We have officially gotten through fourteen weeks of the NFL. All 32 teams have had their bye week, so we can really dive deep into the NFL Playoff Picture.
The NFL playoff field has never been this unsettled this late of the season for seven years. For the first time since 2014, every team has at least three losses through 14 weeks. In addition, both conferences currently have a three-way tie for the first-round bye. There are thirteen teams in the AFC that are in contention for a playoff spot, including five teams that are tied, and three just one loss behind them, eyeing the final two spots. On the flip side in the NFC, there are five teams tied for seventh at 6-7. The league is wide open on who can potentially make the playoffs with just four weeks left to play.
Bye Week Success
Let’s not forget this incredible coincidence.
This trend is crazy 👀 pic.twitter.com/fH7LAUIVZV
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) May 14, 2021
At the beginning of the season, this looked like a rough start for all four teams. Now, all four of these teams are in the hunt for this years’ playoffs with the Patriots being the current favorite.
AFC Playoff Picture
 | 1 | New England Patriots | 9-4 |
The New England Patriots are the league’s hottest team on a seven-game winning streak heading into the playoffs. The only thing standing in their way are the Buffalo Bills, who thought they’d be the division winner after Tom Brady took his talents to Tampa. Now, Mac Jones is leading this team to success much quicker than anyone would have thought. Just when we thought the Patriots were done, they carried themselves right back into the hunt. Now sitting at the top and looking down, can anyone claim the top seed?
Remaining Schedule: @ Colts, vs Bills, vs Jaguars, @ Dolphins
 | 2 | Tennessee Titans | 9-4 |
The Tennessee Titans looked like they might be the most complete team now that the defense has finally been a dominant force in their overall play. Then came injuries to Julio Jones, Derrick Henry, and A.J. Brown. The defense has still remained dominant, including a big win over the Rams in Week 9, but the offense just hasn’t been able to keep up as well with a tough loss to the Texans at home and then in New England the following week. With Jones now active again and Henry eyeing a late-season return, this team is starting to get healthy at the right moment. The only thing that would be even better for this team is a return of Brown and the Big 3 will be back for the playoffs.
The path to the playoffs is all but set for the Titans. It’s very unlikely this team slips out of a playoff berth, but a win this weekend and a Colts loss could secure them the AFC South title again. There are a few tough matchups on the remaining schedule with teams being unpredictable or surging at the right moment.
Remaining Schedule: @ Steelers, vs 49ers, vs Dolphins, @ Texans
 | 3 | Kansas City Chiefs | 9-4 |
The Kansas City Chiefs are done. Patrick Mahomes is average and this team is finally catching up with how little talent they actually have outside of Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce. At least, that’s what the thought was after the first seven weeks when the Chiefs started at a dismal 3-4 following a Super Bowl loss on February 7th. Since then, the Chiefs are on the league’s second-best winning steak of six games putting away teams like the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. Are the Chiefs back to being the dominant team in the AFC again? They are tied for first and could easily climb to the top seed again. The final four opponents could put some stress on that thought. The remaining schedule is all against AFC teams which are all in the playoff picture still with three games on the road.
Remaining Schedule: @ Chargers, vs Steelers, @ Bengals, @ Broncos
 | 4 | Baltimore Ravens | 8-5 |
This could be a tough pill to swallow for fans of the Baltimore Ravens, but this team might just be done this year. Injuries are piling up and Lamar Jackson now has a sprained ankle. For a quarterback that also leads the team in rushing, this is a tough thing to manage. Jackson is going to have to prove again that he can win games without breaking the pocket. With the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on their heel and sitting just one game out, a wrong move could end the Ravens season in a fiery ending.
The Ravens have what is likely the toughest schedule to close out the season, even with three games at home. The AFC North could likely be settled in Week 18 when the Ravens face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who could be looking to play spoiler. On the other side, the Browns and Bengals play, too. A key factor that will likely benefit the Ravens a little is that the Browns are in serious water with Covid issues heading into this week. That will likely be forced to sit a lot of players and coaches.
Remaining Schedule: vs Packers, @ Bengals, vs Rams, vs Steelers
 | 5 | Los Angeles Chargers | 8-5 |
Justin Herbert is the real deal in the league. He might not have been the first quarterback drafted in his draft class, but he certainly is leading the team like he’s the former first-overall pick. Herbert has put the Los Angeles Chargers in a great position to not only make the playoffs but fight for a divisional title in the AFC West. Sitting just one game back, they could move into first this weekend when they play the Chiefs at home. After beating them earlier in the season, a win this weekend would have any tiebreakers at the end of the season if they can sweep the Chiefs.
Remaining Schedule: vs Chiefs, @ Texans, vs Broncos, @ Raiders
 | 6 | Indianapolis Colts | 7-6 |
The Indianapolis Colts continue to fight to stay relevant in the AFC and likely had the most Impressive bye week in recent history. The Colts entered their bye week sitting as the 9th seed in the AFC and exit the bye week as the 6th seed. Already healthy heading into the bye, the Colts now got a much-needed rest and are ready for the final four games. This week’s matchup against the Patriots brings back some old rivalry vibes. Will Carson Wentz vs Mac Jones be the new rivalry of today’s era?
Remaining Schedule: vs Patriots, @ Cardinals, vs Raiders, @ Jaguars
 | 7 | Buffalo Bills | 7-6 |
The Buffalo Bills know they were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender this year, right? They started off looking pretty decent and competing. With two shutouts early, the Bills looked like they were destined to take over the AFC East for good. The Bills had tough losses to the Titans, Jaguars, Colts, Patriots, and Buccaneers, the Bills and now are on the inside, looking out This would be a major disappointment if they can’t seem to make it into the playoffs. The good news for the Bills is that they control their destiny with a big division matchup against the Patriots, surrounded by a cakewalk schedule.
Remaining Schedule: vs Panthers, @ Patriots, vs Falcons, vs Jets
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