NFL Playoff Picture: Where the Minnesota Vikings and the Rest of the NFL Stand through 12 Weeks

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Nov 26, 2024
Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images.

Folks, Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and that means playoff football is rapidly approaching in the NFL.

From here on out, many teams will be playing games that will be crucial for them in their pursuit of a playoff spot this January. With Week 12 officially in the books, here is a look at the NFL playoff picture heading into Week 13.

AFC Playoff Picture

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

AFC East

  1. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
  2. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
  3. New York Jets (3-8)
  4. New England Patriots (3-9)

The Buffalo Bills enjoyed their bye week with few worries considering they are just a couple wins away from officially sealing the AFC East race for the fifth straight season. However, the Miami Dolphins are proving that they cannot be slept on in the AFC after their third consecutive win.

AFC North

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
  4. Cleveland Browns (3-8)

Chaos remains possible at the top of the NFC after the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns in the first snow game of the season last Thursday. The Baltimore Ravens then proceeded to bookend Week 12 with a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.

AFC South

  1. Houston Texans (7-5)
  2. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)
  3. Tennessee Titans (3-8)
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

The Indianapolis Colts were handed a golden opportunity to gain a game in the AFC South after the Houston Texans fell to the Tennessee Titans. However, Indy faced an impossible task of defeating the Detroit Lions this weekend. As a result, Houston’s lead remains at two games as well as a tiebreaker over the Colts.

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
  2. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
  3. Denver Broncos (7-5)
  4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

While it wasn’t a pretty performance against the Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs secured a 10-win season for the 10th consecutive year. With the Chargers losing to the Ravens, it seems that any possible mystery in the AFC West race is all but over.

AFC Playoff Seeds

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
  2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
  4. Houston Texans (7-5)
  5. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
  7. Denver Broncos (7-5)

There was a shift in the AFC playoff seeding this weekend as the Ravens jumped the Chargers due to their Monday Night Football victory. The Steelers are thanking their lucky stars that their loss to Cleveland hasn’t brought the Texans any closer to the No. 3 seed.

NFC Playoff Picture

NFL Playoff Picture
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

NFC East

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
  2. Washington Commanders (7-5)
  3. Dallas Cowboys (4-7)
  4. New York Giants (2-8)

The wheels are starting to fall off a bit in Washington after a third consecutive heartbreaking loss for the Commanders. After leading the NFC East for the first half of the year, they are now 2.5 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles who are on a roll.

NFC North

  1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
  2. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
  3. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
  4. Chicago Bears (4-7)

Things remain largely unchanged in the NFC North race as all three of the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers won this weekend. The only change is the Chicago Bears continue to fall further out of the playoff hunt with a fifth consecutive loss.

NFC South

  1. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
  3. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
  4. Carolina Panthers (3-8)

It is a very steady hierarchy in the NFC South with three games separating the four teams in the division. Both Atlanta and New Orleans were on their byes this week, so Tampa Bay was able to solidify themselves in second place and a game behind the Falcons with a big win over the New York Giants.

NFC West

  1. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
  2. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
  3. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)

Chaos continues to reign supreme in the NFC West, and we have a new leader emerging from the scuffle after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Meanwhile, both Los Angeles and San Francisco suffered ugly losses against NFC opponents, which could play a role in tiebreakers at the end of the year.

NFC Playoff Seeds

  1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
  2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
  3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
  4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
  5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
  6. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
  7. Washington Commanders (7-5)

The Seahawks were the big winners of the weekend in the NFC as they not only jumped into the playoff picture, but they also took over the No. 3 seed in the conference after their win against the Cardinals and due to their head-to-head tiebreaker against the Atlanta Falcons. Otherwise, the NFC playoff picture remains unchanged from last week.

Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.

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