Going into the NFL week 13 the race for playoff spots is becoming easier to plot, with most of the action happening in the wild card slots.
In the NFC the Eagles, at 10-1 can become the first team to qualify if they defeated the 49ers this weekend, while San Francisco at 8-3 can go a long way to book their spot with a win.
Another NFC contender is the 8-3 Detroit Lions.
The 5-6 Falcons is the fourth divisional leader sharing the win ratio with the Saints in a poorly contested NFC South conference.
The wildcard places in the NFC are currently the 8-3 Cowboys who can make a serious play when they take in the next ranked Seattle Seahawks (6-5) tonight.
The Vikings currently hold rank number seven at 6-6 but could be caught by the Packers who are 5-6.
Two other teams, the Rams and the Saints sit at 5-6.
There are four teams with outside chances of making a run, but they all need to win the rest of their games to stand a chance. Sitting at 4-8 are the Buccaneers, Giants, Bears and Commanders.
Two teams battling it out for the highest 2024 draft pick are the 2-10 Cardinals and the 1-10 Panthers, who this week fired their coach, Frank Reich.
In the AFC the race for first is between a clutch of teams including the 9-3 Ravens and a trio of 8-3 teams in the Chiefs, Jaguars and Dolphins.
The two best placed wild card teams are the 7-4 Steelers and Cleveland Browns with the Colts at 6-5 also contenders.
The AFC looks tougher than the NFC with a bunch of teams still in with a shout, as the 6-5 Texans, helped by rookie CJ Stroud and the 6-5 Broncos still showing life. Never discount the 6-6 Bills, who took the Eagles to overtime in week 12.
It looks bleaker for the 5-6 Bengals, especially after losing star quarterback Joe Burrow to a serious injury in week 12.
The Raiders, also with an interim coach are at 5-7 while Chargers, Titans, Jets and Patriots left to eke out the also ran positions.
Seven teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs with the best sides enjoying much needed bye, ensuring less chances of injuries and more rest for players carrying knocks.
The teams are then seeded according to their records.
AFC DIVISION LEADERS
1. Ravens (9-3): Currently leading the pack for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
2. Chiefs (8-3): Great head-to-head record against the Jaguars and the Dolphins. Defending Super champions.
3. Jaguars (8-3): Are third due to tiebreaker win over the Dolphins.
4. Dolphins (8-3): Boast a 2.5-game lead in the AFC East.
WILD CARDS
5. Steelers (7-4): Have a tiebreaker over the Browns.
6. Browns (6-5): question mark at quarterback but still in the race.
7. Colts (6-5): Indianapolis has tiebreaker over Denver and Houston.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Texans (6-5): Have a tiebreaker over the Broncos.
9. Broncos (6-5): With five wins on the trot Surprisingly back in playoff contention.
10. Bills (6-6): One of the seven best teams in the conference.
11. Bengals (5-6): Injury to star QB Joe Burrow likely smothered their chances.
12. Raiders (5-7): Interim coach Antonio Pierce needs a run of big wins.
13. Chargers (4-7): Brandon Staley now in a fight for his job rather than playoff hunting.
14. Titans (4-7): A case of too little, too late.
15. Jets (4-7): amazingly Aaron Rodgers is returning to practice but will need another miracle to see the team make the playoffs.
16. Patriots (2-9): Bottom of the pile and likely to stay there.
NFC
DIVISION LEADERS
1. Eagles (10-1): Brotherly Love Jason Kelce led team are favorites to finish first and will look to go further than a Superbowl appearance this time out.
2. 49ers (8-3): Own tiebreaker win over Lions and have a better record in NFC games.
3. Lions (8-3): Lead the NFC North by 2.5 games and look in fine form.
4. Falcons (5-6): Leads a weak division by a narrow margin but owns the tiebreaker over the Saints.
WILD CARDS
5. Cowboys (8-3): Clear leaders in the wild card race but may not catch the Eagles.
6. Seahawks (6-5): Vital TNF match against the Cowboys in wild card race.
7. Vikings (6-6): Still in with a chance despite the injuries to Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8. Packers (5-6): New England beat both the Rams and the Saints in head-to-head.
9. Rams (5-6): Are in a good spot with the tiebreaker over the Saints based on conference record.
10. Saints (5-6): Week 12 loss to the Falcons was costly. May rue it.
11. Buccaneers (4-7): Only one game out in the weak NFC South.
12. Giants (4-8): Going nowhere fast despite late rally, under Brian Daboll.
13. Bears (4-8): Starting to play well, but no comeback playoff contention on the cards.
14. Commanders (4-8): Off season rebuild on the cards.
15. Cardinals (2-10): 2024 NFL draft watchers.
16. Panthers (1-10): Coach less, toothless and looking for seventh HC in six years
