NFL Playoffs 2013: Postseason picture becomes clearer

Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; General view of the NFL Wild Card logo on the field before a game between the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

The NFL playoff picture got a lot clearer this week, especially in the AFC where every division has been clinched ahead of Week 17. In the NFC, no team has clinched though the Chicago Bears have a chance to clinch the NFC North with a win on Sunday Night Football.

The playoff picture is so clear in the AFC that the only spot up for grabs is the final Wild Card spot. The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the fifth seed and first Wild Card spot.

In the NFC, three teams have clinched playoff berths heading into Week 17. No team has clinched the division, though the Bears could with a win over the Eagles on Sunday Night Football.

There are also three ten-win teams competing for Wild Card berths. Which is incredible considering heading into SNF, two division leaders have 8-6 records. The NFC West has three teams with over 10 wins each.

Playoff standings from ESPN.com:

National Football Conference
CONF RK	NFC	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	SOS	SOV	REASON
1	x – Seattle	12	3	0	.800	3-2-0	9-2-0	.489	.441	NFC West Champ
2	x – Carolina	11	4	0	.733	4-1-0	8-3-0	.509	.463	NFC South Champ
3	Philadelphia	8	6	0	.571	3-2-0	7-3-0	.448	.371	NFC East Champ Wins tie break over Chicago based on best win percentage in conference games.
4	Chicago	8	6	0	.571	2-3-0	4-6-0	.443	.454	NFC North Champ
5	San Francisco	10	4	0	.714	4-1-0	7-3-0	.502	.417
6	x – New Orleans	10	5	0	.667	4-1-0	8-3-0	.548	.500	Wins tie break over Arizona based on head-to-head win percentage.
7	Arizona	10	5	0	.667	2-3-0	6-5-0	.514	.450
8	Dallas	8	7	0	.533	5-0-0	7-4-0	.471	.349
9	Green Bay	7	7	1	.500	2-2-1	5-5-1	.445	.370
10	Detroit	7	8	0	.467	4-1-0	6-5-0	.464	.417	Wins tie break over St. Louis based on best win percentage in conference games.
11	St. Louis	7	8	0	.467	1-4-0	4-7-0	.538	.462
American Football Conference
CONF RK	AFC	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	SOS	SOV	REASON
1	z – Denver	12	3	0	.800	4-1-0	8-3-0	.482	.441	AFC West Champ
2	z – New England	11	4	0	.733	3-2-0	8-3-0	.480	.436	AFC East Champ
3	z – Cincinnati	10	5	0	.667	2-3-0	7-4-0	.473	.477	AFC North Champ Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on head-to-head win percentage.
4	z – Indianapolis	10	5	0	.667	5-0-0	8-3-0	.500	.463	AFC South Champ
5	x – Kansas City	11	4	0	.733	2-3-0	7-4-0	.433	.335
6	Miami	8	7	0	.533	2-3-0	7-4-0	.520	.508	Wins tie break over San Diego and Baltimore based on best win percentage in conference games.
7	Baltimore	8	7	0	.533	3-2-0	6-5-0	.464	.408	Wins tie break over San Diego based on best win percentage in conference games.
8	San Diego	8	7	0	.533	3-2-0	5-6-0	.482	.529
9	NY Jets	7	8	0	.467	2-3-0	4-7-0	.489	.413

z – Clinched Division
y – Clinched Wild Card
x – Clinched Playoff Berth
* – Clinched Division and Home Field

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