The NFL playoff race is heating up heading into Thanksgiving, and here’s how the playoff picture is shaping up before the Week 13 Thanksgiving games:
NFC Playoff photo
DIVISION LEADERS
1. Detroit Lions (10-1): 1-game lead in the NFC North.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2): 2.5-game lead in the NFC East.
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Falcons and Cardinals.
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5): One game lead in NFC South.
WILD CARDS
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2): Lost at home to the Lions.
6. Green Bay Packers (8-3): Lost at home to the Lions and Vikings.
7. Washington Commanders (7-5): Need to reverse their recent decline.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5): Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks was a big one.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6): Own the NFC record tiebreaker over the Rams.
10. Los Angeles Rams (5-6): Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the 49ers.
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6): NFC preseason favorites are at risk of missing the playoffs.
12. New Orleans Saints (4-7): Two games out in the division.
13. Chicago Bears (4-7): Deep in last place in the NFC North.
14. Dallas Cowboys (4-7): Thanksgiving against the Giants looks like a turkey.
15. Carolina Panthers (3-8): Playing much better football lately.
16. New York Giants (2-9): Worst team in the NFC.
AFC Playoff photo
DIVISION LEADERS
1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1): The reigning champs sit atop the conference.
2. Buffalo Bills (9-2): If they can catch the Chiefs in the standings, they’ll have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3): Beating the Ravens head-to-head was big.
4. Houston Texans (7-5): They’re not playing well, but they should win the AFC South by default.
WILD CARDS
5. Baltimore Ravens (8-4): Big win over the Chargers on Monday night.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4): Big loss to the Ravens on Monday night.
7. Denver Broncos (7-5): Bo Nix has led them to a two-game lead in the wild-card race.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Miami Dolphins (5-6): With Tua Tagovailoa healthy, they’re playing like playoff contenders.
9. Indianapolis Colts (5-7): Catching the Texans in the AFC South will be a gamble.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7): Probably needs to run the table to reach the playoffs.
11. Cleveland Browns (3-8): Deshaun Watson dug a hole that Jameis Winston the Browns won’t be able to dig out of.
12. New York Jets (3-8): Aaron Rodgers’ experience is trending toward disaster.
13. Tennessee Titans (3-8): A big upset over the Texans on Sunday.
14. New England Patriots (3-9): Drake Maye is showing promise, but this team is a long way from being in contention.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9): Doug Pederson is on the hot seat.
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9): Antonio Pierce is on the hot seat.
Clinch Scenarios
Buffalo notes (9-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-6); Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC
Buffalo takes the AFC East division title with:
-
BUF gain + MIA loss
Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9); Friday, 3pm ET, Prime Video
Kansas City has qualified for the playoffs:
-
KC win + MIA loss or draw
-
KC win + DEN loss
-
KC win + LAC loss + DEN draw
-
KC draw + MIA loss
NFC
Detroit Lions (10-1) vs. Chicago Bears (4-7); Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Detroit clinches a playoff berth with:
-
DET win + SF loss or draw + ARI loss or draw + SEA loss + TB loss or draw
-
DET win + SF loss or draw + ARI loss + SEA draw + TB loss or draw
-
DET win + SF loss or draw + ARI loss or draw + SEA loss + WAS loss or draw + ATL loss
-
DET win + SF loss or draw + ARI loss or draw + SEA loss + WAS loss + ATL draw
-
DET win + SF loss or draw + ARI loss + SEA draw + WAS loss or draw + ATL loss
-
DET win + SF loss or draw + ARI loss + SEA draw + WAS loss + ATL draw
Note: There are additional scenarios where Detroit can clinch a playoff spot with a tie and other outcomes where the Lions can leverage the power of a victory tiebreaker.
