As the NFL comes to a close on the 12th week of its 17-week regular season, the teams that will advance to the playoffs and the teams that will be left out become clearer and clearer. It was nearly impossible to watch the NFL this weekend without hearing broadcasters discuss the teams who are in the playoffs and those who have been eliminated from the races.
However, there are still plenty of teams who could fall either way and are looking to solidify themselves a spot in the 2019 playoff run. This is a recap of the current standings for the playoffs.
AFC Wild Card
The AFC has been full of up-and-coming stars and major upsets, and some teams have fought through the mess better than others. However, in the AFC, some teams’ hope of a playoff spot have already come to an end.
At the moment, all teams are technically in with a shout of making the playoffs. But realistically, there are five teams that could be considered out of the race already. The New York Jets (3-8), Oakland Raiders (2-9) and the Cleveland Browns (4-6-1) stand on a hill too far from the wild card. The Buffalo Bills (4-7) and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8), both playoff contenders last season, join the group of teams who won’t be in the playoffs this year.
On the other end of success, a few teams are on track to secure a playoff spot. Both the New England Patriots (8-3) and the Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) are two wins away from securing a playoff berth. The Los Angeles Chargers (8-3), who are battling the Chiefs for the AFC West crown, are also likely to secure one of the wild card spots.
The AFC South is also highly contested for who will win the division. The Houston Texans currently hold the spot with an 8-3 record, but both the Indianapolis Colts (6-5) and the Tennessee Titans (5-6) are still within reach of taking the top spot.
The AFC North is in a similar situation with the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) holding the division lead, but the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) and the Baltimore Ravens (6-5) could win the division as well.
The Ravens are also currently the holder of the second wild card spot. However, their 6-5 record could easily be topped by the previously mentioned Colts, Titans and Bengals. The Miami Dolphins (5-6) and the Denver Broncos (5-6) are also still in the hunt.
NFC Wild Card
In the NFC, again no one is mathematically eliminated yet. Still, five teams are all but out. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7), Detroit Lions (4-7), New York Giants (3-8), Arizona Cardinals (2-9) and San Francisco 49ers (2-9) sit on the outer fringe of the playoff picture.
The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams are both in the midst of a great season, and the two 10-1 teams are only one win away from clinching their respective divisions. However, the rest of the divisions are a toss-up.
In the NFC North, the Chicago Bears (8-3) currently lead the division, but the Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1) are trailing close behind. The chances are slim, but the Green Bay Packers (4-6-1) are also in the hunt for a playoff spot. With their loss in Minneapolis, the Packers will not have a tiebreaker against the Vikings.
The NFC East is currently held by the Dallas Cowboys (6-5). They are trying to fend off last year’s Super Bowl winners, the Philadelphia Eagles (5-6), and the Washington Redskins (6-5). Every year there seems to be one division that no team wants to win. This year, it is the NFC East. Even the Giants have an outside chance of taking the division.
Both wild card spots are also up for grabs. The Vikings and Redskins hold the spots for the time being, but the Packers and Eagles are looking to lay claim. Three other teams, the Seattle Seahawks (6-5), Carolina Panthers (6-5) and the Atlanta Falcons (4-7), are also in the hunt for the NFC wild card spots.