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Updated NFL standings, playoff picture: Week 7

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Vikings, 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (55) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Vikings, 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Through the end of Sunday Night Football in Week 7, here is the updated playoff picture in the 2016 NFL season. Which 12 teams are in and who is out?

Week 7 of the 2016 NFL season has completed 14 of its 15 scheduled games. Only the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys are on byes this week. The last game on the slate is the Denver Broncos hosting the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football.

The NFL Playoff picture only changes in terms of seeding in the AFC with the conclusion of Monday Night Football. 12 teams are in playoff possession through Week 7. Here is what the NFL standings and playoff picture look like through mostly seven weeks.

Here is the AFC Playoff picture:

  1. New England Patriots (6-1)
  2. Oakland Raiders (5-2)
  3. Houston Texans (4-2)*
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)
  5. Kansas City Chiefs (4-2)
  6. Denver Broncos (4-2)*

The Patriots get the No. 1 seed by leading the AFC East with the best record in football at 6-1. They have a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills at 4-3, a three-game lead over the Miami Dolphins at 3-4, and a four-game lead over the New York Jets at 2-5.

Oakland is the No. 2 seed in the AFC and would get a first round bye with their 5-2 record. The Raiders have a half-game lead over the Broncos before Denver’s game on Monday Night Football with Houston. Should Denver beat Houston, Oakland still has the tiebreaker over the Broncos with a superior record in the AFC.

Kansas City is half a game back of Oakland at 4-2. The San Diego Chargers are only two games back of the Raiders at 3-4 after their overtime victory over the Falcons in Atlanta.

Houston is the No. 3 seed in the AFC entering Monday Night Football by leading the AFC South at 4-2 mark. The Texans can improve to the No. 2 seed in the AFC over the Raiders with a win over Denver. Houston has the better record over common opponents with regards to the Raiders. Houston beat the Chiefs and Oakland did not.

The Texans cannot be any worse than the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoff picture with a loss to the Broncos on Monday Night Football. At 4-3, the Texans would have the tiebreaker over the Steelers with a slightly tougher strength of schedule.

The Texans currently have 1.5-game leads over the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans at 3-4, and a two-game lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars at 2-4 in the AFC South before Monday Night Football.

Pittsburgh leads the AFC North at 4-3 and would get the No. 4 seed if the season ended today in the AFC Playoffs. The Steelers have a one-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at 3-4. Pittsburgh owns a four-game lead over the winless Cleveland Browns at 0-7.

Entering play on Monday Night, the Chiefs are in possession of the No. 5 seed in the AFC and the Broncos have the second AFC Wild Card spot. Kansas City is 4-2 and has the best record of any non-division leader in the AFC through Week 7. The Broncos would still be the No. 6 seed over the 4-3 Bills should they lose to the Texans. Denver has a superior AFC record over Buffalo.

Here is the NFC Playoff picture:

  1. Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
  2. Minnesota Vikings (5-1)
  3. Seattle Seahawks (4-1-1)
  4. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
  5. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
  6. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

The Cowboys get the No. 1 seed in the NFC on their bye week. Dallas has the best record in the NFC East at 5-1. They hold the tiebreaker over the Vikings with a better NFC record. The Cowboys hold a one-game lead over the Eagles, and a 1.5-game lead over the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, both at 4-3 in the NFC East.

Minnesota leads the NFC North at 5-1 and would get the No. 2 in the NFC Playoffs. They have a one-game lead over the Packers at 4-2, a 1.5-game lead over the Detroit Lions at 4-3, and a 4.5-game lead over the lowly Chicago Bears in the divisional race.

More on FanSided:

Seattle is the No. 3 in the NFC, as the Seahawks lead the NFC West at 4-1-1. Yes, the Seahawks tied with the Cardinals. They have a two-game lead over the Cards and the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers are back aways because ties are awful!!!

Atlanta has the best record in the NFC South at 4-3. They have a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3-4, a 1.5-game lead over the New Orleans Saint at 2-4, and a 2.5-game lead over the Carolina Panthers at 1-5.

Next: Top 30 NFL Games Of All Time

The two teams in possession of NFC Wild Card berths are the Packers and the Eagles. Both clubs are a 4-2 on the season, having already experienced their bye weeks. They hold a half-game lead over a handful of 4-3 teams in the NFC. Green Bay gets the No. 5 and Philadelphia gets the No. 6 seed based on overall record in the NFC.

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