NFL Week 12 Hangover

We know the Colts, Saints, and Vikings are in the playoffs, with only seeding yet to be determined.  The Colts already clinched the AFC South with five game remaining, but the Saints are still a game away from doing so in the NFC South.  The Vikings can wrap up the NFC North with a win and a Packers loss in Week 13.  But every other playoff spot is up for grabs – six teams are still within striking distance for the remaining four spots in the NFC, and seven AFC teams still have good shot at claiming one of the remaining five spots in that conference.

Here’s how they lay out currently along with where they’ll be playing in January.

AFC

1. Colts (11-0) – AFC South Champions.  Remaining games: Home vs. Tennessee, Denver, and New York Jets. At Jacksonville and Buffalo. Predicted finish: 16-0, #1 seed.

t2. Chargers (8-3) – Lead AFC West by 1 game.  Remaining games: Home vs. Cincinnati and Washington.  At Cleveland, Dallas, and Tennessee. Predicted finish: 12-4, #4 seed.

t2. Bengals (8-3) – Lead AFC North by 2 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Detroit and Kansas City. At Minnesota, San Diego, and New York Jets. Predicted finish: 12-4, #2 seed.

4. Patriots (7-4) – Lead AFC East by 2 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Carolina and Jacksonville.  At Miami, Buffalo, and Texas. Predicted finish: 12-4, #3 seed.

5. Broncos (7-4) – 2nd in AFC West by 1 game. Remaining games: Home vs. Oakland. At Kansas City, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. Predicted finish: 10-6, #6 seed.

t6. Ravens (6-5) – 2nd in AFC North by 2 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Detroit and Chicago. At Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Oakland. Predicted finish: 9-7, #8 (out).

t6. Jaguars (6-5) – 2nd in AFC South by 5 games.  Remaining games: Home vs. Houston, Miami, and Indianapolis. At New England and Cleveland. Predicted finish: 9-7, #7 (out).

t6. Steelers (6-5) – 3rd in AFC North by 2 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Oakland, Green Bay, and Baltimore. At Cleveland and Miami. Predicted finish: 10-6, #5 seed (win tie-breaker over Denver based on head-to-head win).

Miami (5-6), New York Jets (5-6), Houston (5-6), and Tennessee (5-6) are all still in contention but need a lot of help to make the playoffs.

The Colts (bye) would host the winner of the Steelers at the Chargers.

The Bengals (bye) would host the winner of the Broncos at the Patriots.

NFC

1. Saints (11-0) – Lead NFC South by 5 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Dallas and Tampa Bay. At Washington, Atlanta, and Carolina. Predicted finish: 16-0, #1 seed.

2. Vikings (10-1) – Lead NFC North by 3 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Cincinnati and New York Giants. At Arizona, Carolina, and Chicago. Predicted finish: 15-1, #2 seed.

3. Cowboys (8-3) – Lead NFC East by 1 game. Remaining games: Home vs. San Diego and Philadelphia. At New York Giants, New Orleans, and Washington. Predicted finish: 10-6, #6 seed.

4. Cardinals (7-4) – Lead NFC West by 2 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Minnesota, St. Louis, and Green Bay. At San Francisco and Detroit. Predicted finish: 11-5, #3 seed.

5. Eagles (7-4) 2nd in NFC East by 1 game. Remaining games: Home vs. San Francisco and Denver. At Atlanta, New York Giants, and Dallas. Predicted finish: 9-7, #8 (out).

t5. Packers (7-4) – 2nd in NFC North by 3 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Baltimore and Seattle. At Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Arizona. Predicted finish: 11-5, #5 seed.

t7. Giants (6-5) – 3rd in NFC East by 2 games. Remaining games: Home. vs. Dallas, Philadelphia, and Carolina. At Washington and Minnesota. Predicted finish: 10-6, #4 seed (win tie-breaker over Dallas based on two head-to-head wins).

t7. Falcons (6-5) – 2nd in NFC South by 5 games. Remaining games: Home vs. Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Buffalo. At New York Jets and Tampa Bay. Predicted finish: 10-6, #7 (out – lose tie-breakers to NYG and Dallas based on head-to-head losses).

San Francisco (5-6) is still in contention but needs a lot of help to make the playoffs.

The Saints (bye) would host the winner of the Packers at the Giants.

The Vikings (bye) would host the winner of the Cowboys at the Cardinals.