NFL playoff image: How Week 12 outcomes affect the AFC, NFC standings

With a the Buffalo Payments on a bye, an enormous Thursday Evening Soccer sport, a Sunday night time contest that includes two NFC playoff hopefuls, and a Monday night time sport that includes two AFC playoff groups, Sunday afternoon felt a bit gentle so far as the NFL Playoff Image was involved, however the endings of those video games had been completely insane.

The Houston Texans misplaced to the Tennessee Titans after their kicker missed a chip shot to tie, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs received within the final seconds, the Chicago Bears improbably pressured time beyond regulation in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, and the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders scored 4 touchdowns within the final three minutes however missed further factors determined the result.

On the prime of the NFC, the Detroit Lions continued their successful methods, changing into the primary 10-win workforce within the NFL in 2024 earlier than they had been joined by the Chiefs.

The Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings proceed pushing the Lions, only one sport again within the NFC and NFC North, respectively. Philly has received seven straight after their convincing Sunday night time victory.

The Seattle Seahawks leapt into third place by defeating the Arizona Cardinals and the fourth-place Atlanta Falcons held regular on their bye due to a head-to-head loss to Seattle. The Cardinals went from third place to out of the playoff image fully as the one workforce within the NFL with a successful file that doesn’t maintain a playoff spot.

Within the NFC Wild Card, the Vikings at 9-2 management the place whereas the Inexperienced Bay Packers received in convincing vogue to stay at sixth. The Washington Commanders had a golden alternative in opposition to the Cowboys backups however couldn’t seal the deal, and at the moment are only a half-game from being out of the playoff image fully.

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns in a snow globe, and the remainder of the AFC was watching with bated breath. The Steelers entered the week in third place within the AFC and they’ll go away in third place, however the door opened for a number of groups with their loss.

With the Pittsburgh loss, the Buffalo Payments opened up a full sport lead over the Steelers for second place within the convention. The highest 4 seeds within the AFC can’t change, because the Chiefs, Payments, Steelers, and Texans are additionally locked into fourth this week.

The Ravens and Chargers play on Monday night time, so there will certainly be motion within the AFC Wild Card. The Broncos received to carry regular.

Listed here are the present NFL playoff standings and the division standings are under.

Be aware: Within the standings under, solely the pertinent tiebreakers are listed. Groups marked with an asterisk have been eradicated from successful their division.

AFC standings throughout Week 12

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (10-1)
2. Buffalo Payments (9-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
4. Houston Texans (7-5)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
7. Denver Broncos (7-5)
8. Miami Dolphins (5-6)
9. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)
11. Cleveland Browns (3-8, 3-3 AFC)
12. New York Jets (3-8, 3-5 AFC, win over TEN)
13. Tennessee Titans (3-8, 3-4 AFC, loss to NYJ)
14. New England Patriots (3-9)*
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9, 2-4 AFC)
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9, 2-7 AFC)*

NFC standings throughout Week 12

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-5, win over ARI, win over ATL)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5. loss to SEA)
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (8-3)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5)
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5, loss to SEA)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6, 5-3 NFC)
10. Los Angeles Rams (5-6, win over SF, 3-5 NFC)
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6, loss to LAR)
12. New Orleans Saints (4-7, 3-4 NFC)
13. Chicago Bears (4-7, 2-4 NFC)
14. Dallas Cowboys (4-7, 2-5 NFC)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-8)
16. New York Giants (2-9)*

Key playoff image takeaways, Week 12

Philadelphia Eagles have put early season struggles behind them

Keep in mind when the Eagles had been 2-2 heading into their bye and folk had been writing them off as a result of they stumbled down the stretch in 2023? We bear in mind. They’ve received seven straight since then and are second within the NFC, respiratory down the neck of the Detroit Lions. They’re 2.5 video games up on the Commenders within the NFC East and three video games forward of the Cardinals for the ultimate playoff spot.

Tampa Bay Bucs deal with their enterprise

Tampa entered Sunday a sport and a half again of Atlanta with the Falcons on a bye. The Buccaneers crushed the Giants to start out a run the place they’ll possible be favored in all however one sport (Week 15 @ Chargers). The wild card and division race are each open to the Bucs due to their closing schedule.

Detroit Lions win a workmanlike effort

Detroit wasn’t overly spectacular in Week 12, however they’re so good proper now that even a reasonably low key effort was greater than sufficient. The Colts led early, however the Lions took management within the second quarter and by no means regarded again. Detroit now heads into an enormous dwelling stretch in opposition to the Bears, Packers, and Payments.

The Miami Dolphins quietly lurking in AFC Wild Card race

Tua Tagovailoa has been fairly good within the video games he’s began and completed this 12 months, and the Miami Dolphins are nonetheless type of hanging across the outskirts of the Wild Card image. They simply dealt with the New England Patriots on Sunday to maneuver to 5-6, only one sport again of the ultimate playoff spot.

Houston Texans are fortunate the AFC South is horrible

The Houston Texans beat a nasty Dallas Cowboys workforce in Week 11, however misplaced two video games earlier than that. On Sunday in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, they couldn’t cease tripping over themselves even in opposition to a workforce on the backside of the standings. They wanted a number of Titans errors simply to remain within the sport, however finally couldn’t overcome their very own miscues. They’re fortunate the remainder of the AFC South has been poor and they’re firmly in fourth place within the AFC proper now.

Chiefs escape with bounce-back win

Kansas Metropolis regarded like they might roll to victory in Charlotte, however Bryce Younger and the Panthers gave them every thing they might deal with. Carolina tied it late with a landing and two-point conversion, however Patrick Mahomes did what he often does and drove the Chiefs right down to safe a game-winning discipline objective.

Washington Commanders blow large alternative in opposition to Cowboys

The Commanders hosted a short-handed Cowboys squad and struggled all day lengthy. They led twice within the first half, however the Cowboys hung shut and took over within the second half. Washington regarded like they may power time beyond regulation with a late miracle catch-and-run landing, however Austin Seibert missed an additional level and Dallas secured the win.

Minnesota Vikings protecting strain on Lions, Wild Card race

The Minnesota Vikings moved to 9 wins on Sunday, the second-most within the NFC. Sadly for them, the one workforce with extra wins can also be of their division. Minnesota stored tempo with Detroit and the 2 groups face off within the ultimate week of the season and may very well be for the NFC North crown. Both manner, it seems to be like each groups are going to be within the playoffs, as Minnesota is now 4 wins higher than the eighth-place workforce within the convention.

Each workforce with a successful file is in NFL Playoff place

Often there are groups which are good and simply not adequate, however each workforce with a successful file was in a playoff spot heading into the week. The Cardinals at 6-5 are the one workforce on the skin trying in regardless of sporting a successful file.

A number of NFL groups eradicated from divisional races

For the primary time in 2024, groups have been eradicated from a portion of the playoff image. The two-9 New York Giants can’t climb into the lead within the NFC East. Within the AFC, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots have each been eradicated from their division races, as nicely.

Seahawks take the lead in NFC West race

The Cardinals couldn’t construct on their divisional lead and now at the very least two groups are tied on the prime, pending the Rams sport in opposition to the Eagles. Arizona took an early 3-0 lead, however couldn’t get a lot of something going the remainder of the sport and the Seahawks offense did simply sufficient to safe a 16-6 win. Seattle holds the division lead due to now having the head-to-head tiebreaker over Arizona till they face off once more in two weeks.

The NFC West stays anybody’s for the taking, although. All 4 groups are separated by only one sport with loads of division video games left on the schedule.

Packers preserve tempo, 49ers stumble additional

The 49ers had been lacking quite a few gamers because of damage and it confirmed. They hung shut for stretches, however the Packers pulled away to win in a rout. Inexperienced Bay maintained tempo with Detroit and Minnesota whereas San Francisco now sits a sport again of the highest of the NFC West.

Denver Broncos are proving they belong in Wild Card race

We talked in regards to the Denver Broncos quite a bit this week. They’re proving to be reputable contenders within the AFC playoff image fueled by Bo Nix and Sean Payton’s thoughts meld. They’re one sport out of the highest spot within the Wild Card race and tied within the win column with the Los Angeles Chargers. They end their 2024 common season on the Chargers, on the Bengals, and residential vs the Chiefs so that they nonetheless have a methods to go.

Monday Evening Soccer goes to be so essential to the AFC standings

The Baltimore Ravens are one sport behind the Steelers within the AFC North following Pittsburgh’s Thursday night time loss. Baltimore can’t cross them with a MNF win, however they’ll pull inside a half sport and they’re additionally within the midst of a Wild Card race. That race is at the moment led by Baltimore’s Monday night time opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers. Each groups need to solidify their playoff place with a win to shut out Week 12.

NFL Division Standings

AFC East standings

1. Buffalo Payments, 9-2
2. Miami Dolphins, 5-6
3. New York Jets, 3-8
4. New England Patriots*, 3-9

AFC North standings

1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-3
2. Baltimore Ravens, 7-4
3. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-7
4. Cleveland Browns, 3-8

AFC South standings

1. Houston Texans, 7-5
2. Indianapolis Colts, 5-7
3. Tennessee Titans, 3-8
4. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-9

AFC West standings

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 10-1
2. Los Angeles Chargers, 7-3
3. Denver Broncos, 7-5
4. Las Vegas Raiders*, 2-9

NFC East standings

1. Philadelphia Eagles, 9-2
2. Washington Commanders, 7-5
3. Dallas Cowboys, 4-7
4. New York Giants*, 2-9

NFC North standings

1. Detroit Lions, 10-1
2. Minnesota Vikings, 9-2
3. Inexperienced Bay Packers, 8-3
4. Chicago Bears, 4-7

NFC South standings

1. Atlanta Falcons, 6-5
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5-6
3. New Orleans Saints, 4-7
4. Carolina Panthers, 3-8

NFC West standings

1. Seattle Seahawks, 6-5
2. Arizona Cardinals, 6-5
3. Los Angeles Rams, 5-6
4. San Francisco 49ers, 5-6