NFL Playoff Picture 2019: Patriots, Ravens, 49ers, Packers Have First-Round Byes After Week 11

The top of the 2019 NFL playoff picture remains unchanged after Week 11. The AFC’s two best teams have separated themselves from the rest of the conference. Several teams still have a real shot to earn a first-round bye in the NFC.

The New England Patriots (9-1) defeated the Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) Sunday afternoon to maintain the No.1 seed in the AFC. The Baltimore Ravens (8-2) defeated the Houston Texans (6-4) handily, taking a two-game lead over the team that had been their biggest competition for the No.2 seed.

Baltimore owns the tiebreaker over New England because the Ravens beat the Patriots in Week 9.

The San Francisco 49ers (9-1) remain tied for the best record in the NFL with a narrow victory over the Arizona Cardinals (3-7-1). The win put San Francisco a game ahead of the Green Bay Packers (8-2), who kept the NFC’s No.2 seed during their Week 11 bye.

San Francisco will host Green Bay in Week 12.

Five NFC teams are within 1.5 games of a playoff bye. The New Orleans Saints (8-2) are running away with the NFC South. The Seattle Seahawks (8-2) are the only team that’s beaten the 49ers, and they could get a top-two seed by winning the NFC West. The Minnesota Vikings (8-3) came back from a 20-point halftime deficit against the Denver Broncos (3-7) in Week 11, putting them a half-game behind the Packers in the NFC North before their Week 12 bye.

The Dallas Cowboys (6-4) are the only division leader that is unlikely to compete for a bye. Dallas took a one-game lead in the NFC East by defeating the Detroit Lions (3-6-1) before Philadelphia lost to New England.

The Los Angeles Rams (6-4) are the No.7 seed. No one else in the NFC has fewer than five losses.

Unlike the NFC, all of the drama in the AFC comes after the top two seeds. It’s very likely that New England and Baltimore will each earn a postseason bye. The rest of the playoff picture is constantly changing.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) regained first place in the NFC South over the Texans by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) Sunday. Indianapolis will visit Houston on “Thursday Night Football” in a game that could ultimately decide the division winner.

Houston is the No.6 seed, though they are in the postseason by the slimmest of margins. The Texans have the same record as the Oakland Raiders (6-4), who beat the winless Cincinnati Bengals (0-10) Sunday. Houston owns the tiebreaker over Oakland because of a head-to-head victory in Week 8.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) and Tennessee Titans (5-5) are both a game out of the wild-card race. Pittsburgh lost to the Cleveland Browns (4-6) Thursday. Tennessee was on a bye.

The Buffalo Bills (7-3) are the AFC’s No.5 seed. They’ll have to survive a difficult schedule over the final six weeks in order to hold on to the first wild-card spot.

“Monday Night Football” will determine if there’s a new team atop the AFC West in Week 12. The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) and Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) will meet in Mexico City before both teams go on a Week 12 bye.

Kansas City was considered the biggest threat to New England when the season began. Now, the Chiefs are more likely to be overtaken by the Raiders in the AFC West than they are to get a bye.