NFL Playoff Picture 2017: Eagles, Steelers Have Top Seeds In Week 13

With the 2017 NFL regular season entering its final month, potential postseason contenders are quickly falling out of the playoff picture. Eight NFC teams either hold a playoff spot or are one-game out of the wild-card race in Week 13, while 10 teams have that distinction in the AFC.

No one has officially clinched a playoff berth, but several first-place teams have all but wrapped up their divisions. The Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) have the NFL’s best record, and they can win the NFC East Sunday. The New England Patriots (9-2) are going to win the AFC East, as they always do. The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2) and Minnesota Vikings (9-2) have a commanding three-game lead in the AFC North and NFC North, respectively.

For those four teams, the remainder of the regular season will be about securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage until Super Bowl LII. The Patriots visit the Steelers in Week 15 in a game that could determine the AFC’s top seed.

The AFC South and NFC South are up for grabs between teams that would make the playoffs if the postseason started in Week 13. The Tennessee Titans (7-4) and Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) could be playing for the division when they meet in the regular-season finale. Four head-to-head meetings among the New Orleans Saints (8-3), Carolina Panthers (8-3) and Atlanta Falcons (7-4) will determine which team finishes in first place.

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) have a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Chargers (5-6) and Oakland Raiders (5-6) in the AFC West. The Los Angeles Rams (8-3) lead the NFC West by a game over the Seattle Seahawks (7-4).

Seattle has the same record as Atlanta, but the Falcons are the NFC’s No.6 seed because they defeated the Seahawks head-to-head. The Detroit Lions (6-5) are the only team that’s a game out of the second NFC wild-card spot. The Washington Redskins (5-6), Dallas Cowboys (5-6), Green Bay Packers (5-6) and Arizona Cardinals (5-6) would all likely need to win out in order to reach the playoffs.

The AFC wild-card picture is much more up in the air. Jacksonville is the No.5 seed with Tennessee holding the current tiebreaker in the division. The Baltimore Ravens (6-5) own the second wild-card spot, though the Buffalo Bills (6-5) are right there with them. In addition to the Chargers and Raiders, the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) are also a game out of the postseason.

The New York Jets (4-7), Miami Dolphins (4-7) and Houston Texans (4-7) are all two games back.

NFC Playoff Picture

1) Philadelphia Eagles

2) Minnesota Vikings

3) Los Angeles Rams

4) New Orleans Saints

5) Carolina Panthers

6) Atlanta Falcons

AFC Playoff Picture

1) Pittsburgh Steelers

2) New England Patriots

3) Tennessee Titans

4) Kansas City Chiefs

5) Jacksonville Jaguars

6) Baltimore Ravens