As we approach the end of the regular season in the PML, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus, but it’s far from settled. The NFC West is currently in a dead heat with the Rams and Seahawks tied at 11-3, but the Rams hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The NFC North is similarly tied with the Packers and Bears both sitting at 8-6, but Green Bay holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the AFC West is a three-way tie between the Raiders, Chargers, and Broncos, but the Raiders currently hold the tiebreaker due to their 4-1 division record.
The AFC East is also a tight race, with the Dolphins and Jets both sitting at 7-7, but Miami holds the tiebreaker with a 4-1 division record. The Patriots are two games back, but they’re not out of the playoff hunt yet. Meanwhile, the AFC South still has an outside chance of seeing the Texans overtake the Jags, as they’ll face off in week 18.
In the NFC, the wild card race is hotly contested, with four teams fighting for three spots. The Commanders sit at 10-4 and are currently in the driver’s seat, but the Cowboys (9-5) and whichever team doesn’t win the NFC North between the Packers and Bears (both 8-6) are nipping at their heels.
The AFC wild card race is even more chaotic, with four teams tied at 8-6: the Colts, Chargers, Broncos, and Jets (or Dolphins). The Chargers currently hold the tiebreaker with a better conference record, but any of these teams could still make a push for the playoffs. Even the 5th and 6th seeds, the 10-win Ravens and Texans, are facing challenges with injuries and losing streaks.
At the bottom of the standings, the 1-win Steelers and Browns are fighting for the top draft pick after splitting their season series. But the battle for the rest of the top 10 spots in the draft is no less intense, with six teams tied at 4 wins and four teams at 5 wins.
Finally, the battle for the top seed in each conference is heating up. In the AFC, the Bengals are currently in the lead with 13 wins, but they’ll face tough competition from the Jaguars (12 wins) and Texans (10 wins). Meanwhile, in the NFC, the Giants are sitting at 13-1 and trying to hold off the Seahawks and Rams, both of whom have 11 wins. And all eyes will be on next week’s Bengals-Giants matchup, which could have major implications for the playoffs. Stay tuned for more updates as the season winds down!
