What Does the NFL Playoff Picture Look Like After Week 5? Dolphins, Eagles Leading the Way

It’s still early in the 2023 NFL season, with plenty of games ahead, but the playoff picture is already beginning to take shape.

Let’s take a look at where things stand with all the Week 5 games complete aside from Monday Night Football, along with some key matchups that could be in store if all remains the same by the end of the regular season.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

AFC Playoff Picture

1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
2. Miami Dolphins (4-1)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
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5. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
6. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
7. Buffalo Bills (3-2)
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8. Cleveland Browns (2-2)
9. New York Jets (2-3)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (2-3)
12. Houston Texans (2-3)
13. Tennessee Titans (2-3)
14. Las Vegas Raiders (1-3)
15. New England Patriots (1-4)
16. Denver Broncos (1-4)

NFC Playoff Picture

1. Philadelphia Eagles (5-0)
2. San Francisco 49ers (5-0)
3. Detroit Lions (4-1)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
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5. Seattle Seahawks (3-1)
6. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
7. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
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8. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)
9. Green Bay Packers (2-2)
10. Washington Commanders (2-3)
11. Los Angeles Rams (2-3)
12. Chicago Bears (1-4)
13. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
14. New York Giants (1-4)
15. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
16. Carolina Panthers (0-5)

An Early Look at Some Intriguing Matchups

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills

The longtime division rivals have now played 120 times dating back to 1966, and their meetings have been crucial each of the last few years.

Buffalo has dominated the teams’ matchups with a 10-2 record against Miami since Josh Allen entered the league in 2018, including last year’s 34-31 Bills win in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Buffalo won their first showdown this fall 48-20 in Week 4 as Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns.

The squads will meet again in Week 18 for what could be another crucial bout, but a second straight postseason matchup between them would certainly be must-see TV.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Steelers and Ravens are among a logjam of 3-2 teams in the AFC that should begin to disperse in the coming weeks, but the AFC North counterparts are currently slated for a first-round matchup in the playoffs.

We got a preview of what this one could look like Sunday as Pittsburgh rallied from a 10-0 first-half deficit to defeat Baltimore 17-10 behind three field goals, a safety, and one touchdown in an ugly game.

MORE: NFL Bye Weeks Schedule 2023

Still, there does not appear to be much separation between the two teams at this point, though we will know plenty more before what could be a pivotal Week 18 meeting.

Pittsburgh has won six of the squads’ last seven meetings, though Baltimore took their last postseason bout 30-17 in 2015. A playoff rematch between the bitter rivals would be intriguing, at the very least.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Buccaneers and Seahawks sit tied at 3-1 through five weeks as they each took their byes in Week 5.

The pair of NFC squads have not met often, with just 15 matchups in the franchises’ history and none coming in the postseason. They last played in 2022, when Tampa Bay took a 21-16 win after holding a 21-3 lead early in the fourth quarter. Seattle lost 30-13 in Week 1 to the Los Angeles Rams, while Tampa Bay fell 25-11 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.

Both teams are off to solid starts and could make for an exciting first-round playoff matchup.