How the NFL playoff picture looks coming out of Week 12

Week 12 is rapidly coming to a close and we’re just about to the home stretch of the 2020 season. The 4:05/4:25 p.m. games have gotten underway, and we still have Bears-Packers on Sunday, Seahawks-Eagles on Monday, and maybe Ravens-Steelers on Tuesday due to Covid-19.

The NFL is expanding the playoff pool this year, adding a wild card team to each conference to bring the total to 14 teams. The No. 1 seed in each conference will get a first round bye. The opening round will feature the three division winners facing the three wild card winners (2/7, 3/6, 4/5). If significant games are canceled or postponed due to Covid-19, the owners and players agreed to expand the playoff field to 16 teams with four wild card winners.

The Titans are the big winners of the early schedule, getting a critical win over the Colts and claiming first place in the AFC South. On the NFC side, the Giants edged out the Bengals to move into first place at a robust 4-7 record. The Eagles can recapture the division lead if they can beat the Seahawks on Monday.

The afternoon slate saw the Saints thump the Broncos, the Chiefs hold off the Bucs, and the 49ers upset the Rams. LA drops out of first place in the NFC West for the time being while awaiting the Seahawks Monday Night Football contest against the Eagles.

Here’s a look at what the playoff picture looks like Sunday afternoon as we await the kickoff of Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and maybe Tuesday’s Ravens-Steelers game close out Week 12. You can read through playoff tiebreakers here.

AFC

1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 11-0
2. Kansas City Chiefs, 10-1
3. Tennessee Titans, 8-3 (H2H over Bills)
4. Buffalo Bills, 8-3

5. Cleveland Browns, 8-3
6. Miami Dolphins, 7-4 (Conference record over Colts)
7. Indianapolis Colts, 7-4

Outside looking in: Baltimore Ravens (6-5), Las Vegas Raiders (6-5)

Falcons 43, Raiders 6
Bills 27, Chargers 17
Titans 45, Colts 26
Dolphins 20, Jets 7
Browns 27, Jaguars 25
Chiefs 27, Buccaneers 24

NFC

1. New Orleans Saints, 9-2
2. Seattle Seahawks, 8-3
3. Green Bay Packers, 8-3
4. New York Giants, 4-7

5. Los Angeles Rams, 7-4
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-5
7. Arizona Cardinals, 6-5

Outside looking in: Minnesota Vikings (5-6), Chicago Bears (5-6), San Francisco 49ers (5-6), Washington Football Team (4-7), Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1), Dallas Cowboys (3-8)

Washington Football Team 41, Cowboys 16
Vikings 28, Panthers 27
Patriots 20, Cardinals 17
Giants 19, Bengals 17
Saints 31, Broncos 3
49ers 23, Rams 20
Chiefs 27, Buccaneers 24
Packers 41, Bears 25
Seahawks (7-3) @ Eagles (3-7)