by Billie Weiss/Getty Images
We’re halfway through the 2022 NFL season and the playoff picture is starting to take shape, though there could be plenty of movement by the time Week 17 rolls around.
Week 11 saw some exciting action, and it started with the Tennessee Titans beating the Green Bay Packers 27-17 at Thursday night football. The win lifted the Titans to 7-3 this season, good for the AFC No. 3 seed. The Packers, meanwhile, fell further out of playoff contention in the NFC with a 4-7 record.
Sunday’s slate was marked by the New England Patriots beating the New York Jets, the Detroit Lions beating the New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints beating the Los Angeles Rams.
With their losses, the Giants fell to 7-3, the Rams to 3-7 and the Jets to 6-4.
There are more games to come, but let’s take a look at the current playoff photo:
AFC Playoff photo
- Kansas City Chiefs: 8-2
- Miami Dolphins: 7-3
- Tennessee Titans: 7-3
- Baltimore Ravens: 7-3
- Buffalo Bills: 7-3
- New England Patriots: 6-4
- Cincinnati Bengals: 6-4
- New York Jets: 6-4
- Los Angeles Chargers: 5-5
- Indianapolis Colts: 4-6-1
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-7
- Las Vegas Raiders: 3-7
- Cleveland Browns: 3-7
- Denver Broncos: 3-7
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-7
- Houston Texans: 1-8-1
NFC Playoff image
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-1
- Minnesota Vikings: 8-2
- Seattle Seahawks: 6-4
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-5
- Dallas Cowboys: 7-3
- New York Giants: 7-3
- San Francisco 49ers: 5-4
- Washington Commanders: 6-5
- Atlanta Falcons: 5-6
- Detroit Lions: 4-6
- Arizona Cardinals: 4-6
- Green Bay packers: 4-7
- New Orleans Saints: 4-7
- Los Angeles Rams: 3-7
- Carolina panthers: 3-8
- Chicago Bears: 3-8
The Giants embarrassed the Lions 31-18 on Sunday as quarterback Daniel Jones completed 27 of 44 passes for 341 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions.
Star running back Saquon Barkley also had a disappointing performance, rushing for just 22 yards on 15 carries. New York’s defense was just as much of a problem, as Lions ran back Jamaal Williams for 64 yards and three scores.
The Lions totaled 325 yards in offenses in Sunday’s victory.
Detroit lions @Lions
Hat trick for @jswaggdaddy❗️#DETvsNYG | ? FOX pic.twitter.com/hGgZRzLuKd
That said, the G-Men were heavily criticized for not picking up another wide receiver at the trade deadline, and the team’s problems in the passing game only became more apparent as they dropped their second game in their past three appearances.
The Giants are still firmly in a spot in the playoffs, but they’re in danger of losing that position if they don’t turn things around in Week 12 and beyond. They face some tough confrontations, including encounters with the Cowboys and Vikings and two confrontations with the Eagles.
The Los Angeles Rams probably had a more disappointing performance on Sunday, as they fell 27-20 to the New Orleans Saints. LA also lost starting quarterback Matthew Stafford to injury during the game.
Stafford completed 11 of 18 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns before going off. His backup, Bryce Perkins, completed five of his 10 passes for just 64 yards in relief.
Sports illustrated @Now
Rams QB Bryce Perkins plays along as Matthew Stafford is assessed for a concussion
LA’s loss cut it to 3-7 on the season, and there’s now little hope for the defending champions to make the playoffs.
As for the AFC, the Patriots and Jets put up one of the more lackluster games of the season, but New England came away with a 10-3 win thanks to a punt return touchdown by Marcus Jones with five seconds left in the fourth quarter .
NFL @NFL
POINT RETURN TD WITH 5 SECONDS REMAINING! @Patriots
?: #NYJvsNE on CBS
?: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/0M1xbb6fcp pic.twitter.com/zF3bFuvvpI
It was an important game for both sides as the Patriots now hold the tiebreaker over the Jets thanks to a season win of both matchups between the teams. New England’s win helped improve it to 6-4 and enter the AFC playoff picture as the number 6 seed.
The Patriots have another tough schedule with games against the Vikings, Miami Dolphins and two games against the Buffalo Bills. How New England fares in those remaining games will play a major role in whether or not they stay in the playoffs.
