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Updated NFL standings, playoff picture: Week 13

By John Buhler

Dec 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) celebrates after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 29-28 at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) celebrates after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 29-28 at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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With only Monday Night Football remaining on the Week 13 schedule, let’s take a look at the NFL standings and playoff picture through the Sunday games.

Week 13 of the 2016 NFL season was an exciting one. The playoff picture got a little more interesting, as a few ties exist across some of the NFL divisions. Only a few teams got eliminated from playoff contention.

Through Week 13, it’s remarkable how many teams are still in the NFL Playoff mix. With only Monday Night Football between the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) and the New York Jets (3-8) still to be played, here are the playoff seedings if the season ended today.

AFC Playoffs

  1. Oakland Raiders (10-2)
  2. New England Patriots (10-2)
  3. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
  4. Houston Texans (6-6)
  5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3)
  6. Denver Broncos (8-4)

Through Week 13, Oakland would be the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs with a 10-2 record. The Raiders have the strength of schedule tiebreaker over the Patriots. Oakland has a one-game lead over the Chiefs, a two-game lead over the Broncos, and a five-game lead over the San Diego Chargers (5-7) in the AFC West standings.

San Diego has been eliminated from the AFC West race, as they can finish no better than 9-7 this season. Oakland has already won 10 games on the year. The Chargers are still alive in the AFC Wild Card race.

New England leads the AFC East at 10-2 and would be the No. 2 seed in the AFC Playoffs if the season started today. The Patriots have a three-game lead over the Miami Dolphins (7-5), a four-game lead over the Buffalo Bills (6-6), and a 6.5-game lead over the New York Jets (3-8) in the AFC East standings.

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The Jets have been eliminated from winning the AFC East, but are barely alive in the AFC Wild Card race. A loss or a tie on Monday Night Football to the Indianapolis Colts would eliminate the Jets from AFC Playoff contention.

Baltimore is 7-5 on the season, leads the AFC North, and would be the No. 3 seed in the 2016 AFC Playoffs. The Ravens have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5). Baltimore has a 2.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1) and a seven-game lead over the winless Cleveland Browns (0-12) in the AFC North standings. Cleveland has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Houston is 6-6 on the season, but is still leading the putrid AFC South. The Texans would be the No. 4 seed in the 2016 AFC Playoffs if the season ended today. Houston has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tennessee Titans (6-6).

The Texans have a half game lead over the Colts (5-6), who play on Monday Night Football. Houston would still be in first place of the AFC South regardless of what the Colts do against the Jets. That is because Houston has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts. Houston also has a four-game lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) in the AFC South race.

Through Week 13, the two teams in the AFC that would be Wild Card teams would be the Chiefs (9-3) and the Broncos (8-4). Kansas City has the best record of a non-division leader in the AFC. The Chiefs would be the No. 5 seed. Denver has the second best record of a non-division leader in the AFC. The Broncos would be the No. 6 seed.

NFC Playoffs

  1. x-Dallas Cowboys (11-1)
  2. Seattle Seahawks (8-3-1)
  3. Detroit Lions (8-4)
  4. Atlanta Falcons (7-5)
  5. New York Giants (8-4)
  6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)

Dallas has the best record in football at 11-1. The Cowboys have clinched an NFC Playoff berth by beating the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football and seeing the Washington Redskins lose to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

They have a three-game lead over the Giants, a 4.5-game lead over the Redskins (6-5-1), and a six-game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles (5-7). Both Washington and Philadelphia have been eliminated from the NFC East race.

Seattle is 8-3-1 on the year and would be the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs by leading the NFC West. The Seahawks have a three-game lead over the Arizona Cardinals (5-6-1), a 4.5-game lead over the Los Angeles Rams (4-8), and a 7.5-game lead over the San Francisco 49ers (1-11). Los Angeles has been eliminated from the NFC West race. San Francisco has been eliminated from NFC Playoff contention.

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Detroit is 8-4 on the year and would be the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs by leading the NFC North. The Lions have a two-game lead over both the Green Bay Packers (6-6) and the Minnesota Vikings (6-6), as well as a five-game lead over the Chicago Bears in the NFC North race. Chicago has been eliminated from the NFC North race.

Atlanta is 7-5 on the season and would lead Tampa Bay in the NFC South race by having a better record within the division. The Falcons and Buccaneers split their season rivalry series with the road teams winning both games. Atlanta has a two-game lead over the New Orleans Saints (5-7) and a three-game lead over the Carolina Panthers (4-8) in the NFC South race.

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The two teams in the NFC that would be Wild Card teams through Week 13 would be New York (8-4) and Tampa Bay (7-5). New York has the best record of a non-division leader in the NFC. The Giants would be the No. 5 seed. Tampa Bay has the second best record of a non-division leader in the NFC. The Buccaneers would be the No. 6 seed.

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