What Week 14 means for the 2020 NFL playoff picture

Week 14 is upon us and the NFL playoff picture has already seen some adjustments. The Rams thumped the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, and New England’s playoff chances have grown considerably slimmer. At best they will be two games back of the wild card with only three games remaining. On the other hand, the Rams win means they will be no worse than two up with three to go in the playoff race.

The AFC is in the spotlight this week with four games between teams firmly in the playoff picture. Chiefs-Dolphins, Colts-Raiders, Steelers-Bills, and Ravens-Browns all will result in some semblance of a shakeup by the end of Monday. Odds suggest the top four teams in the AFC likely will remain the same four teams, even if in a slightly different order. But the Raiders and Ravens have huge opportunities this weekend.

In the NFC, we get a lot of quasi-elimination games. Only the Cowboys and Falcons can be mathematically eliminated, but several team on the precipice of the playoff picture could take a near fatal blow this weekend. For example, the 5-7 49ers host 5-7 Washington with the 49ers clinging on the outside of the wild card and the Football Team tied with the Giants but behind due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. The other two important NFC games feature the 5-7 Giants hosting the 6-6 Cardinals and the 7-5 Bucs hosting the 6-6 Vikings. None of these teams will be mathematically eliminated this week, but the bottom of the NFC race could see some shifts.

Below is a look at what each conference’s playoff standings look like heading into Week 14 Sunday, along with notable games on the schedule. Here’s a full list of tiebreakers for determining playoff standings.

AFC

1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 11-1 (Conference record over Chiefs)
2. Kansas City Chiefs, 11-1^
3. Buffalo Bills, 9-3
4. Tennessee Titans, 8-4 (Division record over Colts)

5. Cleveland Browns, 9-3
6. Miami Dolphins, 8-4 (Conference record over Colts)
7. Indianapolis Colts, 8-4

Outside looking in: Las Vegas Raiders (7-5), Baltimore Ravens (7-5), New England Patriots (6-7)

Rams 24, Patriots 3
Chiefs (11-1) @ Dolphins (8-4)
Titans (8-4) @ Jaguars (1-11)
Colts (8-4) @ Raiders (7-5)
Steelers (11-1) @ Bills (9-3)
Ravens (7-5) @ Browns (9-3)

NFC

1. New Orleans Saints, 10-2^
2. Green Bay Packers, 9-3
3. Los Angeles Rams, 9-4
4. New York Giants, 5-7

5. Seattle Seahawks, 8-4
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-5
7. Minnesota Vikings, 6-6 (Common games win percentage over Cardinals)

Outside looking in: Arizona Cardinals (6-6), Chicago Bears (5-7), Detroit Lions (5-7), San Francisco 49ers (5-7), Washington Football Team (5-7), Philadelphia Eagles (3-8-1), Dallas Cowboys (3-9)

Rams 24, Patriots 3
Texans (4-8) @ Bears (5-7)
Cowboys (3-9) @ Bengals (2-9-1)
Cardinals (6-6) @ Giants (5-7)
Vikings (6-6) @ Bucs (7-5)
Jets (0-12) @ Seahawks (8-4)
Packers (9-3) @ Lions (5-7)
Saints (10-2) @ Eagles (3-8-1)
Washington (5-7) @ 49ers (5-7)