With an expanded playoff field in the 2020 NFL season, only one-third of the league is more than two games out of contention entering Week 11. A few teams with losing records are climbing up the standings and making a push to enter the postseason picture.

The Minnesota Vikings (4-5) find themselves fighting for a playoff berth, despite losing five of their first six games. By defeating the Chicago Bears (5-5) on Monday night, Minnesota pulled to within two games of an NFC wild-card berth with a favorable upcoming schedule.

The Vikings host the Dallas Cowboys (2-7), Carolina Panthers (3-7) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8) in their next three games. Minnesota is expected to be favored in each contest.

The New York Giants (3-7) have a real shot to make the playoffs in a historically weak division. In Week 10, New York upset the Philadelphia Eagles (3-5-1), who are barely holding onto first place in the NFC East. Even Dallas and the Washington Football Team (2-7) are very much in the race.

The NFC West is the polar opposite of the NFC East. The Arizona Cardinals (6-3) are in first place after Week 10. Arizona has the same record as the Los Angeles Rams (6-3) and Seattle Seahawks (6-3), who currently own two of the conference’s three-wild card berths.

Seattle hosts Arizona Thursday night.

The Week 10 “Thursday Night Football” matchup shook up a divisional race when the Indianapolis Colts (6-3) beat the Tennessee Titans (6-3). Indianapolis took over first place in the AFC South. Tennessee would miss the postseason if the playoffs started in Week 11.

Six AFC teams have a 6-3 record. The latest tiebreaker scenarios have Tennessee and the Cleveland Browns (6-3) out of the playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens (6-3) are the AFC’s No.7 seed and final playoff team.

Baltimore is in danger of falling out of the AFC North race. The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-0) have a three-game lead for first place as the NFL’s only undefeated team.

The Kansas City Chiefs (8-1) are two games ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders (6-3) in the AFC West. The defending Super Bowl champs can take another step toward clinching the division title when they visit Las Vegas Sunday.

The Buffalo Bills (7-3), Green Bay Packers (7-2) and New Orleans Saints (7-2) are the NFL’s other division leaders in Week 11.

Dalvin Cook Vikings Titans
Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
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