SUMMARY
- The NFL playoffs' wild card round is set to kick off on January 13, 2024, and several teams are vying for spots in the next stage.
- Teams like the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings are still in contention for playoff berths.
The new year has already arrived, and the first thought that comes to mind of an NFL fan is the NFL playoffs. Fans are eagerly waiting to see which teams will make the next round of competition and which teams will say goodbye this season.
The wild card round for NFL playoff will kick off on January 13, 2024. The wild card round will continue till January 15. Two matches will be played on the wild card round’s opening day. On the second and last day, three games and one game will take place.
Updated AFC seed-specific scenarios: pic.twitter.com/LrjCrzoWpk
— NFLPlayoffScenarios (@NFLScenarios) January 7, 2024
Baltimore Ravens, 13-3; Houston Texans, 10-7 in the AFC division; and the San Francisco 49ers, 12-4 in the NFC division, have already sealed their spot for the next round. Besides these two, a few other high-profile franchises from the AFC and NFC divisions are hunting to lock their places on the next stage.
In today’s game, the Texans clinched a victory over the Colts, ruled them out of the competition and securely moved to the next round. Below the complete list of both the divisions teams who can still be able to qualify for a further round
1. Buffalo Bills (AFC)
The Buffalo Bills will face the AFC East topers on Sunday evening. With a win over the current leaders of the table, they can easily top the group. However, if the fixture ends in a draw, then complicated mathematics will only help them go further.
If the Bill fails to win and finishes the fixture with a tie, then Pittsburgh and Jaguars have to lose or tie, and Texans and Indianapolis have to connect. Therefore, their most straightforward task is to win the away fixture and book their place for the next stage.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC)
In the last game, the Pittsburgh Steelers got a convincing victory over the Baltimore Ravens and kept their hopes alive to qualify for the next round. Steelers defeated the Ravens with a 10-17 score line on the first game of matchday week.
To seal their place for the playoffs, the Steelers have to wait for the results of the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. If any of them lose their game, the Steelers will make the playoffs.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC)
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the current leaders of the AFC South table, but despite that, their position for the next round could be more stable. Jaguars, Colts, and Texans all are tied 9-7. For the Jaguars, winning the last fixture at Tennessee is the most straightforward qualifying task.
But if they tie, then the Colts and Texans tie is enough for them to stay at the top of the group, although a tie is still not a safe result. Ending the game in a tie will lead them to complex calculations. A tie for the Jaguars means the Steelers and Denver both lost, and the Colts and Texans can’t be finished in a tie.
4. Dallas Cowboys (NFC)
Dallas Cowboys is in the best position to make the following game stages. When the Cowboys face Washington in their away fixture, they can quickly move further if they win.
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— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 6, 2024
But if they tie, the Eagles have to lose or tie. The Cowboys are leading the table of NFC East, but they are connected with the Eagles on 11-5.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC)
The Buccaneers will face Carolina in the away fixture on the upcoming Sunday evening. Tampa Bay Buccaneers will need more than winning the away game to keep their spot safe in the table. If they win, they will be in a prominent position, but if they tie, New Orleans needs to lose or tie.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Baker Mayfield needs 93 yards to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark this weekend.
He can also reach 30 TD passes with 2 TDs. pic.twitter.com/iZy6kPyj7x
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 4, 2024
On the other hand, besides Orleans’s negative result, Seattle has to lose, and Green Bay has to either lose or tie. The Buccaneers tied the NFC South group with Saints on 8-8.
6. New Orleans Saints (NFC)
To qualify for the next round, the New Orleans Saints must win, and Seattle and Green Bay must lose or tie. If the Saints fail to win and end the game in a tie, they have to pray for both Seattle and Green Bay’s loss.
TOUCHDOWN TAYSOM!!#Saints | @OchsnerHealth pic.twitter.com/IKhYOS7MqI
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 31, 2023
Even if any of Seattle or Packers tie their game, the dream will over for them. On the Saturday night Saints will come face to face with the Falcons on a do or die game. Currently the Saints are sitting at the second spot with 8-8.
7. Seattle Seahawks (NFC)
The Seattle Seahawks are sitting in third place in the NFC West group. To fix their place, winning is mandatory for them, but still, they have to keep an eye on the rival’s fixtures.
If the Seahawks win, the Packers have to lose or tie. However, if the Seahawks tie, the Packers need to lose; additionally, the Bucs and Orleans have to lose or tie.
8. Green Bay Packers (NFC)
The Packers will take the field against Chicago in their home game. Green Bay Packers victory will lead them to the next round, but a tie will give birth to many calculations.
The Packers tie refers to the Seattle, Minnesota and Orleans loss or tie, or Bucs loss. Monday’s fixture may not be a difficult challenge for the Packers as they will face the bottom side of the table on their home ground.
9. Minnesota Vikings (NFC)
Winning is only one of many options for the Minnesota Vikings. If the Vikings win, the Packers and Seattle have to lose, and either the Bucs or Orleans have to lose.
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t lost a game this year pic.twitter.com/fqIOULFxQ6
— 🐺 (@JJETSFAN) January 1, 2024
Vikings are lying in the third spot in the NFC North group with 7-9, one place behind the Packers. The last game will be a tough one for the Vikings as they will travel to the den of lions who are the leaders of NFC North.