Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21
The Steelers moved to 8-0, while three NFC West teams currently sit in a playoff spot. Here's how the postseason bracket looks and what scenarios lie ahead. Click on a column header to sort the season and playoff projections by a specific column. 2020-21 Projected Regular Season 2020-21 Projected Playoffs (Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports). Divisional playoffs: Feb. 7 – Raymond James Stadium: 3 Pittsburgh: 37 Wild Card playoffs: A1 Kansas City 9 Jan. 9 – FedExField: Jan. 17 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome N5 Tampa Bay 31 Super Bowl LV: 5 Tampa Bay: 31 4 Washington: 23 5 Tampa Bay 30 Jan. 24 – Lambeau Field Jan. 10 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome: 2 New Orleans 20 NFC: 7 Chicago: 9 5.
- Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21 Predictions
- Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21
- Nfl Playoff Brackets 2020-21 Season
- Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21
- Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-211
The Cardinals' victory via Hail Mary on Sunday didn't just thrill NFL viewers. It also helped shake up the NFC playoff race for the 2020 season. When the dust settled, the Cardinals were atop the NFC West and the Packers were holding the top spot in the conference.
We continue to base our weekly playoff picture analysis on a 14-team field. NFL owners did approve a contingency plan for a 16-team field last week, should the regular season be cut short by COVID-19. But that plan is subject to approval by the NFL Players Association, and the terms of its trigger -- how many games would need to be canceled for it to be implemented -- have not been publicized. We'll use ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) to help project the coming weeks, with our usual disclaimer: There is a long way to go. Let's jump in, starting with the lone undefeated team in the NFL.
Jump to: AFC NFC
AFC
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 87.8%
The Steelers were the first NFL team to nine victories and now own a full game lead on the Chiefs for the top spot in the conference. You know you're humming along when your starting quarterback can miss the week of practice, as Ben Roethlisberger did because of COVID-19 protocols, and still put up 333 passing yards and four touchdown passes.
The Steelers will finish their season with a quite lopsided schedule, with very winnable games against the Jaguars and Bengals and then four against strong postseason contenders (Ravens, Bills, Colts and Browns).
Up next: at Jaguars
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 94.2%
The Chiefs better hit the ground running after their bye. Their next five games include four road matchups against the playoff-contending Raiders, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Saints. It's the 11th-most difficult remaining schedule in the league. There is every reason to believe the Chiefs are the class of the AFC West, but they'll need to show it over the next month.
Up next: at Raiders
3. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 87.3%
FPI chances to win division: 74.8%
Were it not for one of the most perfectly executed Hail Marys in memory, the Bills would have been 8-2 and in command of the AFC East. Nothing we saw Sunday should dissuade us from considering the Bills one of the best teams in football. But now they have less room to maneuver in both the division and the conference. The Dolphins, for one, could match their record in Week 11 while the Bills are on their bye.
Up next: vs. Chargers (Week 12)
4. Indianapolis Colts (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 67.1%
FPI chances to win division: 54.8%
The Colts pulled even with the Titans after trouncing them last Thursday, by far their most impressive game of the season. Four of their six victories have come against teams with losing records, and as it turns out, they had the second-easiest schedule through Week 10 in the NFL.
So did they turn a corner in Tennessee? Or will they settle back toward a .500 mark during a second half that includes games against the Packers, Titans (again), Raiders and Steelers? They're ahead of the Titans on this list because they hold a (possibly) temporary head-to-head tiebreaker.
Up next: vs. Packers
5. Las Vegas Raiders (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 73.2%
FPI chances to win division: 5.8%
The Raiders have won three of their past four games after a 2-2 start, including wins over the Chiefs and Browns, and they'll have a chance in Week 11 to eat further into the Chiefs' lead in the AFC West. Sweeping the season series would put the Raiders one game out of the division lead. After that, they would have only two games remaining against teams who currently have winning records.
Up next: vs. Chiefs
6. Miami Dolphins (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 49.8%
FPI chances to win division: 20.8%
Just as we all suspected: The Dolphins are 3-0 since inserting rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa into the starting lineup. The truth is that the entire team has surged over that time; all three games have featured at least one big defensive or special-teams play. As coach Brian Flores puts himself into the Coach of the Year discussion, the Dolphins are squarely in the wild-card mix and closer in the AFC East than anyone would have anticipated.
Up next: at Broncos
7. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 93.6%
FPI chances to win division: 11.5%
Week 10 made clear that it's going to be tough for the Ravens to repeat as AFC North champions. Their unexpected loss to the Patriots dropped them three games behind the Steelers and, for the moment, left them barely clinging to a wild-card spot. And they've got a tough stretch coming with the Titans and Steelers on the schedule. Given the strength of the AFC, the Ravens are suddenly in playoff survival mode.
Up next: vs. Titans
Also in the AFC mix
Cleveland Browns (6-3): There will come a time when we'll collectively accept the Browns as genuine playoff contenders. Sunday's 10-7 victory over the 2-7 Texans wasn't too inspiring, but in an expanded field, they might need only three more victories to pull off a berth.
Tennessee Titans (6-3): The Titans have cooled off considerably in the past month, losing three of their past four games. That, combined with a reverse 3-1 surge from the Colts, has cost the Titans control of the AFC South. FPI is still giving them a 66.3% chance to make the playoffs, but the Colts are now a slight favorite to win the division. That is in part because the Titans will play five of their final seven games on the road. Playing at home hasn't been an advantage for teams this season, but that doesn't eliminate the potential for increasing their late-season grind.
New England Patriots (4-5): A significant gap remains, but it's worth noting that the Patriots would hold head-to-head tiebreakers over the Raiders and Ravens if it comes to that.
NFC
1. Green Bay Packers (7-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 97.7%
FPI chances to win division: 91.5%
A home victory over the Jaguars, combined with the Seahawks' loss to the Rams, boosted the Packers to the top spot in the conference. The Packers ascended based on the head-to-head tiebreaker, via their Week 3 win in New Orleans. Now, the question is whether the Packers can stay there. They will continue to hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints, but they did lose to the Buccaneers -- an outcome that will matter here only if the Saints falter in the NFC South.
Up next: at Colts
2. New Orleans Saints (7-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 98.8%
FPI chances to win division: 72.4%
Despite Sunday's win over the 49ers, the Saints dropped out of the top spot because the Seahawks' loss eliminated a three-way tie with the Packers. Of more pressing concern, however, is which quarterback they'll head down the stretch with. Starter Drew Brees' immediate status is in doubt because of a rib injury. He would be replaced by the combination of Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill.
The Saints won all five starts Brees missed because of a thumb injury in 2019, but would you feel as comfortable with Winston and Hill as you did with 2019 backup Teddy Bridgewater? Fortunately, the Saints don't play a team that currently has a winning record until they host the Chiefs in Week 15.
Up next: vs. Falcons
3. Arizona Cardinals (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 69.8%
FPI chances to win division: 28.1%
In a matter of minutes Sunday, the Cardinals cemented their ascendance into a legitimate contender for the highly competitive NFC West title. DeAndre Hopkins' Hail Mary touchdown flipped their game against the Bills from a loss to a win at about the same time the Seahawks were wrapping up a defeat to the Rams.
There's obviously a long way to go, but if you're wondering why the Cardinals would currently win out in a three-way division tiebreaker: They have a better division record than the Rams, and they defeated the Seahawks in Week 7 for a head-to-head advantage. But two games against the Rams, and one Thursday night in Seattle, remain on their schedule.
Up next: at Seahawks
4. Philadelphia Eagles (3-5-1)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 63.6%
FPI chances to win division: 63.5%
They're going to blow this, aren't they? Despite a sub-.500 record, the Eagles had a chance Sunday to add some distance between them and the only team that appears capable of competing with them for the NFC title. And naturally, the Eagles lost by two scores to the Giants and could fall behind them in the division standings as early as Week 11 with another loss and a Giants victory.
Up next: at Browns
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 95.1%
FPI chances to win division: 27.6%
If you wanted to argue that the Buccaneers are one of the NFL's top teams, except when they play the Saints, Sunday brought you some more evidence. Once their offense got rolling against the Panthers, it was a sight to behold. After spotting the Panthers a 14-7 deficit, they outscored them 39-9 the rest of the way, in the process rolling up 30 first downs and 544 total yards. Drew Brees' injury for the Saints might open a lane for the Buccaneers to win the NFC South. But if not, they'd still likely be one of the scariest wild-card teams in some time.
Up next: vs. Rams
6. Los Angeles Rams (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 79.8%
FPI chances to win division: 32.6%
Some wondered if the Rams had reached the midseason playoff picture largely because they've played (and defeated) the entire NFC East. But they provided some decent evidence to the contrary Sunday by dismantling the Seahawks. It was their second victory over a team with a winning record this season. If this holds up, the Rams will make the NFC West a three-team race.
Up next: at Buccaneers
7. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 87.0%
FPI chances to win division: 37.7%
Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21 Predictions
Could the Seahawks collapse after putting too much on the shoulders of quarterback Russell Wilson? They have now lost three of their past four games, with Wilson committing 10 turnovers in the three defeats. They'll need to regroup in a hurry; the Cardinals will come to Seattle in four days. To this point, the primary damage of this slump is losing control of the NFC West. There is plenty of time to jump back ahead.
Up next: vs. Cardinals
Also in the NFC mix
Chicago Bears (5-5): With Monday night's injury to quarterback Nick Foles, and the team's continued offensive struggles, it's hard to see the Bears as a true contender.
Minnesota Vikings (4-5): Like the Lions, the Vikings are near .500 with plenty of time to make a move.
Detroit Lions (4-5): Nothing about Sunday made anyone think the Lions are ready to surge. They needed a 59-yard field goal to beat Washington after losing a 24-3 lead, but any team near .500 at this point in a seven-team bracket is mathematically in the mix.
San Francisco 49ers (4-6): It appears that the 49ers' injuries and COVID-19 absences are going to fell the defending conference champions, especially in a division as competitive as the NFC West.
New York Giants (3-7): When a team opens its season with seven losses in its first eight games, as the Giants did, you can usually assume it won't be part of the mid-November playoff picture. But it took them only two consecutive victories to climb back into the NFC East race, and look out: They might be the best team in the division.
The NFL passed the halfway mark of its 2020 season on Sunday. Of the 256 games on its regular-season schedule, 132 are in the books. That milestone can mean only one thing. Yup, it's time to start planning for the playoffs.
Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21
Our weekly playoff picture analysis will look a bit different this year. As you're probably aware, the NFL expanded its postseason field from 12 to 14 teams as part of negotiations for last spring's new collective bargaining agreement with players. The change increased the value of the top seed in each conference while devaluing the No. 2 seed, which no longer will receive a first-round bye.
More recently, the NFL has discussed the possibility of further expansion to 16 teams, league sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen, if COVID-19 protocols force the cancellation of a significant number of games over the next two months. It's wild to think about half the league making the playoffs. For now, we'll focus on the top seven teams per conference while keeping an eye on any challengers lurking nearby. As always, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) provides critical context. Let's take a look at the field as it stands.
Jump to: AFC NFC
AFC
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.7%
FPI chances to win division: 71.7%
It would have been very 2020 for the Steelers to upend their undefeated start against the hapless Cowboys, who started their third consecutive game with a different quarterback Sunday. But the Steelers' comeback victory allowed them to complete a perfect first half of the season and maintain their spot atop the AFC.
It's not entirely clear whether home-field advantage throughout the playoffs will hold the same value as in previous years, given the likelihood of limited or no fans in the stands. But that's a discussion for December. More immediately, the Steelers hold a two-plus-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North, having already won the teams' first of two regular-season matchups.
Up next: vs. Bengals
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)
Nfl Playoff Brackets 2020-21 Season
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 97.2%
The Super Bowl champions are right where everyone figured they would be to start the second half: challenging for the AFC's top seed. They won't get a chance for a head-to-head matchup with the Steelers, but they've already defeated the Bills and Ravens. The Chiefs lost only one game after Week 8 last season and, overall, have won 18 of their past 20 games, including the playoffs. But their schedule includes some tough games once they emerge from next week's bye, including matchups with the Raiders, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Saints.
Up next: at Raiders (Week 11)
3. Buffalo Bills (7-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 94.5%
FPI chances to win division: 84.8%
Plenty of us expected the Bills to lose Sunday for the third time in five games, increasing the risk that they would squander their best chance to win the AFC East championship this century. They instead thumped the Seahawks in a way that will reverberate throughout the league, forcing Seattle QB Russell Wilson into four turnovers while their own quarterback, Josh Allen, threw for 415 yards and three touchdowns.
The win allowed the Bills to maintain a two-plus-game lead in the division, having already won the first of their two regular-season matchups against the Dolphins. The second will come in Week 17. Clinching the AFC's top seed will be more difficult; for one, they would lose a tiebreaker to the Chiefs given their Week 6 loss to them. But we'll accept one step at a time for a franchise that hasn't won the AFC East since 1995 -- a year before Allen was born.
Up next: at Cardinals
4. Tennessee Titans (6-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 85.5%
FPI chances to win division: 71.2%
The Titans halted a two-game losing streak Sunday and reestablished themselves as the favorites in the AFC South. Their only challenger at this point is the Colts, over whom they hold a one-game lead. The teams will play Thursday night and then again two weeks later. So it's quite possible the Titans could all but lock up the division before the start of December.
Up next: at Colts
5. Baltimore Ravens (6-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 98.4%
FPI chances to win division: 27.5%
The Ravens' two losses have come against the AFC's top two teams, Pittsburgh and Kansas City, so it's hardly concerning to see them currently in the wild-card race. They'll have a chance to close the gap with the Steelers in Week 12, and thereafter will play only one more team -- Cleveland -- that currently has a winning record. It's way too early for anyone to concede the AFC North, or the conference in general, to the Steelers.
Up next: at Patriots
6. Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 59.6%
FPI chances to win division: 2.8%
After stopping a furious final drive Sunday by the Chargers, the Raiders emerged from Week 9 holding a three-way tiebreaker for the sixth seed in the AFC. Their 3-2 conference record gives them the immediate advantage over the Dolphins and Browns. They're also in position to rise in the AFC West should the Chiefs stumble at all. The Raiders already have won in Kansas City, and the rematch in Las Vegas is scheduled for Week 11. If nothing else, the Raiders are four wins away from their second winning season since 2002.
Up next: vs. Broncos
7. Miami Dolphins (5-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 50%
FPI chances to win division: 14%
Is it possible for a team to transition to a rookie quarterback amid a march to the playoffs? The Dolphins will show us. They're now 2-0 since benching starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led them to a 3-3 start, and inserting Tua Tagovailoa into the lineup. In what appears to be a down year for the Patriots, the Dolphins will seemingly post the primary challenge to the Bills in the AFC East. Even if they fall short, the Dolphins could be a prime beneficiary of the expanded bracket.
Up next: vs. Chargers
Also in the AFC mix
Cleveland Browns (5-3): The Browns in the playoff hunt? It hasn't happened in a serious way in 13 years. But at the very least, they guaranteed themselves an interesting second half of the season. The Browns have the Texans next week.
Indianapolis Colts (5-3): If the Colts are going to be serious challengers for the playoffs, they'll need to energize an offense that entered Week 9 ranked No. 24 in scoring (22 points per game). They're ranked ahead of only one team that also has a winning record (Bears). Indy travels to Nashville for a Thursday night game against the Titans in Week 10.
NFC
1. New Orleans Saints (6-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 95.5%
FPI chances to win division: 59.2%
A lot changed Sunday night for the Saints. Their dominant victory over the Buccaneers put them atop the NFC South, completing a season sweep of Tampa Bay that makes them the clear favorites to win the division. And because the Seahawks lost in Buffalo, the Saints are now perched atop the entire conference. The Saints' 5-1 conference record serves as the tiebreaker between the teams. Better yet: They won't again play a team that currently has a winning record until Week 15 against the Chiefs.
Up next: vs. 49ers
2. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 93.6%
FPI chances to win division: 59.2%
After riding the magical Russell Wilson train for the first five weeks of the season, the Seahawks have lost two of their past three games. Most surprisingly, Wilson has committed seven turnovers in those two losses. Not as surprisingly, the Seahawks' defense has been outmanned and largely steamrollered. They have allowed 81 points in those games, and overall this season, every opponent has scored at least 25 points against them. Every week is a new week. But after this one, it's fair to suggest that the Seahawks will have to work to hold off the Cardinals in the NFC West.
Up next: at Rams
3. Green Bay Packers (6-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 97.5%
FPI chances to win division: 90.5%
Even after a home loss to the Vikings in Week 8, the Packers are in excellent shape to win their second consecutive NFC North title. And if you're peaking ahead to the race for the No. 1 seed, the Packers' Week 6 defeat to the Buccaneers might prove less consequential after the Saints took control of the NFC West on Sunday night. The Packers are among the minority of NFL teams that have no plans to allow fans into their games this season, something to keep in mind next month if they are in the running for home-field advantage.
Up next: vs. Jaguars
4. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 78.8%
FPI chances to win division: 78.8%
Here we go again! The Eagles have stumbled out of the 2020 gates, much as they did in 2019, but have benefited from worse performances by the rest of their division rivals. The Eagles were 5-7 last season before winning their final four games to clinch the NFC East at 9-7. This season, they might not even need a winning record. Despite three wins in eight games, the Eagles own a multi-game lead in the division thanks to Washington's six losses, along with seven by the Cowboys and Giants.
Up next: at Giants
Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-21
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)
Nfl Playoff Bracket 2020-211
FPI chances to make playoffs: 88.1%
FPI chances to win division: 30%
Dang. It's hard to know where the Buccaneers stand after Sunday night's embarrassing beatdown. You rarely see a top playoff team get shut down on all levels like that. Is it possible to view it as a one-off no-show? Or do two significant losses to the Saints in nine weeks mean they aren't a Super Bowl contender? Recency bias always comes into play, but it sure seems like the latter.
On a practical level, the Buccaneers can't win a tiebreaker with the Saints for the NFC South title, if it comes to that. If they want to win the division, they'll need to overtake them outright.
Up next: at Panthers
6. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 63.8%
FPI chances to win division: 17.4%
The Cardinals appear ahead of schedule, having staked an early wild-card position in Year 2 of the Kliff Kingsbury/Kyler Murray era. They hold an early tiebreaker over the Rams, having won both of their division games, and were especially impressive in a Week 7 victory over the Seahawks. But they're also about to embark on possibly the most difficult stretch of their season, with games upcoming against the Bills and at the Seahawks. We'll soon see how far they've really come.
Up next: vs. Bills
7. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 67.2%
FPI chances to win division: 20.3%
Of all the teams in the NFL's top 14, the Rams seem like the least formidable playoff competitor. They've defeated only one team with a winning record (Bears), and their other four victories have come against the woeful NFC East. Have they simply feasted on really bad teams? Will it matter? In an expanded postseason, they could qualify with three or four more victories. Fortunately, three sub-.500 teams remain on their schedule: the 49ers in Week 12, the Patriots in Week 14 and the Jets in Week 15.
Up next: vs. Seahawks
Also in the NFC mix
Chicago Bears (5-4): The Bears' offense has made it really, really difficult for their excellent defense. In a loss Sunday to the Titans, they managed only two rushes longer than 5 yards. But given the Rams' shaky play, a wild-card spot is well within reach. Chicago has the Vikings next week.
San Francisco 49ers (4-5): In most years, the 49ers wouldn't be in this conversation. They've lost so many key players to injuries and COVID-19 protocols that their loss Thursday night to the Packers felt like a preseason game. But like the Bears, they are poised to ascend if they can balance out their play. A trip to New Orleans is next up.