NFL Playoff Picture: Powerhouses begin to clinch; Cowboys, Packers stay alive
With just two outfits securing their spots in the postseason during Sunday's slate of games, the NFL playoff picture remains about as nebulous as it was last week. Here's where all the hopefuls stand with three weeks left in the regular season:
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Steelers | North | 11-2 |
| 2. | Patriots | East | 10-2 |
| 3. | Jaguars | South | 9-4 |
| 4. | Chiefs | West | 7-6 |
| 5. | Titans | South | 8-5 |
| 6. | Bills | East | 7-6 |
It came down to the wire, but the Steelers clinched the AFC North with a razor-close victory over the Ravens in Sunday's prime-time game, while the Pats can lock up the AFC East in a winnable trip to Miami on Monday night.
Even with a win over the Seahawks, the Jaguars needed far too many dominoes to fall their way to lock up a playoff spot this week. But it may only be a matter of time. With the struggling Texans and 49ers on the docket before closing out the campaign in Tennessee, Doug Marrone's squad is in the AFC South driver's seat.
Things are still looking up for the Titans despite Sunday's loss to the Cardinals, while the Bills remained in the thick of the wild-card race thanks to an overtime win over the Colts and the Steelers' last-minute heroics.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | Ravens | North | 7-6 |
| 8. | Chargers | West | 7-6 |
| 9. | Raiders | West | 6-7 |
| 10. | Dolphins | East | 5-7 |
The AFC West remains ripe for the taking with three weeks left. The Chargers are nipping at the Chiefs' heels following a lopsided win over the Redskins, and will have the chance to jump ahead in this coming Saturday's pivotal divisional meeting.
The Raiders and Dolphins, on the other hand, might as well head back to the drawing board.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Eagles | East | 11-2 |
| 2. | Vikings | North | 10-3 |
| 3. | Rams | West | 9-4 |
| 4. | Saints | South | 9-4 |
| 5. | Panthers | South | 9-4 |
| 6. | Falcons | South | 8-5 |
The Eagles are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2013 - likely with Nick Foles, not Carson Wentz, under center - after besting the Rams, who have the Jags to thank for keeping them in the third seed with a win over their division rival Seahawks.
Despite a loss in Carolina, Mike Zimmer's Vikings remain in complete control of the NFC North. And the Falcons will have to be up to the task in three straight divisional games to close out the regular season, as they still sit behind a pair of NFC South squads in the Saints and Panthers.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | Seahawks | West | 8-5 |
| 8. | Lions | North | 7-6 |
| 9. | Packers | North | 7-6 |
| 10. | Cowboys | East | 7-6 |
| 11. | Cardinals | West | 6-7 |
Now nursing their loss to Jacksonville with a bevy of key defensive cogs on the shelf, the Seahawks will host the Rams next week in dire need of a W, while the Lions, Cowboys, and Packers all remain in contention after picking up victories this week.
Wentz's knee injury and Ezekiel Elliott's imminent return should certainly bolster Dallas' chances of emerging from its Week 17 trip to Philly victorious, while the Pack must be praying to every known deity that Aaron Rodgers sees the field soon with tough tilts against the Panthers, Vikings, and Lions ahead.
Despite getting the better of the Titans on Sunday, the Bruce Arians-led Cardinals will need a couple of opposing squads to implode to play beyond Week 17.
Related: Assessing the NFC playoff race after Wentz's injury