Playoff Picture: Panthers close in on clinching playoff spot
The playoff picture has begun to form as the NFL enter's the final quarter of the regular season. While several divisions appear set, the races for the wild-card spots in both conferences are still wide open.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patriots | East | 10-1 |
| 2 | Bengals | North | 9-2 |
| 3 | Broncos | West | 9-2 |
| 4 | Colts | South | 6-5 |
| 5 | Chiefs | West | 6-5 |
| 6 | Texans | South | 6-5 |
The Patriots, Bengals, and Broncos aren't yet mathematically guaranteed of division titles, but all three should lock up their respective divisions soon. The Colts and Texans' fight for the AFC South should go down to the wire, with both finding such a groove in recent weeks that the loser is in with a chance of a wild-card spot. The Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in the league, riding a five-game winning streak back into playoff contention.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Jets | East | 6-5 |
| 8 | Steelers | North | 6-5 |
| 9 | Raiders | West | 5-6 |
| 10 | Bills | East | 5-6 |
The AFC wild-card race is dominated by teams that have hovered around .500 all year long. The Steelers appeared like the safest bet to take one of the spots, but a loss to Seattle and a concussion to Ben Roethlisberger has brought them back to the pack. The Jets, Bills, and Raiders have all struggled for consistency this season, and all will need to find it soon if they are to sustain a run at making a wild-card spot.
There are six other AFC teams with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panthers | South | 11-0 |
| 2 | Cardinals | West | 9-2 |
| 3 | Vikings | North | 8-3 |
| 4 | Redskins | East | 5-6 |
| 5 | Packers | North | 7-4 |
| 6 | Seahawks | West | 6-5 |
The undefeated Panthers can already start looking towards January and sealing that No. 1 seed. The Cardinals also have a comfortable lead in their division, but the Seahawks are always dangerous, even three games behind. The Packers and Vikings have traded first place in the NFC North in recent weeks, with the division likely coming down to their Week 17 matchup. The Redskins have momentarily emerged from the disappointing NFC East with a victory over the Giants, but with this division's history, it'll likely take several twists and turns before the regular season is done.
In the hunt
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Falcons | South | 6-5 |
| 8 | Buccaneers | South | 5-6 |
| 9 | Giants | East | 5-6 |
| 10 | Bears | North | 5-6 |
The Falcons are in free fall, and will need to right the ship quickly if they are to stay in contention. The Bucs missed out on a chance to continue their momentum with a loss to the Colts, while next week's game against Atlanta could doom the loser of the contest. The Giants are still right in the thick of the race for the NFC East, but a difficult schedule compared to the Redskins could damper their chances. The resurgent Bears' only realistic chance for the playoffs is via the wild card, but an offense that is finally returning to health could be up to the challenge.
There are six other NFC teams with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs.