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.
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 5-1
2) Miami Dolphins 5-1
3) Baltimore Ravens 5-2
4) Jacksonville Jaguars 5-2
5) Cleveland Browns 4-2
6) Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2
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) Los Angeles Chargers 2-3
14) Tennessee Titans 2-4
15) New England Patriots 2-5
16) Denver Broncos 1-5
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.
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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.
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.
NFC Playoff Picture
1) Philadelphia Eagles 5-1
2) San Francisco 49ers 5-1
3) Detroit Lions 5-2
4) Atlanta Falcons 4-3
5) Dallas Cowboys 4-2
6) Seattle Seahawks 3-2
7) Los Angeles Rams 3-3
In the hunt:
8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-3
9) Washington Commanders 3-4
10) New Orleans Saints 3-3
11) Green Bay Packers 3-3
12) Minnesota Vikings 3-3
13) Chicago Bears 2-5
14) New York Giants 2-5
15) Arizona Cardinals 1-5
16) Carolina Panthers 1-5
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.
