The NFL playoff picture cleared up somewhat yesterday, with the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles getting critical wins over other playoff contenders. You'll also find playoff scenario posts below and/or to your right, but here's a look at how the playoffs would shape up if the season ended today.
↵The Eagles pulled ahead of the Saints in the home field advantage race, since only division winners can earn first-round byes. Yes, the 6-8 Rams are still in the running, and that's a shame. The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks could overtake them, and one of them might even finish at .500! It's conceivable the Saints could finish 12-4 and go on the road to start to the playoffs, visiting a 7-9 team. Why not just have Advocare bowl games, if this is how playoff seeding has to work?
↵In the AFC the Colts pulled off their best Walking Dead performance, rallying from one of their worst slumps in years to retake the AFC South lead. Nothing else changed in the AFC since last week, as far as I can tell.
↵NFC:
↵- ↵
- Atlanta Falcons 12-2 ↵
- Philadelphia Eagles 10-4 ↵
- Chicago Bears 9-4 ↵
- St. Louis Rams 6-8 ↵
- New Orleans Saints 10-4 ↵
- New York Giants 9-5 ↵
AFC:
↵- ↵
- New England Patriots 12-2 ↵
- Pittsburgh Steelers 10-4 ↵
- Kansas City Chiefs 9-5 ↵
- Indianapolis Colts 8-6 ↵
- Baltimore Ravens 10-4 ↵
- New York Jets 10-4 ↵
- ↵
- Giants at Bears ↵
- Saints at Rams ↵
- Jets at Chiefs ↵
- Ravens at Colts ↵
- ↵
- Lowest-seeded winner at Falcons ↵
- Highest-seeded winner at Eagles ↵
- Lowest-seeded winner at Patriots ↵
- Highest-seeded winner at Steelers ↵