Updated standings | AFC | NFC
If the season ended now:
AFC first-round byes: (1) Patriots; (2) Bengals
AFC wild card: (6) Texans at (3) Broncos; (5) Chiefs at (4) Colts
NFC first-round byes: (1) Panthers; (2) Cardinals
NFC wild card: (6) Seahawks at (3) Vikings; (5) Packers at (4) Redskins
Here's the updated playoff picture heading into Sunday's games.
1. New England Patriots (10-1, East leader)
• Would clinch the East with a win against the Eagles and a Jets loss at the Giants.
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Eagles and both/either a Chiefs loss at the Raiders and/or Steelers loss to the Colts.
• Would clinch the East with a win against the Eagles and a Jets loss at the Giants.
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Eagles and both/either a Chiefs loss at the Raiders and/or Steelers loss to the Colts.
2. Cincinnati Bengals (9-2, North leader)
• Lead the Broncos for the No. 2 seed because of conference record (7-1 to 5-2).
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win at the Browns and Colts loss at the Steelers and Texans loss at the Bills and both/either Jets loss at the Giants and/or Chiefs loss at the Raiders plus Broncos win at the Chargers.
• Lead the Broncos for the No. 2 seed because of conference record (7-1 to 5-2).
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a win at the Browns and Colts loss at the Steelers and Texans loss at the Bills and both/either Jets loss at the Giants and/or Chiefs loss at the Raiders plus Broncos win at the Chargers.
3. Denver Broncos (9-2, West leader)
• Would clinch the West with two wins plus a Chiefs loss, or a win next week against the Raiders plus two Chiefs losses.
• Would clinch the West with two wins plus a Chiefs loss, or a win next week against the Raiders plus two Chiefs losses.
4. Indianapolis Colts (6-5, South leader)
• Lead the Texans in the South because of a head-to-head win in Week 5 (the Texans visit the Colts in Week 15).
• Lead the Texans in the South because of a head-to-head win in Week 5 (the Texans visit the Colts in Week 15).
5. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5, top wild card)
• Lead the race for the No. 5 seed because of a better conference record (5-2) than the Texans (4-3), Jets (5-4) and Steelers (3-4).
• Would have a better division record than the Broncos (4-2/5-1 to 3-3/4-2) if they win their last four games and the Broncos lose their last four.
• Lead the race for the No. 5 seed because of a better conference record (5-2) than the Texans (4-3), Jets (5-4) and Steelers (3-4).
• Would have a better division record than the Broncos (4-2/5-1 to 3-3/4-2) if they win their last four games and the Broncos lose their last four.
6. Houston Texans (6-5, bottom wild card)
• Lead the race for the No. 6 seed because of a better conference record (4-3) than the Jets (5-4) and Steelers (3-4). Also beat the Jets head-to-head.
• Lead the race for the No. 6 seed because of a better conference record (4-3) than the Jets (5-4) and Steelers (3-4). Also beat the Jets head-to-head.
7. New York Jets (6-5)
• Lead the Steelers for the No. 7 position because of conference record (5-4 to 3-4).
• Would have a better conference record than the Patriots (8-4 to 7-5) if they win their last four games and the Patriots lose their last four.
• Lead the Steelers for the No. 7 position because of conference record (5-4 to 3-4).
• Would have a better conference record than the Patriots (8-4 to 7-5) if they win their last four games and the Patriots lose their last four.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
• Lead the Raiders and Bills by a game for the No. 8 position.
• Would have a better record in common games than the Bengals (9-3 to 8-4) if they win their last four games and the Bengals lose their last four.
• Lead the Raiders and Bills by a game for the No. 8 position.
• Would have a better record in common games than the Bengals (9-3 to 8-4) if they win their last four games and the Bengals lose their last four.
9. Oakland Raiders (5-6)
• Lead the Bills for the No. 9 position because of conference record (5-3 to 5-5).
• Still play the Chiefs twice.
• Lead the Bills for the No. 9 position because of conference record (5-3 to 5-5).
• Still play the Chiefs twice.
10. Buffalo Bills (5-6)
• Lead the Jaguars and Dolphins by a game for the No. 10 position.
• Have beaten the Colts and Jets but lost to the Chiefs.
• Lead the Jaguars and Dolphins by a game for the No. 10 position.
• Have beaten the Colts and Jets but lost to the Chiefs.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7)
• Lead the Ravens and Dolphins for the No. 11 position because of a head-to-head sweep.
• Still face the Colts and Texans and could win tiebreakers with both.
• Lead the Ravens and Dolphins for the No. 11 position because of a head-to-head sweep.
• Still face the Colts and Texans and could win tiebreakers with both.
12. Baltimore Ravens (4-7)
• Lead the Dolphins for the No. 12 position because of conference record (3-5 to 2-6).
• Still face the Chiefs and Steelers at home and likely would win a tiebreaker with the Steelers.
• Lead the Dolphins for the No. 12 position because of conference record (3-5 to 2-6).
• Still face the Chiefs and Steelers at home and likely would win a tiebreaker with the Steelers.
13. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
• Lead the Chargers for the No. 13 position by a game.
• Have four more home games but also 2-6 conference and 0-5 division records.
• Lead the Chargers for the No. 13 position by a game.
• Have four more home games but also 2-6 conference and 0-5 division records.
1. Carolina Panthers (11-0, South leader)
• Would clinch the South with a win/tie at the Saints or Falcons loss/tie at the Buccaneers.
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a Seahawks loss/tie at the Vikings or Cardinals loss/tie at the Rams.
• Would clinch the South with a win/tie at the Saints or Falcons loss/tie at the Buccaneers.
• Would clinch a playoff berth with a Seahawks loss/tie at the Vikings or Cardinals loss/tie at the Rams.
2. Arizona Cardinals (9-2, West leader)
• Would not clinch the West with a win and a Seahawks loss but would lead the strength-of-victory tiebreaker (the Cardinals have beaten the Bengals and Saints, and the Seahawks have beaten the Steelers and Cowboys).
• Would clinch the West regardless of the next four weeks with a Week 17 win against the Seahawks.
• Would not clinch the West with a win and a Seahawks loss but would lead the strength-of-victory tiebreaker (the Cardinals have beaten the Bengals and Saints, and the Seahawks have beaten the Steelers and Cowboys).
• Would clinch the West regardless of the next four weeks with a Week 17 win against the Seahawks.
3. Minnesota Vikings (8-3, North leader)
• Lead the Packers in the North by a half-game but must win/tie against the Seahawks to keep the lead.
• The Vikings-Packers game in Week 17 will determine who wins the tiebreaker, if applicable.
• Lead the Packers in the North by a half-game but must win/tie against the Seahawks to keep the lead.
• The Vikings-Packers game in Week 17 will determine who wins the tiebreaker, if applicable.
4. Washington Redskins (5-6, East leader)
• Lead the Giants in the East because of division record (2-1 to 2-3).
• Any East team could finish 6-10 and still win the division.
• Lead the Giants in the East because of division record (2-1 to 2-3).
• Any East team could finish 6-10 and still win the division.
5. Green Bay Packers (8-4, top wild card)
• Lead the Seahawks and Falcons by 1½ games for the No. 5 seed after beating the Lions 27-23.
• Would clinch the North with four more wins because of a head-to-head sweep of the Vikings.
• Lead the Seahawks and Falcons by 1½ games for the No. 5 seed after beating the Lions 27-23.
• Would clinch the North with four more wins because of a head-to-head sweep of the Vikings.
6. Seattle Seahawks (6-5, bottom wild card)
• Lead the Falcons for the No. 6 seed because of conference record (5-4 to 4-4).
• Would have a better record in common games (4-1 to 3-2) than the Falcons if the teams finish with the same conference record.
• Lead the Falcons for the No. 6 seed because of conference record (5-4 to 4-4).
• Would have a better record in common games (4-1 to 3-2) than the Falcons if the teams finish with the same conference record.
7. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
• Lead the Buccaneers, Giants and Bears for the No. 7 position by a game.
• Would clinch the South with five wins and five Panthers losses because of a head-to-head sweep.
• Lead the Buccaneers, Giants and Bears for the No. 7 position by a game.
• Would clinch the South with five wins and five Panthers losses because of a head-to-head sweep.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
• Hold the No. 8 position because of a better conference record (4-3) than the Giants (4-5) and Bears (2-5).
• Would pass the Falcons with a win against the Falcons because of a head-to-head sweep.
• Hold the No. 8 position because of a better conference record (4-3) than the Giants (4-5) and Bears (2-5).
• Would pass the Falcons with a win against the Falcons because of a head-to-head sweep.
9. New York Giants (5-6)
• Lead the Bears for the No. 9 position because of conference record (4-5 to 2-5).
• Could finish 10-6 and not win the division. Could finish 6-10 and win the division.
• Lead the Bears for the No. 9 position because of conference record (4-5 to 2-5).
• Could finish 10-6 and not win the division. Could finish 6-10 and win the division.
10. Chicago Bears (5-6)
• Lead the Rams, Eagles and Saints by a game for the No. 10 position.
• Lost to the Seahawks. Still face the Redskins and Buccaneers.
• Lead the Rams, Eagles and Saints by a game for the No. 10 position.
• Lost to the Seahawks. Still face the Redskins and Buccaneers.
11. St. Louis Rams (4-7)
• Hold the No. 11 position because of a better conference record (3-4) than the Saints (3-5) and Eagles (3-6).
• Have beaten each West opponent in the teams' only meetings.
• Hold the No. 11 position because of a better conference record (3-4) than the Saints (3-5) and Eagles (3-6).
• Have beaten each West opponent in the teams' only meetings.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-7)
• Lead the Saints for the No. 12 position because of a head-to-head win in Week 5.
• Would clinch the East with five more wins due to a better division record than the Giants (4-2 to 2-4) and a better record in common games than the Redskins (7-5 to 6-6).
• Lead the Saints for the No. 12 position because of a head-to-head win in Week 5.
• Would clinch the East with five more wins due to a better division record than the Giants (4-2 to 2-4) and a better record in common games than the Redskins (7-5 to 6-6).
13. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
• Lead the Lions by a half-game for the No. 13 position.
• Defeated the Falcons and Giants. Close the season at the Falcons.
• Lead the Lions by a half-game for the No. 13 position.
• Defeated the Falcons and Giants. Close the season at the Falcons.
16.* Dallas Cowboys (3-8)
• Unlike the No. 14 Lions and No. 15 49ers, the No. 16 Cowboys are within two games of playoff position (the NFC East leader is 5-6; the bottom wild card is 6-5).
• Within two games of the East-leading Redskins and Giants. Play the Redskins twice.
• Trail the No. 14 Lions (4-8) by a half-game. Trail the 49ers for the No. 15 position because of strength of victory (18-15 to 13-20).
• Unlike the No. 14 Lions and No. 15 49ers, the No. 16 Cowboys are within two games of playoff position (the NFC East leader is 5-6; the bottom wild card is 6-5).
• Within two games of the East-leading Redskins and Giants. Play the Redskins twice.
• Trail the No. 14 Lions (4-8) by a half-game. Trail the 49ers for the No. 15 position because of strength of victory (18-15 to 13-20).
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