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NFL Playoff picture 2016: After Week 11 early games

By Josh Hill

Nov 20, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) looks to pass during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) looks to pass during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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The early games have wrapped up in the NFL for Week 11, but what does the playoff picture look like as the late games kick off??

We are halfway through Week 11, and already the playoff picture is starting to look much different than it did this morning.

Before the start of the afternoon games, the Kansas City Chiefs were the No. 2 seed in the AFC. That changed what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stunned the Chiefs in Arrowhead. That dropped them to the No. 5 seed at the moment, as there is still hope for fans that the Raiders will lose on Monday Night to the Texans — a team looking to get the No. 2 seed themselves.

AFC
1. New England Patriots (7-2): AFC East leader
2. Oakland Raiders (7-2): AFC West leader
3. Houston Texans (6-3): AFC South leader
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-5): AFC North leader
5. Kansas City Chiefs (7-3): Wild card No. 1
6. Denver Broncos (7-3): Wild card No. 2

Just on the bubble of the AFC playoff picture are:

7. Miami Dolphins (5-4)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5)
9. Indianapolis Colts (5-5)
10. Tennessee Titans (5-6)

Over in the NFC, things are just as tight. The Buccaneers and Vikings both managed to get wins on Sunday to keep their standing in the Wild Card picture. Minnesota didn’t gain ground on the Lions though, as Detroit beat Jacksonville to remain in the lead of the NFC North. The Thanksgiving Game on Thursday will be for sole possession of first, and a playoff spot at the moment.

NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (9-1): NFC East leader
2. Seattle Seahawks (6-2-1): NFC West leader
3. Detroit Lions (6-4): NFC North leader
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-4): NFC South leader
5. New York Giants (7-3): Wild card No.1
6. Washington Redskins (5-3-1): Wild card No. 2

7. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) *Owns tiebreaker over Vikings*
8. Minnesota Vikings (6-4)
9. Arizona Cardinals (4-5-1)
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5)

Tampa Bay and Arizona are still very much alive in the Wild Card hunt, but the line starts behind whichever NFC North team is in second-place. The best case scenario for all is that the Giants and Redskins fall on hard times, something that doesn’t look like it’s happening this week.

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