The NFL playoffs are approaching and we’re into Week 14 of the NFL season. Teams are beginning to clinch spots in the 2022-23 postseason and we’re going to be tracking every team that has punched their ticket so far. The schedule has been expanded to 17 games and the playoff format has been changed slightly, allowing an extra Wild Card team to make it into the postseason in each conference. The No. 1 seed in the conference will have a bye while the 2-7 seeds will each play on Wild Card weekend.
Below is each team that has clinched a berth into the 2022-23 playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
When clinched: Week 18
How they clinched: 19-16 win over Rams, Lions win 20-16 over Packers
Seattle scratched and clawed their way to an overtime win against the Rams and then got help from the Detroit Lions, who they eliminated with a win, when the Lions knocked off the Packers on Sunday night.
Miami Dolphins (9-8)
When clinched: Week 18
How they clinched: 11-6 win over Titans, 35-23 loss by Patriots
After dropping five straight games between Week 13-17, with a loss of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa making things look bad, a 50-yard field goal from Jason Sanders with 18 seconds remaining puts the Fish in the Playoffs for the first time since 2016. They’ll enter as the No. 7 seed, and will head on the road looking for the first postseason win for the franchise since Chad Pennington led them to a win after the 2000 campaign.
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
When clinched: Week 18
How they clinched: 20-16 win over Titans
The turnaround is complete. A year removed from an embarrassing performance by head coach Urban Meyer, the Jaguars are AFC South champs under head coach Doug Pederson. They struggled to put away the Titans in the regular season finale, but Jacksonville won their fifth straight to clinch the division title.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
When clinched: Week 17
How they clinched: 30-24 win over Panthers
It wasn’t pretty, but the Buccaneers managed to get to .500 and win the division in Week 17. There isn’t much positive to say about their season, but they got the job done.
New York Giants (8-6-1)
When clinched: Week 17
How they clinched: 38-10 win over Colts
The Giants destroyed the Colts and QB Daniel Jones looked great. New head coach Brian Daboll is very much in the race for Coach of the Year after this season.
Los Angeles Chargers (10-5)
When clinched: Week 16
How they clinched: 20-3 win over Colts
The Chargers grab a wild card spot with a win . They could move up to the No. 5 spot, but they look more likely to stick in the No. 6 spot depending on how they play out the season.
Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
When clinched: Week 16
How they clinched: 17-9 win over Falcons
The Ravens were once again with Lamar Jackson, but Tyler Huntley was able to keep them in this game and to take the win. They are still behind the Bengals in the division, but them beating the Patriots secured a Wild Card spot. They will need Jackson back for a chance to make a run, but that appears to be the case, as Jackson should return by the playoffs at the very latest.
Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
When clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: 49ers beat the Seahawks, Giants beat Commanders
The Cowboys lost to the Jaguars, but the stars aligned to get them in the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
When clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: 30-24 OT win over the Houston Texans
It wasn’t easy, but the Chiefs managed to beat the now 1-12-1 Texans in overtime. A Davis Mills fumble in overtime set the Chiefs up in field goal range and RB Jerick McKinnon rushed for his second touchdown of the game to bring home the win. The Chiefs win AFC West for the seventh straight division championship.
Buffalo Bills (11-3)
When division clinched: Week 16
How they clinched: 35-13 victory over Chicago Bears
When playoffs clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: 32-29 victory over Miami Dolphins
It was a snowy Saturday night in Buffalo, but the warm-weathered Dolphins stuck around. On the back of three touchdown passes from Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills went into halftime with a 21-13 lead. The third quarter was all Miami as they scored two touchdowns and went into the final frame up 26-21. Buffalo tight end Dawson Knox scored a touchdown with an Allen two-point conversion to tie the game at 29 with 9:02 left. Tyler Bass nailed a 25-yard field goal as time expired to give Buffalo the win and a guaranteed playoff berth.
Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
When clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: 39-36 OT win over Indianapolis Colts
In the biggest comeback in NFL history, the Vikings rallied from a 33-0 deficit to clinch a playoff spot and the NFC North title. Kirk Cousins threw for 460 yards and four touchdowns, and everyone got a chance to score — Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, CJ Ham, KJ Osborn, and Adam Thielen all found the end zone.
The Vikings currently have the No. 2 seed in the NFC, and have yet to face the Giants, Packers, and Bears.
San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
When clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: 21-13 win over Seattle Seahawks
With a win over the Seahawks, the 49ers clinched the NFC West title and a home playoff game. San Francisco dominated the line of scrimmage and the score was closer than the game felt, as rookie Brock Purdy didn’t turn the ball over and Christian McCaffrey did his usual offensive wizardry.
The 49ers currently sit as the No. 3 seed in the NFC, but are just a half game back from the Vikings. But in reality, the difference between the No. 2 and 3 seeds isn’t all that big and they aren’t going to fall to the No. 4 seed with the NFC South currently led by a Buccaneers team with a losing record.
Philadelphia Eagles (12-1)
When clinched: Week 14
How they clinched: 48-22 win over New York Giants
The Eagles beat down the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 14 on Sunday to become the first team to clinch a spot in the 2022-23 playoffs. QB Jalen Hurts had another masterful performance and is going to be a frontrunner to win NFL MVP this season. The Eagles are also looking good to clinch the division, though they still need to make it past the Dallas Cowboys. If all goes well, the Eagles have a good shot at being the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC bracket.
Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)
When clinched: Week 16
How they clinched: Jets’ 16-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars
What Super Bowl hangover?
Thanks to the Jets’ pathetic performance against the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in Week 16, the Bengals are heading back to the NFL playoffs a year after losing in the Big Game to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bengals were able to clinch a spot in the playoffs following a six-game winning streak and counting. Expect Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins to take their game up another level as we rage toward to start of the postseason.
