Bills at Dolphins: Who will win in this AFC East matchup?
Everything is on the line in this AFC East clash. The Democrat and Chronicle's Sal Maiorana explains how Buffalo is preparing for this game.
The 2023 NFL regular season will conclude today with Game No. 272 — the Buffalo Bills' visit to the Miami Dolphins on “Sunday Night Football” — to determine the AFC East title while also determining the seedings for the Determine conference playoffs. Previously, the AFC South champion was determined while also claiming the conference's other playoff spots.
On the NFC side, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are both in the postseason, although it is not yet known which team will rule the NFC East. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South, while the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks play for the conference's final wild-card spot.
Follow along here throughout the day as we update the brackets in real time, while also providing news and analysis updates that signal how the final 14-team field might ultimately coalesce.
First playoff matchup set
Much is still in flux, including the seedings for teams that have punched their playoff tickets. What we do know is that the Houston Texans will host the Cleveland Browns on Super Wild Card Weekend, a rematch of their Week 16 game. The Browns won that game 36-22, but Houston QB CJ Stroud sat out with a concussion.
Jags gag
Jacksonville's loss in Nashville has massive consequences. Not only do the Jaguars have a chance to win back-to-back AFC South titles, they're now out of the postseason entirely – their loss ties the Bills and Steelers while handing the division to the Houston Texans.
The AFC playoff field is now set, if it is not yet fully seeded.
Saints live, Vikings don't
New Orleans still has a shot at the NFC's final wild card spot, but faces losses to the Packers and Seahawks. The Saints' clear win against Atlanta officially eliminated underdog Minnesota.
Here's how things stand at the moment:
AFC playoff image
yz – 1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4), AFC North champions: By beating Miami in Week 17, they clinched the division title, a bye in the first conference round and home-field advantage… That meant the only goal Saturday against Pittsburgh was to avoid serious injuries. The mission of resting QB Lamar Jackson and Co. appears to have been accomplished. Remaining schedule: will face the lowest seed remaining AFC playoff team in the divisional playoff round
X – 2. Miami Dolphins (11-5), AFC East leaders: Last weekend in Baltimore, they saw their hopes of home-court advantage go up in a massive cloud of smoke. If they lose on Sunday, the Dolphins likely won't play any more postseason home games, as such a loss would hand Buffalo the division title. Remaining schedule: vs. bills
Year – 3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6), AFC West Champions: It took longer than usual, but they secured their eighth straight division crown while also securing third place. Their Week 17 win also eliminated the Bengals and Broncos. Remaining schedule: at Chargers
Year – 4. Houston Texans (10-7), AFC South champions: Rookie QB CJ Stroud and Co. survived and advanced Saturday night in Indianapolis to clinch a spot, their first since 2019. Houston advanced to AFC South champions on Sunday thanks to the Jaguars' loss. The Texans' win eliminated Indianapolis. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns in the wild card round
X – 5. Cleveland Browns (11-6), Wild Card No. 1: They reach the postseason for the third time since their rebirth in 1999 and travel back to Houston, where they beat the CJ Stroud-less Texans two weeks ago. Remaining schedule: at Texans in the wild card round
X – 6. Buffalo Bills (10-6), wildcard No. 2: They got pretty much everything they wanted – which is to end the regular season on Sunday night at Miami with a five-game winning streak, and Buffalo will become AFC East champions… again. But even before that's settled, the Bills can rest assured that they'll be playing next weekend thanks to the meltdown in Jacksonville. Remaining schedule: at Dolphins
X – 7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), Wildcard #3: They took care of business in suboptimal weather conditions in Baltimore on Saturday, beating the top-seeded Ravens. Then the Jags competed on Sunday, their loss also clinching a playoff date for Pittsburgh. Remaining schedule:TBD
NFC playoff image
yz – 1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), NFC West champions: They won last weekend, while the Eagles and Lions didn't – which means the Niners won't be leaving the Bay Area for another football game…unless they reach Super Bowl 58. Remaining schedule: against Rams
Year – 2. Detroit Lions (12-5), NFC North Champions: They end the regular season with a win over Minnesota and move into second place for the time being, a point that could mean two postseason games at Ford Field. But the Lions need the Cowboys and Eagles to lose to stay. Remaining schedule: Still open
x – 3. Dallas Cowboys (11-5), NFC East Leaders: With a dubious win over Detroit in Week 17, they extended their winning streak at AT&T Stadium to 16 games. But “America's Team” regained first place in the division thanks to Philly's loss and a better record (8-3) in conference play. Beat Washington on Sunday and the streak of non-consecutive NFC East champions since 2005 would be extended for another year as the Cowboys would dethrone the Eagles. Remaining schedule: at Commanders
J – 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8), NFC South champions: They persevered in Charlotte and won the division championship for the third straight year – and of course the first time without former QB Tom Brady during that time. The win also eliminates the Atlanta Falcons from playoff contention. Remaining schedule: Host a wild card game against the Cowboys or Eagles
x-5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), Wildcard #1: The shocking loss to Arizona is an exclamation point for the reigning NFC champions' bankruptcy at the end of the season. They need a win on Sunday and a loss in Dallas to retain the NFC East throne. Remaining schedule: at Giants
x – 6. Los Angeles Rams (9-7), Wildcard #2: They narrowly escaped the Giants in Week 17. But after the win, they got a gift: The Steelers' victory over the Seahawks moved LA into a wild-card spot. The Rams would fall to seventh place if tied with the Pack at 9-8. Remaining schedule: at 49ers
7. New Orleans Saints (9-8), Wildcard #3: They will live on if the Packers and Seahawks lose. A loss to the Rams in Week 16 means the Saints couldn't overtake LA. Remaining schedulee: TBD
8. Green Bay Packers (8-8), outside the playoff field: Seattle's loss in Week 17 opened the door to a wild card. Beat Chicago on Sunday and the Pack heads to the postseason, in part due to a win advantage over the Seahawks. Remaining schedule: against bears
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-8), outside the playoff field: With a win in Week 18 and a loss at Green Bay, they can get back in the field. Remaining schedule: at Cardinals
x – guaranteed playoff spot
y – won division title
z – secured a bye and home advantage in the first round
Falcons eliminated
The Tampa Buccaneers secured the NFC South by defeating the Panthers on the road on Sunday to eliminate the Atlanta Falcons. They began the day 12th in the NFC standings but had a path to the division throne.
NFC South is still up for grabs
While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to struggle to beat the weak Carolina Panthers in Charlotte – a win will mean the Bucs' third straight championship – the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons remain locked in a de facto elimination game in the Superdome . The Saints or Falcons can claim the NFC South with a win if Tampa Bay also loses. Conversely, both the Bucs and Saints can play in wild card weekend with extensive outside help, but the Falcons have no other path than a division championship.
Jaguars in trouble?
At halftime, Jacksonville trails the Tennessee Titans 21-13. Should the Jags, the reigning AFC South champions, fail to return, the Houston Texans would win the division, while the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers would solidify the AFC field.
More playoff revenue
With the Browns, Lions, Rams and Texans all qualifying for the postseason, the NFL has replaced its field with at least four teams from the previous year every season since 1990 – when the bracket expanded to 12 teams (and later 14). was 2020). This season's number could still rise as the Steelers, Packers, Saints and others are still fighting for spots.
The decisive scenarios for the NFL playoffs begin in Week 18
Buffalo captures the AFC East Division title with:
Miami clinch the AFC East Division title with:
Dallas clinches the NFC East division title with:
Green Bay secures the playoff spot with:
New Orleans secures the playoff spot with:
Philadelphia clinches the NFC East division title with:
Seattle secures the playoff spot with:
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