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Predicting full 14-team NFL playoff bracket after trade deadline: Entire NFC North makes postseason
CBS Sports • • general
Key Points:
- The Minnesota Vikings made a significant trade deadline move by acquiring Kirk Cousins, boosting their projected wins to 11, but they are still expected to finish third in the NFC North division.
- For the first time in NFL history, all four NFC North teams—the Vikings, Lions, Bears, and Packers—are projected to make the playoffs, marking a potential historic postseason for the division.
- The projected AFC playoff field appears nearly locked in, with the Bills, Jaguars, Broncos, Bengals, Chiefs, Steelers, and Patriots expected to qualify; the Texans narrowly miss out due to tiebreakers.
- In playoff simulations, home teams dominate the wild-card and divisional rounds, with the Bills and Jaguars advancing to the AFC Championship and the 49ers and Lions reaching the NFC Championship.
- The Super Bowl LXI is projected to feature the Buffalo Bills winning their first-ever Lombardi Trophy over the San Francisco 49ers, with the Bills favored due to quarterback Josh Allen's strong postseason performances.
