NFL playoff picture: Broncos take wild-card lead from Dolphins, Cowboys first to clinch division

The end of the Dolphins’ six-game winning streak moved the Broncos back into wild-card position in the AFC. Denver has a one-game lead on the Dolphins and 1.5-game advantage against the Steelers and Bills.

In the NFC, the Cowboys are watching to see if the Redskins or Buccaneers lose, which would clinch a playoff berth for Dallas. The NFC East currently has both wild-card leaders by virtue of the Redskins’ half-game advantage against Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

 

DIVISION LEADERS

 

1. New England Patriots (10-2, East leader; 7-1 conf, 3-1 div)
W 26-10 vs. Rams; BAL, @DEN, NYJ, @MIA

The Patriots still need the Bills to beat the Raiders in order to hold on to the top seed in the AFC because Oakland would pull even with New England in conference record with a win.

 

2. Oakland Raiders (9-2, West leader, 6-1 conf, 2-1 div)
vs. Bills Sunday; @KC, @SD, IND, @DEN

The Raiders either will be No. 1 or No. 5 in the AFC depending on how they fare against the Bills. The Chiefs hold the tiebreaker for now and can secure it for certain with a win in Kansas City on Thursday night.

 

3. Baltimore Ravens (7-5, North leader; 6-2 conf, 4-0 div)
W 38-6 vs. Dolphins; @NE, PHI, @PIT, @CIN

The Ravens pounded the Dolphins to add some legitimacy to their hold on the No. 3 seed. Baltimore will finish the week No. 3 even if the Steelers win because of a head-to-head win.

 

4. Houston Texans (6-6, South leader; 4-4 conf, 3-0 div)

 L 13-21 at Packers; @IND, JAC, CIN, @TEN

The Texans likely wouldn’t fare well in a wild-card race because of a 1-3 record against the stacked AFC West, but they have beaten each division opponent in their first meetings of the season to secure the lead against the 6-6 Titans and 5-6 Colts. They would clinch the division title if they can finish the sweep.

 

WILD CARD LEADERS

 

5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3, top wild card; 6-2 conf, 3-0 div)
W 29-28 at Falcons; OAK, TEN, DEN, @SD

The Chiefs stole a win at the Falcons and kept the pressure on the Raiders in the AFC West. The Dolphins’ loss to the Ravens also adds to Kansas City’s cushion in the wild-card race.

 

6. Denver Broncos (8-4, bottom wild card; 5-3 conf, 1-3 div)
W 20-10 at Jaguars; @TEN, NE, @KC, OAK

The Broncos have lost to each division opponent and close the season at the Chiefs and against the Raiders. But Denver is 4-0 against the rest of the AFC and now leads the wild-card by a game.

 

 IN THE HUNT

 

7. Miami Dolphins (7-5; 5-4 conf, 2-1 div)
L 6-38 at Ravens; ARI, @NYJ, @BUF, NE

The end of a six-game win streak moved the Dolphins out of playoff position. Miami has a good chance to win a tie against the Patriots if they finish with the same record because New England has lost to the Bills.

 

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5; 5-3 conf, 2-1 div)
vs. Giants Sunday; @BUF, @CIN, BAL, CLE

The Steelers hold down the No. 8 spot because of a better conference record (5-3 to 3-4) than the Bills, but more importantly Pittsburgh remains in good shape to win its division. The North title could be on the line when the Ravens visit Heinz Field on Christmas afternoon.

 

9. Buffalo Bills (6-5; 3-4 conf, 1-3 div)
at Raiders, Sunday; PIT, CLE, MIA, @NYJ

Strangely, the Bills’ only division win came against the Patriots, which doesn’t bode well for Buffalo in any tiebreakers. But Buffalo has three consecutive December home games that could vault the Bills into a wild-card spot.

10. Tennessee Titans (6-6; 3-5 conf, 1-3 div)
Week 13 bye, DEN, @KAN, @JAC, HOU

After a Week 13 bye, the Titans face the two wild-card leaders in consecutive weeks. Getting swept by the Colts damages Tennessee’s hopes, but a home game against the Texans to close the season might decide the South title.

 

11. Indianapolis Colts (5-6; 3-5 conf, 2-2 div)
at Jets, Mon 8:30; HOU, @MIN, @OAK, JAC

The Colts hold down the No. 11 spot because of a head-to-head win against the Chargers, but Indianapolis’ clearest path to the postseason is the South title. The Colts almost certainly need to beat the visiting Texans in Week 14.

 

12. San Diego Chargers (5-6; 4-5 conf, 1-3 div)
vs. Buccaneers Sunday; @CAR, OAK, @CLE, KC

Although San Diego almost certainly would win a tie with the Broncos, it needs a lot of help to sneak into the postseason.

 

13. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1; 3-5 conf, 1-2 div)
W 32-14 vs. Eagles; @CLE, PIT, @HOU, BAL

The Bengals need a miracle turnaround to win the North, but they have home games remaining against the Ravens and Steelers. The tie against the Redskins could prove costly if Cincinnati finishes the season strong.

DIVISION LEADERS
 

1. Dallas Cowboys (11-1, East leader; 7-1 conf, 3-1 div)

W 17-15 at Vikings; @NYG, TB, DET, @PHI

The Cowboys stretched their division lead to 2.5 games with a win Thursday, but next week comes the rematch with the Giants, who edged Dallas in their season opener. The Cowboys would clinch the NFC East with a win next week if the Giants lose Sunday at the Steelers, and Dallas would clinch a playoff berth Sunday with a Buccaneers loss/tie at the Chargers or Redskins loss at the Cardinals.
 

2. Seattle Seahawks (7-3-1, West leader; 3-3-1 conf, 1-1-1 div)
vs. Panthers Sunday; @GB, LA, ARI, @SF

With a three-game division lead, the Seahawks can clinch the West with home wins against the Rams and Cardinals. Seattle can’t wrap up the title in Week 13 because the Cardinals still can win the tiebreaker (because of the teams’ tie in their first meeting).
 

3. Detroit Lions (8-4, North leader; 6-2 conf, 2-2 div)
W 28-13 at Saints, Sun 1; CHI, @NYG, @DAL, GB

The Lions’ two-game division lead comes with a sweep of the Vikings, but Detroit has tough road games at the Giants and Cowboys still on the schedule. The Lions cannot clinch the division in Week 14 because of a loss to the Packers.
 

4. Atlanta Falcons (7-5, South leader; 5-3 conf, 3-1 div)
L 28-29 vs. Chiefs; @LA, SF, @CAR, NO

The Falcons currently lead the tiebreaker with the Buccaneers and will end Week 13 atop the South despite losing to the Chiefs. Atlanta and Tampa Bay split their season series.

WILD CARD LEADERS
 

5. New York Giants (8-3, top wild card; 5-3 conf, 2-1 div)
at Steelers Sunday; DAL, DET, @PHI, @WAS

The Giants have a win against the Cowboys and a 1.5-game lead on the next team in the standings, but they won’t fare well if they slip into a tie with their pursuers because of a loss to the Vikings and some conference losses.
 

6. Washington Redskins (6-4-1, bottom wild card; 4-3 conf, 2-2 div)
at Cardinals Sunday; @PHI, CAR, @CHI, NYG

A tie game against the Bengals is just enough for the Redskins to inch in front of the Buccaneers for the final wild-card berth in the NFC. Washington’s next four opponents have losing records.

IN THE HUNT
 

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5; 5-3 conf, 2-1 div)
at Chargers Sunday; NO, @DAL, @NO, CAR

The Buccaneers edge the Vikings for the No. 7 position because of conference record (5-3 to 4-6). Tampa still has a pair of games against the Saints, who also are chasing the Falcons in the South.
 

8. Minnesota Vikings (6-6; 4-6 conf, 1-3 div)
L 15-17 vs. Cowboys; @JAC, IND, @GB, CHI

The Vikings currently hold the No. 8 position because of a Week 2 win against the Packers. Minnesota’s last four opponents currently have losing records.
 

9. Green Bay Packers (6-6; 4-4 conf, 2-1 div)
W 21-13 vs. Texans; SEA, @CHI, MIN, @DET

Green Bay would win tiebreakers against the Lions and Vikings with wins in their final two regular-season matchups, but the Packers also remain in the thick of the wild-card race.
 

10. New Orleans Saints (5-7; 4-4 conf, 1-2 div)
L 13-28 vs. Lions; @TB, @ARI, TB, @ATL

The Saints hold the No. 10 position because of a better conference record (4-4) than the Eagles (3-6). They still have three games remaining against the Falcons and Buccaneers.
 

11. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7; 3-6 conf, 0-3 div)
L 14-32 at Bengals; WAS, @BAL, NYG, DAL

Two of the Eagles’ five wins have come against the NFC North, which leaves them in an even more precarious position than No. 11 suggests. However, all three remaining division matchups are at home.
 

12. Arizona Cardinals (4-6-1; 3-4-1 conf, 2-1-1 div)
vs. Redskins Sunday; @MIA, NO, @SEA, @LA

The Cardinals actually have a better division record than the first-place Seahawks, but a three-game deficit will be difficult to overcome with five games remaining. A home win in Week 13 against the Redskins would complicate the wild-card race.
 

13. Carolina Panthers (4-7; 4-4 conf, 1-3 div)
vs. Panthers Sunday; SD, @WAS, ATL, @TB

The defending conference champs probably need to win out to have any chance at the postseason, but Carolina closes with three teams it is chasing (at Redskins, vs. Falcons, at Buccaneers).
 

14. Los Angeles Rams (4-8; 3-5 conf; 2-1 div)
L 10-26 at Patriots; ATL, @SEA, SF, ARI

The Rams close with all three division opponents, but their performance against teams outside the division should exclude them from the playoffs.