The NFL playoff picture went off the rails in Week 13, thanks to a few significant results in both conferences. In a battle between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, both teams tied after five quarters of play -- leaving the door open for the Seattle Seahawks to have a leg up on the race.
The race for home-field advantage in the AFC heated up with the Kansas City Chiefs falling to the Cincinnati Bengals, as the Buffalo Bills took over the No. 1 seed. The Bills also took over the AFC East lead as the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins lost. The Baltimore Ravens retained first place in the AFC North after Cincinnati's big victory.
This first weekend of December provided plenty of fireworks in the playoff races. Below, you can find a division-by-division breakdown of the current standings and what each contender is facing on their schedule the rest of the way.
AFC East
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 124 |
Dolphins | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 10 |
7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 29 | |
6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 23 |
Buffalo Bills
What to know: The Bills are back on top of the AFC East thanks to their win over the Patriots and the Dolphins and Jets losing Sunday. Buffalo also took over the No. 1 seed in the AFC with Kansas City losing. The Bills hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, vs. Dolphins, at Bears, at Bengals, vs. Patriots
Miami Dolphins
What to know: The Dolphins fell out of the AFC East lead with the loss to the 49ers. Miami is the No. 6 seed in the AFC, as Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker for the No. 5 seed based on head-to-head win percentage.
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, at Bills, vs. Packers, at Patriots, vs. Jets
New York Jets
What to know: Even with the loss to the Vikings, the Jets are still the No. 7 seed in the AFC. New York leads Los Angeles and New England by a game for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Bills, vs. Lions, vs. Jaguars, at Seahawks, at Dolphins
New England Patriots
What to know: The Patriots are currently the No. 8 seed in the AFC, one game behind the Chargers for the final playoff spot. They hold the tiebreaker over the Chargers based on best win percentage in conference games.
Remaining schedule: at Cardinals, at Raiders, vs. Bengals, vs. Dolphins, at Bills
AFC North
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 49 | |
8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 57 | |
5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | -10 | |
5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | -64 |
Baltimore Ravens
What to know: The Ravens still lead the AFC North with their win over the Broncos. Baltimore is the No. 3 need in the AFC, one game behind the Bills and Chiefs for the top spot in the conference. The Ravens did lose to the Bills earlier this season.
Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Browns, vs. Falcons, vs. Steelers, at Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
What to know: The Bengals are tied with the Ravens for first in the AFC North, but lost the head-to-head tiebreaker to Baltimore. Cincinnati is the No. 5 seed in the AFC standings, two games up on the final playoff spot. They also beat Miami earlier this year for the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, at Buccaneers, at Patriots, vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
Cleveland Browns
What to know: The Browns are the No. 11 seed in the AFC, two games out of the final playoff spot. The Raiders, Browns, and Steelers have the same record, but the Browns have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Steelers. The Raiders have the tiebreaker over the Browns based on better win percentage in conference games.
Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Ravens, vs. Saints, at Commanders, at Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
What to know: The Steelers are the No. 12 seed in the AFC, losing the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Browns. They are two games out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Falcons, vs. Ravens, at Panthers, vs. Raiders, at Ravens, vs. Browns
AFC South
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | -21 | |
4 | 8 | 1 | .346 | -89 | |
4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | -14 | |
e- Texans | 1 | 10 | 1 | .125 | -99 |
e - eliminated from playoffs
Tennessee Titans
What to know: The Titans still have command of the AFC South and are in firm position of the No. 4 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Chargers, vs. Texans, vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts
What to know: The Colts are three games behind the Titans in the loss column and were swept by Tennessee. They are the No. 13 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: Bye, at Vikings, vs. Chargers, at Giants, vs. Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
What to know: The Jaguars are three games behind the Titans in the AFC South. They are the No. 14 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: at Titans, vs. Cowboys, at Jets, at Texans, vs. Titans
Houston Texans
What to know: The Texans are eliminated from playoff contention and have the worst record in the NFL.
Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Chiefs, at Titans, vs. Jaguars, at Colts
AFC West
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 80 | |
6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | -37 | |
Raiders | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | -4 |
3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | -38 |
Kansas City Chiefs
What to know: The Chiefs are still in full command of the AFC West, but fall to the No. 2 seed in the AFC with the loss to the Bengals. The Bills hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs for the top spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Texans, vs. Seahawks, vs. Broncos, at Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
What to know: The Chargers' loss to the Raiders significantly hurt their playoff chances. Los Angeles is the No. 9 seed in the conference, one game behind New York for the final spot. The Patriots have the better win percentage in conference games, which is the tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Rams, at Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
What to know: The Raiders are still alive in the AFC playoff race thanks to a three-game win streak, two games out of the final playoff spot. The Raiders, Browns, and Steelers have the same record, but the Browns have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Steelers. The Raiders (No. 10 seed) have the tiebreaker over the Browns based on better win percentage in conference games.
Remaining schedule: at Rams, vs. Patriots, at Steelers, vs. 49ers, vs. Chiefs
Denver Broncos
What to know: The Broncos have the second-worst record in the AFC and are 15th in the conference standings.
Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, vs. Cardinals, at Rams, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
NFC East
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | 112 | |
Cowboys | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 127 |
Giants | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | -7 |
7 | 5 | 1 | .577 | -3 |
Philadelphia Eagles
What to know: The Eagles are still in control of home-field advantage in the NFC. They lead the Vikings by one game with the head-to-head tiebreaker and the Cowboys by two games in the NFC East with the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: at Giants, at Bears, at Cowboys, vs. Saints, vs. Giants
Dallas Cowboys
What to know: The Cowboys are 2.5 games up on the final playoff spot. Dallas is entrenched as the No. 5 seed in the NFC, two games behind Philadelphia with the head-to-head tiebreaker belonging to the Eagles.
Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Jaguars, vs. Eagles, at Titans, at Commanders
New York Giants
What to know: The tie doesn't hurt the Giants, who are the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff race. New York is still up a half-game over Washington for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Commanders, at Vikings, vs. Colts, at Eagles
Washington Commanders
What to know: The Commanders fell out of the final playoff spot thanks to their tie with the Giants and the Seahawks winning this week. Washington is a half game out of the final playoff spot as the No. 8 seed.
Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Giants, at 49ers, vs. Browns, vs. Cowboys
NFC North
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 10 | |
Lions | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | -9 |
Packers | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | -39 |
e-Bears | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | -63 |
e - eliminated from playoffs
Minnesota Vikings
What to know: The Vikings are the No. 2 seed in the NFC, one game behind the Eagles -- but Philadelphia has the head-to-head tiebreaker. Minnesota can clinch the NFC North next week.
Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Colts, vs. Giants, at Packers, at Bears
Detroit Lions
What to know: The Lions are still alive in the NFC playoff race, sitting two games behind the Seahawks for the final playoff spot. They are the No. 9 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Jets, at Panthers, vs. Bears, at Packers
Green Bay Packers
What to know: The Packers are the No. 11 seed in the NFC heading into their bye. They are three games behind the Seahawks in the loss column for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Vikings, vs. Lions
Chicago Bears
What to know: The Bears have the worst record in the NFC heading into their bye. They have been eliminated from playoff competition.
Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Eagles, vs. Bills, at Lions, vs. Vikings
NFC South
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | -2 | |
5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | -24 | |
Panthers | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | -36 |
Saints | 4 | 9 | 0 | .307 | -32 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What to know: The Buccaneers took a commanding lead in the division thanks to their comeback win over the Saints on Monday, leading the Falcons by 1.5 games.
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Bengals, at Cardinals, vs. Panthers, at Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
What to know: The Falcons trail the Buccaneers in the division and are three games behind the Seahawks in the loss column for the final playoff spot in the NFC. They are the No. 10 seed in the conference, holding a strength of victory tiebreaker over the Packers.
Remaining schedule: Bye, at Saints, at Ravens, vs. Cardinals, vs. Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers
What to know: The Panthers had a bye week in Week 13. They hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Saints and are the No. 13 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Steelers, vs. Lions, at Buccaneers, at Saints
New Orleans Saints
What to know: The Saints are 2.5 games behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South after their late-game collapse. Up next is the bye week.
Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Falcons, at Browns, at Eagles, vs. Panthers
NFC West
| W | L | T | PCT | DIFF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 92 |
Seahawks | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 14 |
4 | 7 | 0 | .333 | -57 | |
3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | -79 |
San Francisco 49ers
What to know: The 49ers kept their NFC West lead with a win over the Dolphins. They are the No. 3 seed in the conference, two games behind the Vikings for the No. 2 seed.
Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Seahawks, vs. Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks
What to know: The Seahawks take over the No. 7 seed in the NFC and the final playoff spot with their win and the Commanders tie. Seattle leads Washington by a half game for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. 49ers, at Chiefs, vs. Jets, vs. Rams
Arizona Cardinals
What to know: The Cardinals had a bye this week. Their head-to-head win over Carolina gives Arizona the No. 12 seed in the NFC.
Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Broncos, vs. Buccaneers, at Falcons, at 49ers
Los Angeles Rams
What to know: The Rams are the No. 15 seed in the NFC, four games out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Packers, vs. Broncos, at Chargers, at Seahawks
