NFL playoff picture entering Week 14: Raiders’ hopes fade, two divisions close to wrapping
Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks with Week 14 underway:
AFC
1. Buffalo Bills (9-3), AFC East leaders: Pretty good Sunday when, from the comfort of the couch – in the wake of Week 13’s victory at New England – you not only reclaim the divisional lead but also shift back onto the inside track for a first-round bye and home-field advantage. Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, vs. Dolphins, at Bears, at Bengals, vs. Patriots
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-3), AFC West leaders: Their continued inability to slay the Bengals knocks them from the conference’s catbird seat. And the Week 6 loss to the Bills would currently mean the road to the AFC crown goes through Western New York and not K.C. On the plus side, a win at Denver coupled with a Chargers loss Sunday night confers yet another AFC West crown to the Chiefs. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Texans, vs. Seahawks, vs. Broncos, at Raiders
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3. Baltimore Ravens (8-4), AFC North leaders: They’re technically atop the division, by virtue of a tiebreaker, but QB Lamar Jackson’s knee injury renders that a very precarious perch. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Browns, vs. Falcons, vs. Steelers, at Bengals
4. Tennessee Titans (7-5), AFC South leaders: Ugly loss at Philadelphia … but they’ve got some cushion in the conference’s worst division. Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Chargers, vs. Texans, vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars
Stunning loss to Rams on Thursday night pretty much puts their late-season postseason drive to bed. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Steelers, vs. 49ers, at Chiefs
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NFC
1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-1), NFC East leaders: Beat the Giants on Sunday, and their playoff dance card is punched. Philly’s Week 2 rout of Minnesota effectively gives the Eagles a two-game edge in the race for the NFC’s top seed. Remaining schedule: at Giants, at Bears, at Cowboys, vs. Saints, vs. Giants
Tom Brady’s Monday magic act against New Orleans allowed Bucs to open 1½-game lead in division. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Bengals, at Cardinals, vs. Panthers, at Falcons
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3), wild card No. 1: Doesn’t hurt getting a late-season serving of the lowly AFC South, including Sunday night’s dissection of Indianapolis. Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Jaguars, vs. Eagles, at Titans, at Commanders
6. New York Giants (7-4-1), wild card No. 2: They could have done worse than tie, but that doesn’t change the fact Big Blue has one win in its last five outings. Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Commanders, at Vikings, vs. Colts, at Eagles
7. Seattle Seahawks (7-5), wild card No. 3: Squeaking past the depleted Rams, in conjunction with Washington’s tie, puts them back in the final playoff post … and with only one more regular-season trip out of Seattle. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, vs. 49ers, at Chiefs, vs. Jets, vs. Rams
8. Washington Commanders (7-5-1), out of playoff field: Despite Sunday’s tie, they’ve still won six of eight. Still, that draw allowed Seattle to creep ahead on percentage points in the chase for the final wild card. Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Giants, at 49ers, vs. Browns, vs. Cowboys
9. Detroit Lions (5-7), out of playoff field: No margin for error remains for a long shot run at NFC North throne, but they remain in second place in division with a shot at their first playoff visit in six years. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Jets, at Panthers, vs. Bears, at Packers
10. Green Bay Packers (5-8), out of playoff field: They’re now the league’s all-time winningest franchise after notching victory No. 787 at Chicago, but it’s going to take some doing to craft a fourth consecutive postseason trip. Remaining schedule: Bye, vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Vikings, vs. Lions
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-8), out of playoff field: Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh gave the Bucs breathing room in a tight NFC North. An inferior record in common games keeps the Falcons back of the Pack. Remaining schedule: Bye, at Saints, at Ravens, vs. Cardinals, vs. Buccaneers
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.