Week 18 in the NFL: The Playoffs are set and ready to go

The 2023 NFL regular season has come to an end and 14 teams have punched their tickets to the Playoffs. By Monday, half of these teams will be headed home and the other half onto the Divisional round.

American Football Conference

Baltimore Ravens: The 2024 AFC North Champion title and the number one seed in the AFC belong to Baltimore. The Ravens are back in the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Last season, they were bounced out in the first round and are guaranteed to make it further as they will have a bye in the wildcard round. Finishing 13-4, the team was led by 15-year veteran head coach John Harbaugh and MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson. The defense was tremendous, allowing the fewest total points in the NFL with 280 points and the sixth fewest yards.

Buffalo Bills: The story of the 2023 Buffalo Bills is highlighted by a resurgence in the final five games. Buffalo found itself at 6-6 and out of the playoff picture. They gathered themselves and went on to win five straight, clinching the AFC East title and the second seed. The team’s last loss came on December 10th. Buffalo is hot heading into the playoffs and will host at least one playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, January 14th in Buffalo at 10 a.m.

Kansas City Chiefs: A roller coaster ride is the best way to describe the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs’ regular season. From losing on opening day to the Detroit Lions to winning six in a row, the Chiefs have struggled to be consistent all season. The offense does not have the power it usually does each season; an aging Travis Kelce is struggling to be elite, and drops and penalties have made it hard for Kansas City. Despite those obstacles, they earned 10 wins and clinched their eighth consecutive AFC West Division title. The team cannot be underestimated; they have the best quarterback in the league, Patrick Mahomes, and one of the brightest minds in the league with head coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs will face the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Jan 13th at Kansas City at 5:00 p.m.

Houston Texans: The Texans are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019. First-year head coach Demeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud have Houston headed in the right direction. They are the fifth rookie head coach and QB to lead a team to the playoffs in NFL history and the first since the Indianapolis Colts did it in 2012 with head coach Chuck Pagano and quarterback Andrew Luck. The Texans secured a playoff spot in a must-win game on Saturday night against AFC South rival the Colts on the road. The team took an early lead and never gave it up. Houston defeated the Colts 23-19 and won the South after the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans. Houston finished first in the AFC South with a 10-7 record. They will host the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, Jan 13th at Houston at 1:30 p.m.

AFC Wildcards: The Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers are your 2023 AFC wildcard teams. All three teams will be on the road this upcoming weekend and look to upset their opponents in their home stadiums. All three teams have been riddled with injuries and fought hard to earn their spot, and no team will go down easily.

National Football Conference

San Francisco 49ers: The NFC will have to go through San Francisco. The Niners have clinched the one seed and the NFC West division champions for the second consecutive season. The team is stacked with superstars; with nine Pro Bowl players, this team is expected to make a deep playoff run. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has his team firing on all cylinders and will look at his past playoff mistakes to help him this time around.

Dallas Cowboys: Dallas won the NFC East on the last day of the NFL regular season. After the division rival Philadelphia Eagles lost to the New York Giants, all Dallas had to do was beat the Washington Commanders, and the team did just that, defeating the Commanders 38-10. All eyes are towards the playoffs for Dallas. The team hasn’t had an issue making the playoffs, but winning in the playoffs is where they struggled. They have not made it past the divisional round since 1995. Dallas takes on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan 14 at Dallas at 1:30 p.m.

Detroit Lions: The Lions are division champs for the first time since 1993. They finished the season as the third seed in the NFC and ended the season 12-5. Their best season since 2014 when they went 11-5 in a 16-game season. It will be the first time in team history they will be hosting a playoff game in their home stadium of Ford Field. The Lions are led by passionate third-year head coach Dan Campbell. The team will take on the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Jan 15 at 5:00 p.m. in Detroit.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the third consecutive NFC South Division title. They will be the number four seed in the playoffs and will be hosting the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, Jan 15th in Tampa Bay at 5:00 p.m. Despite losing the greatest quarterback in NFL history in Tom Brady, the team still believed and succeeded. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was phenomenal all season and was a leader on and off the field for Tampa Bay.

NFC wildcards: Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and the Green Bay Packers are the 5-7 seeds in the NFC. All teams will be playing on the road this weekend and will play in hostile environments. No team has less than nine wins, making it a strong wildcard group, all led by experienced coaches and their starting QBs who lasted the whole season healthy.