NFL Playoff Picture: Rams win division, take over top spot in NFC
We have our first entry into the 2018 NFL playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams secured their spot in the postseason, meanwhile, several other teams are knocking on the door. Here's how the playoff picture shapes up after Sunday's action.
AFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chiefs | West | 10-2 |
| 2 | Patriots | East | 9-3 |
| 3 | Texans | South | 9-3 |
| 4 | Steelers | North | 7-4-1 |
| 5 | Chargers | West | 9-3 |
| 6 | Ravens | North | 7-5 |
There's no change to the top six in the AFC after Week 13. The Chiefs continue to own the No. 1 seed and the Patriots remain a game behind.
The Texans are riding a nine-game win streak and own a three-game lead in the division with four contests left to play.
Don't look now, but the Ravens are just a half-game back of the Steelers in the AFC North. The Chargers are one full game behind the Chiefs in the West.
In the hunt| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Dolphins | East | 6-6 |
| 8 | Colts | South | 6-6 |
| 9 | Broncos | West | 6-6 |
| 10 | Titans | South | 6-6 |
| 11 | Bengals | North | 5-7 |
There's a pileup of four teams at 6-6 just waiting for the Ravens to slip up for that final wild-card spot. Unfortunately for them, Baltimore hasn't lost with Lamar Jackson at the helm.
NFC| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rams (xy) | West | 11-1 |
| 2 | Saints | South | 10-2 |
| 3 | Bears | North | 8-4 |
| 4 | Cowboys | East | 7-5 |
| 5 | Seahawks | West | 7-5 |
| 6 | Redskins | East | 6-5 |
x = clinched playoff berth
y = clinched division title
z = clinched first-round bye
The first team to clinch a playoff spot, the Rams have also leapfrogged the Saints for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, for the time being.
The Chase Daniel-led Bears missed out on a chance to put some space between them and the rest of the division, but every team in the NFC North lost on Sunday.
The Seahawks are winners of three straight. They have designs on locking up the No. 5 seed and facing the weakest division winner in the first round of the playoffs.
In the hunt| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Vikings | North | 6-5-1 |
| 8 | Panthers | South | 6-6 |
| 9 | Eagles | East | 5-6 |
| 10 | Buccaneers | South | 5-7 |
What a difference four weeks make. The Vikings and Panthers were once comfortably slotted into playoff spots. Now, they're both on the outside looking in.
Carolina has lost four straight to all but hand New Orleans the division title. Minnesota has dropped two of its last four games and faces a red-hot Seattle team next week.
The Eagles can drop the Redskins from the No. 6 seed with a win on Monday night.
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