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Professional football

NFL Playoff Picture Takes Shape as Teams Battle for Berths

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The National Football League playoff picture has become clearer, with the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers securing home-field advantage through the Super Bowl, unless they lose in the divisional round. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, and Cleveland Browns have already qualified for the postseason, while 12 teams, including the Buffalo Bills, will not be participating in January. The battle for the remaining six playoff spots is intense, with 10 teams, including the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Raiders, still in contention.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 49ers and Steelers have secured home-field advantage through the Super Bowl, unless they lose in the divisional round.
  • The Cowboys, Dolphins, Chargers, and Browns have qualified for the postseason.
  • 12 teams, including the Buffalo Bills, will not be participating in January.
  • 10 teams, including the Giants, Bears, and Raiders, are still in contention for the remaining six playoff spots.
  • The Patriots and Chiefs are both battling for AFC wild card spots, with the Patriots needing to win at Chicago or having Kansas City lose to the Raiders.
  • The pecking order in the NFC Central is clear: Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago, and Green Bay, in that order.
  • If all four Central teams win, they will all be in the playoffs, with Minnesota taking the division title.
  • If any of them lose, they risk having the Giants or Cardinals steal away the wild-card berth.

Statistics:

  • 10 teams are still in contention for the remaining six playoff spots.
  • The 49ers and Steelers have secured home-field advantage through the Super Bowl, unless they lose in the divisional round.
  • 12 teams will not be participating in January.
  • The Patriots and Chiefs are battling for AFC wild card spots, with the Patriots needing at least one more win and the Chiefs needing to defeat the Raiders.
  • The NFC Central division has the most teams still in contention, with four teams vying for two wild card spots.

Sources:

  • By Barry Wilner, Associated Press, exact date unknown.
  • BARRY WILNER BY BARRY WILNER Associated Press

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