NFL Playoff Picture: Where the Minnesota Vikings and the Rest of the NFL Stands through 13 Weeks
The NFL regular season is officially into its final stretch.
It is hard to believe, but there are just five weeks that separate us from playoff football and a road that will crown one team as Super Bowl champions of this 2024 campaign. With 13 weeks of the season now behind us, and the Minnesota Vikings coming off a fifth consecutive win against the Arizona Cardinals, here is a look at the NFL playoff picture across the league.
AFC Playoff Picture
AFC East
- Buffalo Bills (10-2)
- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
- New York Jets (3-9)
- New England Patriots (3-10)
The Buffalo Bills became the second team in the NFL to clinch a playoff berth after a dominant 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. They also were the first team to clinch a division after all three of their counterparts in the AFC East lost this past weekend.
AFC North
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Cleveland Browns (3-9)
After a shootout win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers proved they can win games in a number of different ways. This team needs to be taken seriously come January because they are now just a couple wins away from ensuring they will be in the mix once again. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s screws may be coming loose after a very disappointing showing against the Philadelphia Eagles.
AFC South
- Houston Texans (8-5)
- Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
- Tennessee Titans (3-9)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
The Houston Texans escaped a division matchup against the the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend, and it proved to be a crucial win after the Indianapolis Colts also toppled the New England Patriots. Had Houston lost, their lead in the AFC South would have dwindled down to one game, but instead, they still have a decent cushion moving into the home stretch.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Denver Broncos (8-5)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
Another week, another squeaker of a win for the Kansas City Chiefs. Once again, they really needed it as well as they continue to fend off the surging Los Angeles Chargers who have won six of their eight games since their bye week. As you will see in a moment, the AFC West currently holds three of the seven playoff spots in the conference, marking a significant turnaround for what has become a very competitive group of teams.
AFC Playoff Seeds
- Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
- Buffalo Bills (10-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
- Houston Texans (8-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
- Denver Broncos (8-5)
It continues to be a shuffle of the Wild Card teams in the AFC with the divisional races all being separated by multiple games at this point. This week, the Chargers reclaimed their spot at No. 5 after Baltimore’s loss, and all of a sudden, the Denver Broncos are in striking distance of the Ravens as well after evening their records heading into their bye weeks.
NFC Playoff Picture
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
- Washington Commanders (8-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (5-7)
- New York Giants (2-10)
Philadelphia proved that they once again belong in the group of Super Bowl contenders after they dominated the Baltimore Ravens this past weekend. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders are heading into their bye week on a positive note after a much-needed blowout win over the Tennessee Titans. Washington got to release some of their frustrations from recent weeks on an inferior opponent, and now, they get to rest up before one final push to get into the playoffs.
NFC North
- Detroit Lions (11-1)
- Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
- Green Bay Packers (9-3)
- Chicago Bears (4-8)
The NFC North (well, other than the Chicago Bears) just keeps on winning. All three of the top teams in the division won once again this weekend, meaning each of Detroit, Minnesota, and Green Bay have won at least three games in a row. That will quickly change this week when Detroit and Green Bay meet on the Thursday Night Football stage.
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
- New Orleans Saints (4-8)
- Carolina Panthers (3-9)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming for the top of the NFC South standings and doing so very quickly. They escaped a win over the Carolina Panthers in overtime this weekend, and as a result of the Atlanta Falcons’ putrid showing against the Chargers, they are now even in the division standings. Tampa needs to gain the sole lead in the division to win though seeing as Atlanta has defeated them twice this season.
NFC West
- Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
- Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
- Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
- San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
The NFC West is coming up all Seattle Seahawks right now after they took over sole control of the division with their win and Arizona’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings this past weekend. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers continue to fall further behind the pace after their loss to the Bills. San Francisco essentially needs to win out if they want to have any hope of a playoff berth.
NFC Playoff Seeds
- Detroit Lions (11-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
- Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
- Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
- Green Bay Packers (10-3)
- Washington Commanders (8-5)
The NFC playoff seeds remain unchanged from last week, but there could be big changes on the horizon with a meeting between the Lions and Packers in just a couple days. The Washington Commanders are also on their bye this week, but they will be watching very intently this weekend with the Cardinals, Buccaneers, and Rams nipping at their heels for the final Wild Card spot.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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