The 2022 NFL postseason race is starting to heat up in the cold temperatures of December. The race to get in or even stay in the postseason hunt is quickly amping up and only going to get hotter over the season’s final two weeks.
In week 16, we saw several teams keep hopes alive to clinch their spot in the big dance. The Bills, Chiefs, Vikings, and 49ers all clinched their respective divisions in week 15. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, Eagles, and Bengals clinched a postseason spot. In this article, we will focus on those teams fighting for their playoff hopes and just what it will take for them to punch their ticket into the 2022 NFL postseason.
2022 NFL Postseason: AFC
In the AFC, a handful of teams are hoping for spots four through seven in the playoffs. The Ravens have clinched their place in the playoffs, which leaves us with the Chargers, Dolphins, Patriots, Raiders, Titans, Jaguars, and Steelers as the remaining teams in the hunt.
The Jets and Jaguars met on Thursday Night Football in a battle of who needs the win more. The Jaguars won to improve to 7-8, and if they win the final two games on their schedule, they will be the AFC South champs. The Titans lost on Saturday to the Texans, which drops them out of the playoffs for the time being and catapults Jacksonville into the four seed. The reasoning is that the Jags hold the tiebreaker after the Titans lost to the Jaguars earlier in the season.
The Bengals currently lead the AFC North with an 11-4 record. The Ravens are trailing in second place with a 10- 5 record without Lamar Jackson for at least the next week or two. Cincinnati clinched a playoff berth and would need to win at least one of the final two tilts to clinch the division. Coincidentally, the Bengals and Ravens play in week 18 in a game that will likely have playoff-seeding implications.
AFC Wild Cards:
The Ravens and Bengals are both in play for a wild-card spot, but six other teams are hoping to make one of the final three wild-card spots in the AFC. The Patriots, Jets, Titans, and Steelers are all sitting within striking distance heading into the weekend. The Jaguars are still in play for both a division crown and a wild card spot but would need a little bit of help if they don’t win the division. They hold tiebreakers over the Ravens, Jets, Chargers, and Raiders.
Those losses for three of these teams put pressure on them to win out if they want a smidge of a chance at the postseason. If you’re a fan of either team, I’ll break it down this way. The Chargers‘ final three games are against teams who have losing records. The Dolphins finish up against three teams amid rough patches, which include the Jets and Patriots. The Raiders losing in week 16 doesn’t help them, and it likely unofficially ended their playoff hopes.
The Chargers play on Monday Night Football, so their record is in limbo. With a win, they would distance themselves from the seven seed and likely clinch the sixth seed next week. There is still a slight chance for the teams in the hunt to make the 2022 NFL postseason, but a loss next week will almost immediately knock the seven-win teams out of the race.
2022 NFL Postseason: NFC
The Eagles, Cowboys, 49ers, and Vikings all punched their ticket last week to the 2022 NFL postseason. With four spots taken up already, that leaves three slots left for a team to snatch. Three places but eight teams in the running is a bit crowded, but it’ll sure make for fun football for the fans.
The Buccaneers, Giants, Commanders, Seahawks, Lions, Packers, Panthers, and Saints are all in the running for spots four, six, and seven in the 2022 NFL postseason. The Bucs and Panthers are a particular case because they’re both on a collision course for a week 17 matchup with the division title on the line. Both teams won in week 16, adding fuel to the fire for their showdown next week in Tampa Bay.
NFC Wild Card:
The Lions dropped to 7-8 on the season, but the good news is, the Seahawks, Commanders, and Giants all lost. Detroit plays the Bears next week, Seattle plays the Jets, and the Commanders play the Browns. Here’s where it can get tricky for Detroit fans. With a win in Chicago and a Seattle and Washington loss, the Lions would jump ahead of both teams and hold the seven seed.
The tricky part then comes in week 18 because Detroit would need a win and a Seattle loss. Seattle holds the head-to-head tiebreaker after a week four barn burner at Ford Field. Seattle finishes their season at home vs. the Rams, while Detroit finishes its season at fridged Green Bay.
The Roundup:
Over the next two weeks, we should be on the lookout for the clinching of the AFC South and keep an extra close eye on the NFC wild-card race. Plenty of clinching scenarios are in play that makes the end of the 2022 season exciting and get us fans excited for the 2022 NFL postseason.
My Prediction: AFC
1. Buffalo Bills: 13-4
2. Kansas City Chiefs: 13-4
3. Cincinnati Bengals: 12-5
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
5. Baltimore Ravens: 11-6
6. LA Chargers: 11-6
7. Miami Dolphins: 10-7
My Prediction: NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 13-4
2. Minnesota Vikings: 12-5
3. San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
4. Carolina Panthers: 8-9
5. Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
6. New York Giants: 10-5-1
7. Detroit Lions: 9-8
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