Monday Night Football could decide the top of the NFC North and East, but Week 14 is in the books with more teams mathematically eliminated from contention.
AFC
Clinched: None
Eliminated: None
In the hunt: New England, Miami, New York, Buffalo
The top three teams won in the the AFC East in Week 14, keeping all in play. New England is firmly in the driver's seat, but the chance for a collapse is there -- especially if Rob Gronkowski misses a significant amount of time.
Miami is one spot out of the playoffs, and was unable to gain ground following a Baltimore win over Minnesota. Their victory in Pittsburgh was critical to keeping them in the race, as well as hurting the Steelers' chances.
It's a case of practical elimination vs. mathematical elimination for the Jets and Bills. Both have a chance of making the playoffs, but it would take an intricate house of cards collapsing in precisely the right way. There are ways both can make the playoffs based on tie breaking scenarios, but it would take a lot.
Clinched: None
Eliminated: None
In the hunt: Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland
The Bengals lead outright, while the Ravens have the edge over Miami in the wild card due to their head-to-head win. These teams meet in Week 16, which could determine the division -- depending on what happens against New England.
Pittsburgh and Cleveland remain alive due to the weakness of the AFC, but it would take a series of complex results to change the outcome of the division.
Clinched: Indianapolis (division)
Eliminated: Houston
In the hunt: Tennessee, Jacksonville
The Indianapolis Colts are lucky to be playing in the AFC South. Andrew Luck's team is floundering after a strong start to the season, and lost despite throwing four touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals. Struggles won't be enough to keep them out of the playoffs, but it's unclear how far they'll go.
Tennessee is on the verge of a rebuild, Jacksonville is in the middle of one. Neither team is eliminated mathematically, and it feels like the Jaguars are better positioned for an unpredictable push. It will take three-straight wins paired with some luck to find a way into the playoffs.
Clinched: Denver (playoff spot)
Eliminated: None
In the hunt: Kansas City, San Diego, Oakland
The Denver Broncos juggernaut rolls on. Peyton Manning has wrapped up a guaranteed playoff spot, now he'll push for an AFC West win along with home-field advantage in the playoffs.
NFL Week 14
Highlights from Sunday
Fun in the snow
Cowboys-Bears on MNF
It would take a monumental collapse for Kansas City to miss the playoffs. They would need to lose three straight games. The Chargers picked a bad year to be stuck in the NFL's best division. It's extremely difficult for them to get a wild card from third in the division.
Oakland is hanging on by a thread, and would require a series of results as well as three straight wins to find a way.
If the playoffs started today...
1. Denver Broncos (11-2)
2. New England Patriots (10-3)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-4)
4. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
5. Kansas City Chiefs (10-3)
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-6)
Important tiebreakers
- Ravens ahead of Dolphins on head-to-head
- Chargers ahead of Jets on conference record
- Titans ahead of Steelers on head-to-head
- Raiders ahead of Bills and Browns on conference record
- Jaguars ahead of Bills and Browns on conference record
- Raiders ahead of Jaguars on head-to-head
- Browns ahead of Bills on head-to-head
NFC
Clinched: None
Eliminated: New York, Washington
In the hunt: Philadelphia, Dallas
Then there were two. Only the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys remain, but there could be changes when the Cowboys meet Chicago on Monday Night Football. A win would flip the top of the division based on head-to-head record.
Clinched: None
Eliminated: Minnesota
In the hunt: Detroit, Chicago, Green Bay
The Lions and Bears had an opportunity to force Green Bay out of the playoffs, but they waited too long. Now the Packers are poised for Aaron Rodgers' return and could make a late playoff push.
Monday Night Football will help determine the top of the division. A Bears win would tie the top on record, but Detroit still holds the tiebreaker between the teams.
Clinched: None
Eliminated: Tampa Bay, Atlanta
In the hunt: New Orleans, Carolina
Two teams remain in the NFC South, and the New Orleans Saints are in the driver's seat. Only two straight losses will cost them the division, while the Panthers would need two wins.
Sunday Night Football separated the teams, but the key for the Saints is trying to find a way to route the playoffs through New Orleans.
Clinched: Seattle (playoff spot)
Eliminated: St. Louis
In the hunt: San Francisco, Arizona
This is going to be the hardest division to predict down the stretch. Seattle is in, that much is clear -- but then everything becomes a little more crazy.
Week 14 SNOW
• Snow makes football difficult out east • Lions fumble tracker (five and counting) • Nick Foles throws first pick • At least the Eagles mascot is having fun
San Francisco got a crucial win in Week 14, as did Arizona. There's a chance three teams from the NFC West could make it into the playoffs, with the Cardinals holding the head-to-head tiebreak with Carolina, provided the team's hold the same record at the end of the season.
If the playoffs started now...
1. Seattle Seahawks (11-2)
2. New Orleans Saints (10-3)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
4. Detroit Lions (7-6)
5. Carolina Panthers (9-4)
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Important tiebreakers
- Panthers ahead of 49ers on head-to-head
- Bears ahead of Packers on head-to-head
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