NFL playoff picture after Week 12: Eagles can clinch playoff spot in Week 13

It seems impossible, but the 2023 NFL season is already winding down. There are only six weeks left and the playoff picture for both conferences is really starting to take shape, although there are still a bunch of teams vying for the wild card spots.

Here's how the AFC and NFC are stacking up as we head into the final month-plus of the regular season.

AFC Playoff Picture

1. Baltimore Ravens: 9-3 overall, 6-3 conference
2. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-3 overall, 6-1 conference; tiebreak over Jacksonville and Miami on head-to-head
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-3 overall, 6-2 conference; tiebreak over Miami on strength of victory
4. Miami Dolphins: 8-3 overall, 6-2 conference
5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-4 overall, 5-3 conference; tiebreak over Cleveland on division games win %
6. Cleveland Browns: 7-4 overall, 5-3 conference
7. Indianapolis Colts: 6-5 overall, 4-3 conference; tiebreak over Denver on conference wins, tiebreak over Houston on head-to-head

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AFC Teams in the Playoff Hunt

• Houston Texans: 6-5 overall, 3-3 conference
• Denver Broncos: 6-5 overall, 3-4 conference
• Buffalo Bills: 6-6 overall, 3-5 conference
• Cincinnati Bengals: 5-6 overall, 1-6 conference
• Las Vegas Raiders: 5-7 overall, 3-5 conference
• Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7 overall, 2-4 conference
• Tennessee Titans: 4-7 overall, 2-5 conference
• New York Jets: 4-7 overall, 2-6 conference

The New England Patriots (2-9 overall, 2-4 conference) are the only team that's essentially out of contention. While they haven't been mathematically eliminated yet, two more losses will officially have them out of the playoff picture entirely.

NFC Playoff Picture

Over in the NFC, things are certainly more clear at the top. The conference as a whole seems to be weaker, and that's evidenced by two teams already having double digit losses and a division winner being under .500.

1. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1 overall, 6-0 conference
2. San Francisco 49ers: 8-3 overall, 6-1 conference; tiebreak over Detroit on conference wins
3. Detroit Lions: 8-3 overall, 5-2 conference
4. Atlanta Falcons: 5-6 overall, 4-4 conference; tiebreak over New Orleans on head-to-head
5. Dallas Cowboys: 8-3 overall, 5-3 conference
6. Seattle Seahawks: 6-5 overall, 5-3 conference
7. Minnesota Vikings: 6-6 overall, 6-3 conference

NFC Teams in the Playoff Hunt

• Green Bay Packers: 5-6 overall, 4-3 conference; tiebreak over Los Angeles and New Orleans on head-to-head
• Los Angeles Rams: 5-6 overall, 4-4 conference; tiebreak over New Orleans on conference wins
• New Orleans Saints: 5-6 overall, 2-4 conference
• Tamp Bay Buccaneers: 4-7 overall, 3-4 conference
• New York Giants: 4-8 overall, 3-4 conference; tiebreak over Bears on conference wins, tiebreak over Washington on division wins and head-to-head
• Chicago Bears: 4-8 overall, 3-5 conference; tiebreak over Washington on head-to-head
• Washington Commanders: 4-8 overall, 2-7 conference

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The low win numbers for the top teams in the NFC South and the final two wild cards have the Carolina Panthers (1-10 overall, 0-7 conference) still technically alive in the playoff race, although their losing magic number is just two. The Arizona Cardinals (2-10 overall, 2-6 conference) are also in the same position.

Week 13 Playoff Clinching Scenarios

The Eagles are the only team that can clinch a playoff spot in Week 13. There are four ways in which it can happen.

• Philadelphia wins vs. San Francisco + Los Angeles loses/ties
• Philadelphia wins vs. San Francisco + Green Bay loses/ties + Detroit loses
• Philadelphia ties San Francisco + Los Angeles loses + Green Bay loses/ties + Atlanta loses/ties
• Philadelphia ties San Francisco + Los Angeles loses + Green Bay loses/ties + New Orleans loses/ties

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