NFL Playoff Picture: Standings, schedule, dates on road to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona
Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) have clinched the No 1 seed in the AFC; Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) earn top spot in the NFC; who will play who in the playoffs and what are the key postseason dates and timings in the lead up to Super Bowl LVII on February 12?
Monday 9 January 2023 08:19, UK
The NFL playoff picture is confirmed following the final round of matches for the 2022 regular season on Sunday. Here's a look at the final standings, as well as key postseason dates and timings on the road to Super Bowl LVII on February 12 in Arizona...
AFC
1) Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) - AFC West
*Clinched No 1 seed
2) Buffalo Bills (13-3) - AFC East
*Division winners
3) Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) - AFC North
*Division winners
4) Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) - AFC South
*Division winners
5) Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) - wild card
*Clinched a playoff spot
6) Baltimore Ravens (10-7) - wild card
*Clinched a playoff spot
7) Miami Dolphins (9-8) - wild card
*Clinched a playoff spot
What is the latest with the AFC Championship Game?
The Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals game that was halted Monday when Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin experienced a cardiac arrest on the field will not be resumed or replayed, the NFL announced on Thursday night.
This means any AFC title game between the Bills and No 1 seeded Kansas City Chiefs will now be played at a neutral site, due to Buffalo missing out on the chance to have matched the Chiefs' win-loss record which would have seen them hold the top seed in the conference.
NFL owners on Friday approved a resolution to potentially adjust the AFC playoffs in the case of there being a matchup between teams whose records were affected by the cancellation.
The Bengals' 27-16 win over the Ravens on Sunday meant that they avoided a scenario in which a coin toss would have decided home-field advantage in their wild card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. That would have been in play if the Ravens had won and the Los Angeles Chargers had beaten the Denver Broncos.
Instead, the No 3 seeded Bengals will host the Ravens in Cincinnati during Super Wild Card Weekend.
NFC
1) Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) - NFC East
*Clinched No 1 seed
2) San Francisco 49ers (13-4) - NFC West
*Division winners
3) Minnesota Vikings (13-4) - NFC North
*Division winners
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) - NFC South
*Division winners
5) Dallas Cowboys (12-5) - wild card
*Clinched a playoff spot
6) New York Giants (9-7-1) - wild card
*Clinched a playoff spot
7) Seattle Seahawks (9-8) - wild card
*Clinched a playoff spot
Who will meet in the playoffs?
The 2022 season playoffs start with six wild card games, commencing Saturday, January 14 and continuing through to Monday, January 16. The No 1 seeds from each conference will then enter at the divisional round the following weekend, before the AFC and NFC Conference Championship games on Sunday, January 29, to determine who will battle it out in Super Bowl LVII in Arizona. (All timings listed below in UK time).
Super Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, January 14
NFC: Seattle Seahawks (No 7 seed) @ San Francisco 49ers (No 2) - Kick-Off, 9.30pm
AFC: Los Angeles Chargers (No 5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (No 4) - KO, 1.15am
Sunday, January 15
AFC: Miami Dolphins (No 7) @ Buffalo Bills (No 2) - KO, 6pm
NFC: New York Giants (No 6) @ Minnesota Vikings (No 3) - KO, 9.30pm
AFC: Baltimore Ravens (No 6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (No 3) - KO, 1.15am
Monday, January 16
NFC: Dallas Cowboys (No 5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No 4) - KO, 1.15am
First-round byes
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (No 1)
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles (No 1)
Divisional Round
Saturday, January 21, 2023 - Kick-offs at 9.30pm and 1.15am
Sunday, January 22, 2023 - Kick-offs at 8pm and 11.30pm
Conference Championships
Sunday, January 29 - Kick-offs at 8.05pm and 11.30pm
Super Bowl LVII
Sunday, February 12 - Kick-off 11.30pm - State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
