{"id":181303,"date":"2023-01-09T05:17:01","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T05:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/nfl-playoff-picture-2022-23-updated-afc-nfc-standings-after-week-18-news-scores-highlights-stats-and-rumors\/"},"modified":"2023-01-09T05:17:01","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T05:17:01","slug":"nfl-playoff-picture-2022-23-updated-afc-nfc-standings-after-week-18-news-scores-highlights-stats-and-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/nfl-playoff-picture-2022-23-updated-afc-nfc-standings-after-week-18-news-scores-highlights-stats-and-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Playoff Picture 2022-23: Updated AFC, NFC Standings After Week 18 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kevin Sabitus\/Getty Images<\/span><\/small><\/div>\n

The Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks survived the chaos of NFL Week 18 to advance to the postseason.<\/p>\n

The Dolphins used three field goals to beat the New York Jets, and they received help from the Buffalo Bills to secure a postseason berth.<\/p>\n

Miami entered Sunday behind the New England Patriots in the AFC wild-card standings.<\/p>\n

Buffalo’s win, which was to secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC, allowed the Dolphins to get into the postseason on Jason Sanders’ game-winning field goal.<\/p>\n

Miami’s win eliminated the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh beat the Cleveland Browns, but it did not get the help it needed from the Jets to get into the postseason.<\/p>\n

The Seahawks survived an overtime battle with the Los Angeles Rams and then had an arduous wait for four hours for their fate to be decided.<\/p>\n

The fourth-quarter comeback from the Detroit Lions allowed the Seahawks to land the NFC’s seventh seed over the Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n

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AFC<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Division Winners<\/b><\/p>\n

1. Kansas City (14-3)<\/p>\n

2. Buffalo (13-3)<\/p>\n

3. Cincinnati (12-4)<\/p>\n

4. Jacksonville (9-8)<\/p>\n

Wild Card Teams<\/b><\/p>\n

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)<\/p>\n

6. Baltimore (10-7)<\/p>\n

7. Miami (9-8)<\/p>\n

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Miami jumped into the final wild-card spot with its win over the New York Jets and Buffalo’s win over New England.<\/p>\n

The Dolphins did not play their best at home with Skylar Thompson at quarterback.<\/p>\n

However, their defense held firm against Joe Flacco and did not allow a touchdown.<\/p>\n

Jason Sanders won the game with 23 seconds left on a field goal. Miami added a late safety after the Jets’ lateral play sent the ball out of bounds in the end zone.<\/p>\n

The final score does not matter to the Dolphins. All that matters is they are through to the wild-card round.<\/p>\n

New England was eliminated with its loss to Buffalo and Pittsburgh came up short because of its head-to-head loss to the Dolphins in Week 7.<\/p>\n

The top of the AFC did not change Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Kansas City Chiefs secured the No. 1 seed with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Buffalo’s home win over New England, which was powered by two kickoff return touchdowns from Nyheim Hines and three interceptions of Mac Jones, kept the Bills in second place.<\/p>\n

Josh Allen and Co. will not play a true road game in the AFC postseason. If the Bills and Chiefs advance to the AFC Championship Game, that contest will be played at a neutral site.<\/p>\n

Buffalo would host the AFC Championship Game if the Chiefs lose at some point in the postseason.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati remained in third place with its win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals will host the Ravens in the wild-card round as a result of their home victory.<\/p>\n

Baltimore is confirmed as the No. 6 seeds. The Los Angeles Chargers are the No. 5 seed and will head to Jacksonville to face the AFC South-winning Jaguars.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles’ result against the Denver Broncos has no effect on the playoff seeding.<\/p>\n

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NFC<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

Division Leaders<\/b><\/p>\n

1. Philadelphia (14-3)<\/p>\n

2. San Francisco (13-4)<\/p>\n

3. Minnesota (13-4)<\/p>\n

4. Tampa Bay (8-9)<\/p>\n

Wild Card Race<\/b><\/p>\n

5. Dallas (12-5)<\/p>\n

6. New York Giants (9-7-1)<\/p>\n

7. Seattle (9-8)<\/p>\n

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Seattle survived a scare from the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. The Seahawks remained alive on a game-winning field goal from Jason Myers.<\/p>\n

Then the Seahawks had to wait for the final regular-season result to be confirmed. Pete Carroll’s team needed the Lions to beat the Packers since Green Bay would have had a tiebreaker on the NFC West side.<\/p>\n

Seattle now faces a tough test on the road, as it faces divisional rival San Francisco for the third time this season. The 49ers won the two regular-season meetings 27-7 and 21-13.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Eagles won in Jalen Hurts’ return to secure the NFC East title, the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia has an extra week for Hurts to rest, and it will avoid San Francisco and Minnesota until the NFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

San Francisco also won in the late window to confirm its spot as the No. 2 seeds.<\/p>\n

The 49ers got Elijah Mitchell back on Sunday, and Deebo Samuel is getting better with each week. They could be the top container to the Eagles in the conference.<\/p>\n

Minnesota is confirmed as the No. 3 seed and will host the New York Giants on wild-card weekend.<\/p>\n

Minnesota and New York played two weeks ago at US Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 27-24 on Greg Joseph’s last-second field goal.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay secured the No. 4 seeds last week by winning the NFC South. The Buccaneers rested their starters for a majority of Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.<\/p>\n

The Buccaneers will host the fifth-seeded Dallas Cowboys. Dallas comes in with some questions about Dak Prescott, who has a seven-game interception streak.<\/p>\n

Prescott was picked off once in the disappointing road loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n