With a third of the 2023 NFL season in the books, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. While we still have a long way to go, we are starting to get an idea of who might be in contention and who will likely be focused on their 2024 NFL Draft picks before long. Let’s take a look at the AFC and NFC playoff pictures during Week 7.
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AFC Playoff Picture
1) Kansas City Chiefs 6-1
2) Miami Dolphins 5-2
3) Baltimore Ravens 5-2
4) Jacksonville Jaguars 5-2
5) Pittsburgh Steelers 4-2
6) Cleveland Browns 4-2
7) Buffalo Bills 4-3
In the hunt:
8) Houston Texans 3-3
9) New York Jets 3-3
10) Cincinnati Bengals 3-3
11) Indianapolis Colts 3-4
12) Las Vegas Raiders 3-4
13) Tennessee Titans 2-4
14) Los Angeles Chargers 2-4
15) New England Patriots 2-5
16) Denver Broncos 2-5
Buffalo Bills Struggles Continue While Ravens Make Huge Statement in Win Over Lions
The biggest upset of the week came in Gilette Stadium, where the New England Patriots took full advantage of a third straight sloppy game from the Buffalo Bills to come away with a crucial victory. The Bills rallied late, but Mac Jones led his team down the field for the game-winning touchdown to Mike Gesicki.
The Bills have now struggled for three straight weeks and could consider themselves lucky to have gone 1-2 in that stretch. With the Miami Dolphins impressing in 2023, the Bills are stumbling at the wrong time.
MORE: NFL Bye Weeks Schedule 2023
The Baltimore Ravens put together a statement game against the Detroit Lions in Week 7. The Ravens led 14-0 in the first quarter and 28-0 with over seven minutes to go in the first half. They would add a fifth touchdown in the second half to put the game out of reach of the Lions.
The battle of fringe playoff teams between the Browns and Colts was the most entertaining game of the early window. The game may not have been the cleanest but it was a lot of fun as the two teams exchanged scores in a game that saw over 75 points scored. The Browns won out despite losing QB Deshaun Watson in the first half.
In the late-afternoon window, the Steelers continued their rollercoaster season with a come-from-behind win against the Los Angeles Rams. The Steelers are now 4-2 on the season and currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC.
In the other all-AFC game in the afternoon slate, the Chiefs held off a frisky Chargers team to win their sixth straight game. The game saw 41 points scored in the first half, but then the two teams could only combine for seven points in the second half. The Chargers are now facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs.
The Broncos made sure they did not get left alone on one win in the AFC with a victory over the struggling Green Bay Packers. It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win and Denver will be pleased to have another under their belts to relieve some of the pressure.
NFC Playoff Picture
1) Philadelphia Eagles 6-1
2) San Francisco 49ers 5-1
3) Detroit Lions 5-2
4) Atlanta Falcons 4-3
5) Seattle Seahawks 4-2
6) Dallas Cowboys 4-2
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-3
In the hunt:
8) Los Angeles Rams 3-4
9) Washington Commanders 3-4
10) New Orleans Saints 3-4
11) Minnesota Vikings 2-4
12) Green Bay Packers 2-4
13) Chicago Bears 2-5
14) New York Giants 2-5
15) Arizona Cardinals 1-6
16) Carolina Panthers 0-6
Detroit Lions Embarrassed in Baltimore
The Lions would have hoped to continue building on their 5-1 start, but they ran into a pumped-up Ravens who dispelled any concerns over a slow start on their return from London. The Bills were down 28-0 at the half and 35-0 entering the fourth. They scored a touchdown to make it look less of a blowout, but they never looked in this game after the first five minutes.
Elsewhere in the NFC early window of games, the Giants got a big win over the Commanders to keep themselves in with a slim shot of making the playoffs at 2-5. In the NFC South, the Falcons’ victory over the Buccaneers ensured they will enter Week 8 leading the division.
The Rams’ loss to the Steelers in the late afternoon window saw them drop out of the NFC playoff picture and into the eighth spot in the conference standings. Los Angeles just has not been able to put together consistent performances in 2023.