The NFL’s Week 6 came to a thrilling conclusion with a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader, featuring the Atlanta Falcons defeating the Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Bears triumphing over the Washington Commanders. With these games concluded, the 2023 NFL season is now officially one-third finished, providing a timely opportunity to analyze the current playoff landscape.
This year’s playoff picture has yielded some unexpected developments. In the AFC, several teams viewed as Super Bowl frontrunners at the season’s outset, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens, find themselves outside the playoff bubble. Meanwhile, the surprise leader of the conference is none other than the Indianapolis Colts, who currently hold the No. 1 seed. The New England Patriots are also ahead of the traditionally strong Buffalo Bills in the competitive AFC East.
While the NFC bracket does not feature quite as many surprises, the NFC West stands out with three teams securely positioned in a postseason spot. The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, are currently the No. 4 seed but have faced challenges with back-to-back losses.
As it stands, here’s a breakdown of the playoff scenarios for both conferences:
**AFC Playoff Picture**
1. Indianapolis Colts (5-1, AFC South leaders)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1, AFC North leaders)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2, AFC West leaders)
4. New England Patriots (4-2, AFC East leaders)
5. Buffalo Bills (4-2, wild card No. 1)
6. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2, wild card No. 2)
7. Denver Broncos (4-2, wild card No. 3)
**In the Hunt:** Kansas City Chiefs (3-3), Houston Texans (2-3), Cincinnati Bengals (2-4), Las Vegas Raiders (2-4), Baltimore Ravens (1-5), Miami Dolphins (1-5), Cleveland Browns (1-5), Tennessee Titans (1-5), New York Jets (0-6).
**NFC Playoff Picture**
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1, NFC South leaders)
2. Green Bay Packers (3-1-1, NFC North leaders)
3. San Francisco 49ers (4-2, NFC West leaders)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2, NFC East leaders)
5. Seattle Seahawks (4-2, wild card No. 1)
6. Detroit Lions (4-2, wild card No. 2)
7. Los Angeles Rams (4-2, wild card No. 3)
**In the Hunt:** Atlanta Falcons (3-2), Minnesota Vikings (3-2), Chicago Bears (3-2), Carolina Panthers (3-3), Washington Commanders (3-3), Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1), Arizona Cardinals (2-4), New York Giants (2-4), New Orleans Saints (1-5).
As the NFL moves into Week 7, fans can anticipate intense matchups that will further shape the playoff race. The unexpected narratives unfolding this season have added excitement, as teams like the Colts emerge as dark horses, challenging long-standing hierarchies within their respective divisions. With the playoffs still a few weeks away, there’s plenty of football left to play, and the potential for more surprises looms large on the horizon.