Monday’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys was one between two teams on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, but the AFC representative at least earned some late-season momentum with a 27-20 victory. Cincinnati improved to 5-8 with the win and is still three games behind the Denver Broncos for the final AFC wild-card spot. As for Dallas, its brief two-game winning streak came to an end as it dropped three games behind the Washington Commanders for the final NFC wild-card spot.
Other teams further cemented their position in the standings, but the Cowboys and Bengals are beyond the postseason picture. After Week 14, here is a glance at each team’s current position.
AFC Standings
Leaders of Divisions
1. The Chiefs of Kansas City (12-1)
2. 10-3 Buffalo Bills
3. The 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Texans of Houston (8-5)
The Wild-Card Race
5. Ravens of Baltimore (8-5)
6. Chargers of Los Angeles (8-5)
7. Broncos of Denver (8-5)
8. The Colts of Indianapolis (6-7)
9. Dolphins of Miami (6-7)
10. The 5-8 Cincinnati Bengals
11. (3-10) Cleveland Browns
12. Jaguars of Jacksonville (3-10)
13. Jets of New York (3-10)
14. (3-10) Tennessee Titans
15. Patriots of New England (3-10)
16. Raiders of Las Vegas (2-11)
The Kansas City Chiefs took a step closer to securing the No. 1 overall spot in the AFC on Sunday, thanks to a hat tip to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Chiefs avoided a challenge from the Los Angeles Chargers when Matthew Wright’s game-winning field goal rebounded between the uprights as time ran down, and Los Angeles defeated the Buffalo Bills 44-42 in what was perhaps the game of the weekend.
Because Buffalo has the tiebreaker with a head-to-head victory, Patrick Mahomes and company were able to move a full two games ahead of the Bills.
Kansas City still hasn’t secured a spot in the playoffs, though, as it still needs to play the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Houston Texans in the next four games.
The Steelers are two games behind the No. 1 seed and would have the opportunity to win a head-to-head match to secure a tiebreaker, so the game at Pittsburgh is particularly noteworthy.
Even if the Steelers manage to upset the two-time defending Super Bowl winners, it is hard to imagine them catching up when they play the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Chiefs, and Bengals in their final four games.
In the end, Kansas City will probably enjoy home-field advantage as it attempts to win the Lombardi Trophy for the third consecutive year. The most recent example was the field goal that just went through on Sunday. It keeps finding ways to win, even in close games.
NFC Standing
Leaders of Divisions
1. Lions of Detroit (12-1)
2. Eagles of Philadelphia (11-2)
3. Seahawks of Seattle (8-5)
4. Buccaneers of Tampa Bay (7-6)
The Wild-Card Race
5. Vikings of Minnesota (11-2)
6. (9-4) Green Bay Packers
7. Commanders in Washington (8-5)
8. Rams of Los Angeles (7-6)
9. Falcons of Atlanta (6-7)
10. Cardinals of Arizona (6-7)
11. 49ers of San Francisco (6-7)
12. Saints of New Orleans (5-8)
13. The Cowboys of Dallas (5-8)
14. Bears of Chicago (4-9)
15. Panthers of Carolina (3-10)
16. Giants of New York (2-11)
The competition for the No. 1 slot in the NFC is still very much up for grabs, while the race for the AFC No. 1 seed is already well resolved.
In their divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, the Detroit Lions, who are still on a roll, secured another crucial victory. But because the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles are still rolling, they haven’t been able to pull away from them more than one game.
Despite needing a late turnover on downs to avoid a challenge from the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Philadelphia has now won nine straight games. The Vikings, who have now won six straight games, appeared to be in control for long periods in Sunday’s 42–21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
The last regular season game pits the two NFC North rivals against one another, but Detroit at least has a head-to-head victory over the Vikings to fall back on.
The Lions may need to win out to ensure they finish with the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, as they are only one game ahead of two fierce clubs.
With so many good teams fighting for a postseason spot, several of the NFC’s top contenders will be ousted in the Wild Card Round, so the first-round bye that comes with the top seed would also be helpful.
After their thrilling victory over the Bills, the Rams are still in the running for the NFC West and the wild card, and they will face the division-leading Seattle Seahawks in Week 18.
Los Angeles’ conclusion will be interesting to watch since Stafford would be a formidable opponent for whoever he faced in the postseason.