The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs lead the NFC and AFC, respectively, with both teams playing during Thanksgiving and Black Friday. There's also a way for the Lions, Chiefs and Buffalo Bills to qualify for the playoffs this week, and results will play a big role there as well.
The Lions will play the Chicago Bears early, followed by the Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants without playoff implications, then the Green Bay Packers will take on the Miami Dolphins.
The current rankings are as follows.
AFC standings after week 12
1. kansas city chiefs (10-1)
2. buffalo bills (9-2)
3. pittsburgh steelers (8-3)
4. houston texans (7-5)
5. baltimore ravens (8-4)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
7. denver broncos (7-5)
8. miami dolphins (5-6)
9. indianapolis colts (5-7)
10. cincinnati bengals (4-7)
11. cleveland browns (3-8, 3-3 AFC)
12. new york jets (3-8, 3-5 AFC, won against TEN)
13. tennessee titans (3-8, 3-4 AFC, lost to NYJ)
14. new england patriots (3-9)*
15. jacksonville jaguars (2-9, 2-4 AFC)
16. las vegas raiders (2-9, 2-7 AFC)*
Week 14 NFC Standings
1. detroit lions (11-1)
2. philadelphia eagles (9-2)
3. seattle seahawks (6-5, win over ARI, win over ATL)
4. atlanta falcons (6-5.Lost to SEA)
5. minnesota vikings (9-2)
6. green bay packers (8-3)
7. commander of washington (7-5)
8. arizona cardinals (6-5, lost to SEA)
9. tampa bay buccaneers (5-6, 5-3NFC)
10. Los Angeles Rams (5-6, win over SF, 3-5 NFC)
11. san francisco 49ers (5-6, lost to LAR)
12. new orleans saints (4-7, 3-4 NFC)
13. dallas cowboys (4-7, 2-5NFC)
14. chicago bears (4-8)
15. carolina panthers (3-8)
16. new york giants (2-9)*
Teams marked with an asterisk have been eliminated from the divisional race.
How the Kansas City Chiefs can clinch a playoff spot in Week 13
If KC wins 10 games, their worst record would be 10 wins and 7 losses. The 8th place Miami Dolphins have lost 6 games, so at best they can finish with 11 wins and 6 losses. The Chiefs need to win 11 games and lose seven to the Dolphins to improve their overall record, so here are the results Kansas City needs to earn a playoff spot.
- Chiefs win, Dolphins lose/tie
There are other roads to Kansas City. If they win on Sunday for 11 wins and the Denver Broncos lose for six, they could end up with the same 11-6 record, with Kansas City winning the common game tiebreaker. .
- Chiefs win, Broncos lose.
- Chiefs win, Chargers lose, Broncos tie
How can the Buffalo Bills win the AFC East in Week 13?
The Bills could clinch the AFC East championship in Week 13. Buffalo has nine wins to the Miami Dolphins' five, but the Bills have won the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Dolphins thanks to two wins. If Miami loses, the best result is 10-7. The Bills win both tiebreakers 10-7, so if Buffalo wins on Sunday, it would be 10 wins, cross the finish line into a home playoff game, and secure a fifth straight AFC East title.
- Dolphins lose, Bills win.
Week 13 Detroit Lions Playoff Decision Scenarios Are More Widespread
With the Detroit Lions at 10-1, you might expect an easy win scenario like the AFC, but that's not the case. The second-place Minnesota Vikings are just one game behind the Lions in the NFC North, so they won't be able to win the division for a while.
In the wild card race, the Cardinals are 6-5, and three teams are 5-6. Disaster for the Lions could drop them to 10-7, so they need multiple games to clear the hurdle.
Lions win + 49ers tie or loss, plus either:
- Cardinals loss or tie + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss or tie
- Cardinals lose + Seahawks tie + Buccaneers lose or tie
- Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Commanders loss/tie + Falcons loss
- Cardinals loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Commanders loss + Falcons tie
- Cardinals loss + Seahawks tie + Commanders loss or tie + Falcons loss
- Cardinals lose + Seahawks tie + Commanders lose + Falcons tie
NFL Division Standings
AFC East standings
- Buffalo Bills, 9-2
- Miami Dolphins, 5-6
- New York Jets, 3-8
- New England Patriots*, 3-9
AFC North Division Standings
- Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-3
- Baltimore Ravens, 8-4
- Cincinnati Bengals, 4-7
- Cleveland Browns, 3-8
AFC South Division Standings
- Houston Texans, 7-5
- Indianapolis Colts, 5-7
- Tennessee Titans, 3-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-9
AFC West Division Standings
- Kansas City Chiefs, 10-1
- Los Angeles Chargers, 7-4
- Denver Broncos, 7-5
- Las Vegas Raiders*, 2-9
NFC East standings
- Philadelphia Eagles, 9-2
- Washington Commanders, 7-5
- Dallas Cowboys, 4-7
- New York Giants*, 2-9
NFC North Standings
- Detroit Lions, 11-1
- Minnesota Vikings, 9-2
- Green Bay Packers, 8-3
- Chicago Bears, 4-8
NFC South Standings
- Atlanta Falcons, 6-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5-6
- New Orleans Saints, 4-7
- Carolina Panthers, 3-8
NFC West Standings
- Seattle Seahawks, 6-5
- Arizona Cardinals, 6-5
- Los Angeles Rams, 5-6
- San Francisco 49ers, 5-6
