2020 NFL Playoffs Bracket: Updated AFC, NFC Standings and Picture After Week 14
Two more teams secured a playoff spot and the No. 1 seed changed hands in both conferences in Week 14 of the NFL season.
The Kansas City Chiefs now top the AFC standings after a win in Miami, coupled with the Pittsburgh Steelers' loss against the Buffalo Bills. Despite their second consecutive loss, however, the Steelers have clinched a playoff spot.
In the NFC, meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers have overtaken the New Orleans Saints in the race for the No. 1 spot and clinched a second consecutive NFC North title.
Here's what the playoff bracket looks like after 14 weeks of the season.
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (12-1)
The Chiefs clinched a fifth consecutive AFC West title with a 33-27 win in Miami against the Dolphins on Sunday. Coupled with Pittsburgh's defeat on Sunday Night Football, the win put Kansas City in the box seat in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the conference's solitary bye. Next week's road trip against New Orleans is by far the hardest challenge remaining on the Chiefs' schedule, ahead of back-to-back home games against the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
Having gone undefeated through the first 10 weeks of the season, the Steelers have now lost two consecutive games and relinquished the No. 1 spot in the AFC. Reclaiming top spot won't be easy, as Pittsburgh still faces a trip to Indianapolis and home games against AFC North rivals Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals—the only remaining matchup that looks like a guaranteed win. The silver lining for Mike Tomlin's team is that despite the loss in Buffalo on Sunday night, it has clinched a playoff spot courtesy of the Dolphins losing at home to the Chiefs.
Buffalo Bills (10-3)
Back-to-back primetime wins against the San Francisco 49ers and the Steelers have catapulted the Bills within touching distance of a first AFC East title since 1995. Buffalo has an easier remaining schedule than Pittsburgh—back-to-back road games against the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots followed by a home matchup against the Dolphins in Week 17—and with the Steelers wobbling, it could enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
Tennessee Titans (9-4)
The Titans tightened their grasp on a playoff spot with a 31-10 win over the beleaguered Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. While Tennessee is almost guaranteed a playoff spot—ESPN and FiveThirtyEight give the Titans a 94 percent and 95 percent to make the postseason respectively—it remains to be seen whether it will do so as division winner or as one of the wildcard teams. The Titans lead the AFC South division over the Indianapolis Colts only by virtue of a better record against divisional opponents and have a harder remaining schedule than Indianapolis.
Cleveland Browns (9-3)
The Browns hold the first of three wildcard spots in the AFC and could move within striking distance of the Steelers with a win against the Baltimore Ravens in what looms to be a monumental Monday Night Football.
Indianapolis Colts (9-4)
The Colts' dominant 44-27 win in Las Vegas over the Raiders was a potentially season-defining moment. Indianapolis climbed up to sixth in the playoff race and currently holds the second wildcard spot, with a two-game margin over the Dolphins.
The Colts only trail the Titans in the AFC South by virtue of having a worse record against divisional opponents, but it will be hard to overcome Tennessee. The Titans only have one division—and conference—game left, while all of Indianapolis' three remaining games are against conference opponents, including two against divisional rivals Houston and Jacksonville.
Miami Dolphins (8-5)
The Dolphins more than held their own against the Chiefs but eventually fell short and slipped to 8-5, which currently gives them the last wildcard spot in the AFC. They could be overtaken by the Ravens if Baltimore defeats Cleveland on Monday Night Football.
Miami has the sixth-hardest remaining schedule in the league with games against the Bills, Raiders and Patriots yet to come.
NFC
Green Bay Packers (10-3)
Week 14 could have hardly gone any better for Green Bay. The Packers secured a second consecutive NFC North title by defeating the Detroit Lions 31-24 and drew level with the New Orleans Saints at the top of the NFC with a 10-3 record. Crucially, however, the Packers hold the tiebreaker because of their head-to-head win in Week 3 and have an easier remaining schedule than New Orleans, with back-to-back home games against Carolina and Tennessee followed by a trip to Chicago in Week 17.
New Orleans Saints (10-3)
The Saints' three-game road trip ended with an unexpected loss, as Jalen Hurts breathed life into the Philadelphia Eagles offense and led them to a 24-21 win in his first NFL start. The loss could significantly complicate the Saints' quest to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which they have now relinquished to the Packers. With Drew Brees still out, New Orleans hosts the Chiefs next week, the hardest remaining game on a schedule that includes a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings and a road trip to Carolina in Week 17.
Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
The Rams' demolition of the Patriots on Thursday Night Football consolidated their playoff chances. Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, but still has to face the Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 16 and 17 after a matchup against the winless New York Jets next week.
Washington Football Team (6-7)
The NFC East was widely ridiculed for most of the season, but Washington deserves credit for its recent form, with four consecutive wins that included back-to-back road victories against the Steelers and 49ers.
Coupled with the New York Giants loss against the Cardinals, Washington's 23-15 road win against San Francisco put the Football Team significantly closer to a first playoff appearance since 2015. With back-to-back home games against Seattle and Carolina followed by a trip to Philadelphia, the Football Team could even finish with a record of .500 or above for the first team in five years.
Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
Reeling from a two-game losing streak, the Seahawks got back to winning ways and routed the Jets 40-3 to keep pace with the Rams, who hold the tiebreaker over Seattle and travel to Lumen Field in Week 16. That matchup will in all likelihood decide the winner of the NFC West, with both the Rams and the Seahawks all but guaranteed a playoff berth at this stage.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
The Bucs snapped a two-game losing streak with a 26-14 win over the Vikings in their return from a bye and took a significant step towards clinching one of the NFC wildcard spots. Tampa Bay holds a two-game margin over Minnesota and Chicago, the two teams currently on the bubble in the NFC playoff race, and has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL with two games against the Falcons and a road trip to Detroit.
Arizona Cardinals (7-6)
The Cardinals forced their way back into the playoffs picture, with a 26-7 win in New Jersey over the Giants, snapping Big Blue's four-game winning streak. Arizona hosts the Eagles and 49ers over the next two weeks, ahead of a potentially pivotal matchup in Los Angeles against the Rams in Week 17.
