chargers defence. It’s not easy trying to defend a wild card anymore, but the Broncos game at Week 15 can help them a lot. Remaining schedule: against SF, at DEN, against BAL, against KC, at CLE
7. Buffalo Bills (7-5), 2nd place, AFC East. The Bills had a chance to lead the East on Monday night at home but lost to the Patriots, keeping New England in 1st place but dropping Buffalo two points in the Wild-card race because of a weaker head-to-head record (5- 5) compared to Chargers and Bengals. The Bills didn’t get a single week off when they had to go to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Remaining schedule: at TB, versus CAR, at NE, versus ATL, NYJ.
Who can go there?
9. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1)
11. Las Vegas Raiders (6-6)
11. Cleveland Browns (6-6)
12. Denver Broncos (6-6)
The Steelers secured a crucial win over Raven to jump into the top spot among the “equal” teams in the AFC. The Colts stay ahead of the losing Raiders and Broncos and the idle Browns by ripping off the Texans. The Broncos fell out of .500 teams because they lost to the Raiders and Browns earlier in the season.
Who’s going out?
13. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
14. New York Jets (3-9)
15. Houston Texans (2-10)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
The Dolphins extended their winning streak to five games in a row after starting 1-7 in a respectable climb, but too little, too late for a playoff spot. The Jets separated themselves from the bottom two with a win over Texans and they still played Jaguar.
NFL DRAFT 2022: Fake draft | Big table of top 100 leads
NFC playoff images
Who will participate?
1. Arizona Cardinals (10-2), first class, NFC West. The Cardinals smashed the Bears about to say goodbye with Kyler Murray leading the charge with the familiar big thing running and passing. Their defense also fell apart again with passing passes and preparations to keep Chicago down. The Cardinals are set to take a two-game lead before heading into an important rematch with the Rams at home. Remaining schedule: vs. LAR, at DET, vs. IND, at DAL, vs. SEA
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3), first class, NFC North. The Packers ran the business against the Rams in Week 12 to move in the half-match of the idle Cardinals, whom they defeated, for the top seed. In the process, they also help the Cardinals develop a greater leadership position within their department. They can now rest in the Week 13 bye knowing the Cardinals’ lead over them is still a match. They are ahead of the winning Buccaneers because of their superior performance in the NFC game, Remaining schedule: against CHI, at BAL, against CLE, against MIN, at DET
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3), first class, NFC South. The Buccaneers pulled even with the Packers and also stayed in the Cardinals’ game after having little trouble taking care of the Falcons on the road. Tom Brady is being locked and loaded at the right time before the knockouts. Remaining schedule: vs. BUF, vs. NO, at CAR, at NYJ, vs. CAR
4. Dallas Cowboys (8-4), first class, NFC East. The Cowboys will stay here one game after the Buccaneers, who they lost in Week 1 after they beat the Saints to usher in Week 13 on Thursday night. They still have a lot of work to do to win the match against fiery Washington and revive Philadelphia hiding behind the team. The rest of the schedule: at WAS, at NYG, versus WAS, versus ARI, in PHI
5. Los Angeles Rams (8-4), 2nd place, NFC West. The Rams entered Week 13 on a three-game losing streak and had disappointing results recently with Matthew Stafford having a harder time. They were two full games behind the Cardinals with a win over the Jaguars at home before another shot at the Cardinals, whom they lost at home. The Rams also fell to the team behind them in the table, the 49ers, but are now two games ahead there. Remaining schedule: at ARI, versus SEA, at MIN, at BAL, versus SF
6. Washington football team (6-6), second place, NFC East. Washington won a tough game against Las Vegas, the AFC’s hopeful wild card, and overcame both San Francisco and Philadelphia in just one afternoon. They are in dizzying form with a 4-match winning streak under Ron Rivera and Taylor Heinicke. They have overcome some problems in defense and are attacking strong enough. Somehow the oddity of the leaderboard gives them all the remaining division games. Remaining schedule: DAL, PHI, at DAL, versus PHI, at NYG
7. San Francisco 49ers (6-6), third place, NFC West. The 49ers were upset by the Seahawks on collision and dropped to .500, but they are still in the playoffs with an overall record even against Washington but a much worse conference record. They can withstand a fall with everyone except the Eagles, Seahawks, Lions losing behind them. Remaining schedule: at CIN, versus ATL, at TEN, versus HOU, at LAR
Who can go there?
8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
9. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
10. Carolina Panthers (5-7)
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)
12. New Orleans Saints (5-7)
13. New York Giants (4-8)
14. Chicago Bears (4-8)
15. Seattle Seahawks (4-8)
The Eagles, the team that bid their goodbyes in Week 14, have continued to lead this crowd with a win over the Jets, right behind Washington and a loss to San Francisco, which had lost earlier in the season. Otherwise, it’s a mess with fading Vikings (again) and an unappealing three-team NFC South mess.
Who’s going out?
16. Detroit Lions (1-10-1)
The Lions had a dramatic first victory after being close by the Steelers, Browns and Bears. They played the main cheat with the Vikings and probably did it with a few more teams.
