NFL Standings 2017: Raiders, Falcons Out Of Postseason, Steelers Lead Playoff Picture

Some of the usual suspects are at the top of the 2017 NFL standings at the start of Week 14 with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers tied for the AFC’s best record. The story is a little bit different in the NFC, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings both have 10 wins.

Neither Minnesota nor Philadelphia made the playoffs a year ago. None of the NFC’s four division leaders made last year’s postseason, nor did the current AFC South leader. The Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders are tied atop the AFC West after finishing last season the same way, but they have some company in the Los Angeles Chargers.

Nine teams are realistically in the AFC playoff picture. There is a clear top seven in the NFC, though there are three teams hanging around at two games out of the postseason race. While it might be a long shot for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions to actually make a run to the playoffs, the looming return of Aaron Rodgers makes the Green Bay Packers a real threat.

Green Bay, Dallas and Houston are the only defending division champions that have virtually no chance to finish the season in first place. The Texans are out of the playoff race completely, having gone 1-5 in games not started by Deshaun Watson.

The defending NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons are one game out of the postseason. Their Week 14 matchup with the New Orleans Saints on “Thursday Night Football” will be especially crucial to their playoff hopes. It’s Atlanta’s first meeting with New Orleans, whom they trail by two games in the NFC South.

The Carolina Panthers are in the mix for the NFC South title, though two losses to the Saints might be what ultimately ends their chances of winning the division. The AFC South could be decided in the Week 17 contest between the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

AFC Playoff Picture

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2)

2) New England Patriots (10-2)

3) Tennessee Titans (8-4)

4) Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

5) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)

6) Baltimore Ravens (7-5)

7) Los Angeles Chargers (6-6)

8) Buffalo Bills (6-6)

9) Oakland Raiders (6-6)

10) New York Jets (5-7)

NFC Playoff Picture

1) Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

2) Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)

3) Los Angeles Rams (9-3)

4) New Orleans Saints (9-3)

5) Seattle Seahawks (8-4)

6) Carolina Panthers (8-4)

7) Atlanta Falcons (7-5)

8) Detroit Lions (6-6)

9) Green Bay Packers (6-6)

10) Dallas Cowboys (6-6)