Week twelve of the NFL season is officially over and that means there are only six more weeks of the regular season left this year. The playoffs are right around the corner with the wild card starting on January 13th leaving some huge upcoming games for a couple of teams. After writing this article I’m sure things will have changed considering there is a lot that can change within the span of a couple of weeks.

NFC Playoff Picture

Division Leaders

1, Eagles (10-1)

2. 49ers (8-3)

3. Lions (8-3)

4. Falcons (5-6)

The division leaders should stay the same except for the NFC South since that division is a very tight race between 3 teams who all have a chance to finish on top of the not so strong division.

Wild Card 

5. Cowboys (8-3)

6. Seahawks (6-5)

7. Vikings (6-6)

The Cowboys should be a lock for a wild card spot having such a good record, but the next two spots could be a battle with a couple of teams trying to sneak in and contend for a playoff spot late in the season.

In the Hunt

8. Packers (5-6)

9. Rams (5-6)

10. Saints (5-6)

11. Buccaneers (4-7)

Both the Packers and Rams could potentially find a way to make a wild card spot after winning two straight and the Seahawks and Vikings both losing two straight the race for the wild card spots becomes more closer now. The Saints and Bucs are in the hunt with both teams being able to win the division and potentially sneaking into a wild card spot if they don’t win the division.

AFC Playoff Picture

Division Leaders

1, Ravens (9-3)

2. Chiefs (8-3)

3. Jaguars (8-3)

4. Dolphins (8-3)

I have all four of these teams staying at the top of the division when the playoffs come with the only threats being from the Steelers or Browns winning the North or a team staying hot or catching fire like the Broncos or the Bills and potentially winning the division.

Wild Card 

5. Steelers (7-4)

6. Browns (7-4)

7. Colts (6-5)

All three of these teams could finish with the wild card spots, but they could also lose them in the highly competitive AFC.

In the Hunt

8. Texans (6-5)

9. Broncos (6-5)

10. Bills (6-6)

All three of these teams can make the wild card with the Texans performing well under rookie QB CJ Stroud, the Broncos being one of the hottest teams in the NFL winning 5 straight games after starting 1-5, and the Buffalo Bills still being a dangerous team led by star QB Josh Allen.

Dark Horses

11. Bengals (5-6)

12. Raiders (5-7)

13. Chargers (4-7)

It would take a lot of things to go right for these three teams, but there is a slim chance these teams can sneak into a playoff spot. For the Bengals they would need a miracle to make the playoffs after losing QB Joe Burrow to a season ending injury and also having the 3rd hardest remaining schedule while also being in the most competitive division.