(Getty)
Don’t look now, but the NFC East is back.
The division, which was won at 9-7 last year and hasn’t had a Wild Card team since 2009, is heavily involved in the NFC playoff picture.
The Cowboys were expected to contend, but have risen above expectations thanks to outstanding play from their rookies. Injuries to Tony Romo have plagued the team’s offense in past years, but Dallas will likely finish the season as the NFC’s top team. Their only loss this season is to the Giants, who have quietly won three straight games. They’ve lost to Washington, who have the sixth seed, and now that Philly has beaten the Falcons, the NFC East owns the Wild Card race.
In the AFC, the Raiders made a statement last week by beating the Broncos by double-digits. The AFC West is also crowding the playoff scene in November, as the Chargers, the division’s last-place team, are right in the mix at 4-5.
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. New England Patriots — 8-1
2. Oakland Raiders — 7-2
3. Houston Texans — 6-3
4. Baltimore Ravens — 5-4
The Wild Card Contenders:
5. Kansas City Chiefs — 7-2
6. Denver Broncos — 7-3
7. Miami Dolphins — 5-4
8. Pittsburgh Steelers — 4-5
Potential Wild Card Matchups:
Broncos at Texans
Chiefs at Ravens
NFC Seeding
The Division Leaders:
1. Dallas Cowboys — 8-1
2. Seattle Seahawks — 6-2-1
3. Atlanta Falcons — 6-4
4. Minnesota Vikings — 5-4
The Wild Card Contenders:
5. New York Giants — 5-3
6. Washington Redskins — 5-3-1
7. Detroit Lions — 5-4
8. New Orleans Saints — 4-5
Potential Wild Card Matchups:
Redskins at Falcons
Giants at Vikings