NFL Playoff Bracket if the season ended today

Things are coming down to the wire around the NFL. With just four weeks remaining, playoff hopefuls will be putting their finishing touches on the 2023 regular season. With the exception of a few great teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, nobody could have predicted the current playoff picture around the NFL.

There is still plenty of time for things to change, and some exciting games down the stretch could ultimately reshape the outcome in each conference. For now, however, here's a look at every team that would make the playoffs (as well as their current standing in their respective conference) if the NFL season ended today, per NFL.com.

AFC Playoff Picture:

1st Place: Baltimore Ravens (10-3, first-round bye)
2nd Place: Miami Dolphins (9-4)
3rd Place: Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
4th Place: Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)
5th Place: Cleveland Browns (8-5)
6th Place: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
7th Place: Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

NFC Playoff Picture:

1st Place: San Francisco 49ers (10-3, first-round bye)
2nd Place: Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
3rd Place: Detroit Lions (9-4)
4th Place: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
5th Place: Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)
6th Place: Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
7th Place: Green Bay Packers (6-7)

There are a couple of things that stand out like a sore thumb in this current NFL playoff picture. For starters, it's bizarre that the 6-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are leading their division. They would lock in the 4th seed in the NFC if the playoffs started today.

It's even weirder seeing the 10-3 Eagles in a Wild Card spot just below them. The NFC would have a pair of teams with a losing record make the tournament if the season ended today. At the same time, they may very well have the three best teams in the NFL in the Niners, Cowboys, and Eagles.

The AFC playoff picture is incredibly tight. Right now, the Baltimore Ravens are leading the charge with an impressive 10-3 record. Meanwhile, the Dolphins just suffered an unexpected loss to the Tennessee Titans -- opening the door for others to potentially leapfrog Miami down the stretch.

Three AFC teams are currently tied with 8-5 records, while a whopping 6 AFC teams have a 7-6 record and are in the hunt -- four of which would fall short of the playoffs if the season ended today.

Surprisingly, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still holding onto a playoff spot despite losing back-to-back games against two-win teams. Even after losing 3 of their last 4 contests, they sit in the 6th seed and would play the Kansas City Chiefs if the 2023 season ended right now.

These final four weeks are going to be a thrill to watch, and with 11 total teams in the playoff hunt in the AFC, it's possible that we could see a very different playoff lineup after Week 18.