Cowboys đã bị loại khỏi cuộc đua sau trận thua vào thứ Hai
Mỗi tuần trong suốt mùa giải chính thức NFL 2024, USA TODAY Sports sẽ cập nhật thông tin đúng giờ về hình ảnh thay đổi không ngừng của cuộc đua vào play-off của liên đoàn – bắt đầu sau các trận muộn vào chủ nhật chiều và sau đó tiếp tục cho đến cuối tuần (qua các trận thứ Hai và thứ Năm hoặc thứ Bảy, nếu có).
Điều gì vừa xảy ra? Điều đó có ý nghĩa gì? Các yếu tố quan trọng (và có thể, các yếu tố phân định) đang nổi bật khi mỗi bảng bốn đội của liên đoàn bắt đầu hiện rõ lên? Tất cả sẽ được giải thích và phân tích cho đến khi lĩnh vực play-off được xác định vào Chủ Nhật tối, ngày 5 tháng 1.
Đây là tình hình của tuần 11 của mùa giải 2024:
Bảng xếp hạng play-off AFC
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1), dẫn đầu AFC West: Trận thua đầu tiên của họ có thể là một trận đấu quan trọng, Bills chỉ cần thắng thêm một trận để vượt qua nhà vô địch siêu cúp để chiếm vị trí đầu.
Lịch thi đấu còn lại: gặp Panthers, gặp Raiders, gặp Chargers, gặp Browns, gặp Texans, gặp Steelers, gặp Broncos
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2. Buffalo Bills (9-2), dẫn đầu AFC East: Họ đã giành chiến thắng thứ sáu liên tiếp sau khi đánh bại K.C. và vinh dự vô địch giải đấu đang dần trở nên hiển nhiên. Với ưu thế chống lại đối thủ cạnh tranh trực tiếp, Bills có thể sớm dẫn lối tới Siêu Cúp 59 qua Tây New York.
Lịch thi đấu còn lại: NGHỈ, gặp 49ers, gặp Rams, gặp Lions, gặp Patriots, gặp Jets, gặp Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2), dẫn đầu AFC North: Chỉ sốt ruột của họ trước Ravens giúp họ thoải mái dẫn đầu bảng và cũng khiến họ trở thành mối đe doạ có khả năng giành lợi thế sân nhà – Pittsburgh sẽ chiếm vị trí thứ hai nếu thắng Browns vào thứ Năm.
Lịch thi đấu còn lại: gặp Browns, gặp Bengals, gặp Browns, gặp Eagles, gặp Ravens, gặp Chiefs, gặp Bengals
4. Houston Texans (7-4), dẫn đầu AFC South: Họ vẫn còn một số vấn đề cần giải quyết, chủ yếu liên quan đến chấn thương. Nhưng họ vẫn có thể dễ dàng giành chức vô địch giải đấu lần thứ hai liên tiếp.
Lịch thi đấu còn lại: gặp Titans, gặp Jaguars, NGHỈ, gặp Dolphins, gặp Chiefs, gặp Ravens, gặp Titans
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), thẻ wild card số 1: Phòng thủ của họ khá mạnh mẽ. Lịch thi đấu của họ đã không hề dễ dàng – mặc dù bắt đầu thay đổi vào đêm Chủ Nhật. Tuy nhiên, Chargers đang bắt đầu xây dựng một “gối” tốt giữa họ và các câu lạc bộ đuổi theo họ – và thậm chí đã vượt qua đối thủ tuần tới, Baltimore.
Lịch thi đấu còn lại: gặp Ravens, gặp Falcons, gặp Chiefs, gặp Buccaneers, gặp Broncos, gặp Patriots, gặp Raiders
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4), thẻ wild card số 2: Dù họ (thường) rất giỏi, những trận thua trước những đội không đúng có thể có nghĩa là họ có thể sẽ không có trận đấu play-off sân nhà trong mùa giải này.
Lịch thi đấu còn lại: gặp Chargers, gặp Eagles, NGHỈ, gặp Giants, gặp Steelers, gặp Texans, gặp Browns
7. Denver
Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable).
What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday night, Jan. 5.
Here’s where things stand with Week 11 of the 2024 season complete:
AFC playoff picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1), AFC West leaders: Their first loss of the year could be a significant one, the Bills now only needing to make up one more game on the reigning Super Bowl champs to take over the top spot. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Raiders, vs. Chargers, at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos
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2. Buffalo Bills (9-2), AFC East leaders: They’ve won six straight after toppling K.C. and a fifth consecutive division title is practically a foregone conclusion. And, with that potentially pivotal head-to-head tiebreaker in hand, the Bills could soon steer the road to Super Bowl 59 through Western New York. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. 49ers, at Rams, at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2), AFC North leaders: Their defeat of the Ravens gives them breathing room atop the division and also makes them a viable threat to secure home-field advantage – Pittsburgh will assume the second seed with a win at Cleveland on Thursday. Remaining schedule: at Browns, at Bengals, vs. Browns, at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals
4. Houston Texans (7-4), AFC South leaders: They’ve still got a few issues to work through, primarily those that are injury related. But they should still cruise to a second straight division championship. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Jaguars, BYE, vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), wild card No. 1: Their defense has been pretty tough. Their schedule has been anything but – though that began changing Sunday night. Still, the Bolts are starting to build a nice pad between themselves and the clubs chasing them – and even moved ahead of next week’s opponent, Baltimore. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Falcons, at Chiefs, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4), wild card No. 2: Good as they (usually) are, losses to the wrong teams could well mean no home playoff games this season. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Eagles, BYE, at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns
7. Denver Broncos (6-5), wild card No. 3: They didn’t take their hooves off the gas against Atlanta and can’t do so in a larger sense as they try to hang onto this spot. Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Browns, BYE, vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs
8. Indianapolis Colts (5-6), in the hunt: They’ll get key a shot at the Broncos down the road. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Patriots, BYE, at Broncos, vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars
9. Miami Dolphins (4-6), in the hunt: They’re building steam and jumped Cincy with Sunday’s win. An apparently forgiving schedule gives Fins a shot. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Packers, vs. Jets, at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7), in the hunt: Crushing losses the last two weeks might be too much to overcome. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Steelers, at Cowboys, at Titans, vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers
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NFC playoff picture
1. Detroit Lions (9-1), NFC North leaders: After Sunday’s 52-6 walkover against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Lions’ biggest concern might be that they’re peaking too early. Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Packers, vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2), NFC East leaders: Philly pulled away from Washington on Thursday night to solidify its hold on first place in the division – and might need that padding later in the process. However the Iggles are also now officially a clear and present danger to Detroit. Remaining schedule: at Rams, at Ravens, vs. Panthers, vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants
3. Arizona Cardinals (6-4), NFC West leaders: A bye week interrupted their four-game in streak. But Atlanta’s loss also moved Arizona up one spot in terms of seeding. The Cards’ 2-0 record in divisional games serves them well; their 3-3 mark in NFC games won’t help them in the tiebreaker department with Atlanta (6-2). Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, at Vikings, vs. Seahawks, vs. Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5), NFC South leaders: A season sweep of the Bucs effectively gives Atlanta a three-game lead in the division. The Falcons have no such edge on the suddenly surging Saints. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Chargers, at Vikings, at Raiders, vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers
5. Minnesota Vikings (8-2), wild card No. 1: They’ve won three in a row, all against AFC South competition, to maintain this spot – while staying a game back of Detroit in the NFC North. Remaining schedule: at Bears, vs. Cardinals, vs. Falcons, vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions
6. Green Bay Packers (7-3), wild card No. 2: They were fortunate to escape Chicago with a win … meaning they also remain relevant in the NFC North despite how dominant Detroit seems. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Seahawks, vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears
7. Washington Commanders (7-4), wild card No. 3: Thursday night’s loss to Philly hurts, costing Washington seeding for now, but should also be a learning experience. And the Commanders do seem to have an easier lineup than Philly to contend with the rest of the way, one that might keep them in contention for the NFC East throne. Remaining schedule: vs. Cowboys, vs. Titans, BYE, at Saints, vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys
8. Los Angeles Rams (5-5), in the hunt: Wins over the 49ers and Seahawks give them a tenuous advantage among the conference’s currently .500 lot. Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Saints, vs. Bills, at 49ers, at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks
9. Seattle Seahawks (5-5), in the hunt: They’re only 1-2 in the division, but that’s better than the Niners, whom Seattle just split its season series with. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, at Jets, at Cardinals, vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams
10. San Francisco 49ers (5-5), in the hunt: They dropped to 1-3 in NFC West games, which pushed them down the conference table and could make it really tough to win the division if it continues to remain packed this tightly. Remaining schedule: at Packers, at Bills, vs. Bears, vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6), in the hunt: They actually made up a bit of ground on their week off. Now, if they can get key players like WR Mike Evans back, the opportunity is there to have a strong finishing kick. Remaining schedule: at Giants, at Panthers, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints
12. Chicago Bears (4-6), in the hunt: A four-game skid suggests they might not be in the hunt much longer – especially given what they’re about to face. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Lions, at 49ers, at Vikings, vs. Lions, vs. Seahawks, at Packers
13. New Orleans Saints (4-7), in the hunt: They’re 2-0 under interim HC Darren Rizzi. And given the way the NFC South is compressing … Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. Rams, at Giants, vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers
14. Carolina Panthers (3-7), in the hunt: Hey, they’ve still got like a 1% shot to make the playoff field. Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Cowboys, vs. Cardinals, at Buccaneers, at Falcons
15. Dallas Cowboys (3-7), in the hunt: Hey, they’ve still got like a 1% shot to make the playoff field following Monday’s latest embarrassing loss, their first of three games over an 11-day stretch. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Giants, vs. Bengals, at Panthers, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.
