NFL Playoff Picture Week 12: Standings & Potential Wild Card Matchups

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The AFC West is putting the Wild Card out of reach.

With 10 weeks to go until Super Bowl LI, the playoff picture is taking shape. In the AFC, the teams from the West have taken over the playoff scene. It starts at the top, where the Raiders have temporarily unseated the Patriots as the AFC’s top seed.

The Raiders advanced to 9-2 on Sunday, outlasting a furious Panthers comeback to win 35-32. Derek Carr had Raider Nation holding their breath after leaving the game with a finger injury, but came back to lead his team to victory. Most encouraging was the performance of Khalil Mack, who struggled early this season but had a great game against Cam Newton.

The Chiefs and Broncos are right behind Oakland, and their nearly identical records put them atop the Wild Card race. There’s so little between these teams that they almost played to another tie on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs scored a narrow victory over Denver, but have a difficult schedule remaining if they want to hold down the fifth seed.

While the AFC West teams take care of themselves, other teams lurk in the wings. The Ravens and Steelers are hanging around, and whoever loses out on the North will challenge for the Wild Card. The Dolphins are also still there, but will face a tough test when they run the division to end the season.

For a full list of NFL tiebreaking procedures, click here.

Here’s how the early playoff standings look right now:


AFC Seeding

The Division Leaders:

1. Oakland Raiders — 8-2
2. New England Patriots — 9-2
3. Houston Texans — 6-5
4. Pittsburgh Steelers — 6-5

The Wild Card Contenders:

5. Kansas City Chiefs — 8-3
6. Denver Broncos — 7-4
7. Miami Dolphins — 7-4
8. Baltimore Ravens — 6-5

Potential Wild Card Matchups:

Broncos at Texans

Chiefs at Steelers


NFC Seeding

The Division Leaders:

1. Dallas Cowboys — 10-1
2. Seattle Seahawks — 7-3-1
3. Detroit Lions — 7-4
4. Atlanta Falcons — 7-4

The Wild Card Contenders:

5. New York Giants — 8-3
6. Washington Redskins — 6-4
7. Minnesota Vikings — 6-5
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 5-6

Potential Wild Card Matchups:

Giants at Falcons

Redskins at Lions


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