Updated AFC Playoff Picture, AFC Wild Card standings after Chargers beat Dolphins

Updated AFC Playoff Picture after Chargers beat Dolphins on SNF

With the Chargers winning on Sunday night, the New York Jets have fallen out of the NFL playoff picture for the time being. There’s a road back in for Robert Salah’s crew, but it’s not an easy one. New York at one point seemed to control its destiny but now it’s back to the bottom of the AFC East — which isn’t as bad as it used to be.

It does, however, mean that the New England Patriots once again have a shot to get back into the mix. A win on Monday Night Football over the Arizona Cardinals would move Bill Belichick’s squad into the No. 7 seed and bump the Chargers back out.

So Los Angeles is rooting hard for the Cardinals to pull out an upset win.

Here’s what the AFC playoff bracket would look like if the playoffs started today:

1. Buffalo Bills (10-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3)
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
4. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)
6. Miami Dolphins (8-5)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)

Based on those standings, here’s what the playoff matchups would look like for the first weekend of action:

• (2) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (7) Los Angeles Chargers
• (3) Baltimore Ravens vs. (6) Cincinnati Bengals
• (4) Tennessee Titans vs. (5) Miami Dolphins

AFC Wild Card standings (Updated after Sunday Night Football, Week 14)

Here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 14:

5th Seed: Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)
6th Seed: Miami Dolphins (8-4)
7th Seed: Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)

On The Bubble
New England Patriots (6-6)
New York Jets (7-6)

Still In The Hunt
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-8)
Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)
Cleveland Browns (5-8)
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8)

On Life Support
Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1)

Eliminated
Denver Broncos (3-10)
Houston Texans (1-11-1)