NFL Playoff picture if a No. 8 seed is added

January 7, 2023 ndowd

The NFL is reportedly considering adding an eighth playoff team in each conference with the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game unlikely to be resumed. Here’s what the playoff picture would look like.

The NFL world continues to follow updates regarding Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during their Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since being transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin has made progress, with updates on Thursday revealing that he has opened his eyes, can move his hands and feet, and communicate while writing.

Buffalo’s game against Cincinnati was suspended midway through the first quarter following Hamlin’s medical situation. In regards to whether the game would resume again, Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reported that it is not in the NFL’s plans.

That leaves the NFL in an interesting situation, considering the Bills and Bengals were in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC along with the Kansas City Chiefs. Pro Football Talk wrote on Thursday about how the NFL could go about it, and mentioned the possibility of the league adding an eighth playoff team in the AFC and NFC, which would eliminate the first-round bye altogether.

NFL Player’s Association executive director DeMaurice Smith said in a media call, via Maadi, that the league hasn’t proposed adding an eighth playoff team to each conference. The NFLPA would have to approve of the proposal for it to go through.

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said the NFL hasn’t presented a proposal to add an 8th playoff team. The players’ union would have to approve those changes.

— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 5, 2023

Let’s take a look at what the playoff picture would look like if an eighth team were allowed into the playoffs in each conference.

AFC Playoff Picture if a No. 8 seed is added

Let’s take a look at the AFC playoff picture with eight teams if the season were to end today. Jan. 5.

(1) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (8) Miami Dolphins
(2) Buffalo Bills vs. (7) New England Patriots
(3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (6) Baltimore Ravens
(4) Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (5) Los Angeles Chargers

The two teams that the NFL still has in the playoff picture who would fall out of contention are the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) and Tennessee Titans (7-9). It’s unknown if other seven loss teams like the New York Jets or the Cleveland Browns would have a shot at clinching a potential eighth seed.

NFC Playoff Picture if a No. 8 seed is added

Now, let’s look at the NFC playoff picture if there were an eighth team added:

(1) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (8) Detroit Lions
(2) San Francisco 49ers vs. (7) Seattle Seahawks
(3) Minnesota Vikings vs. (6) New York Giants
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys

One team that is in the outside looking in are the Green Bay Packers, who could clinch the No. 7 seed if they are to defeat the Lions on Sunday Night Football. If a new playoff structure were to be implemented, it would be interesting to see who would get the No. 7 and 8 seeds between the Lions, Packers, and Seahawks.

Again, this is not confirmed to be happening. This is simply how the playoffs would look like if they were to implement an eight-team structure per conference.

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