With a the Buffalo Payments on a bye, an enormous Thursday Evening Soccer sport, a Sunday evening contest that includes two NFC playoff hopefuls, and a Monday evening sport that includes two AFC playoff groups, Sunday afternoon felt a little bit mild so far as the NFL Playoff Image was involved, however the endings of those video games had been completely insane.
The Houston Texans misplaced to the Tennessee Titans after their kicker missed a chip shot to tie, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs received within the final seconds, the Chicago Bears improbably compelled extra time in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, and the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders scored 4 touchdowns within the final three minutes however missed further factors determined the result.
On the high of the NFC, the Detroit Lions continued their successful methods, turning into the primary 10-win group within the NFL in 2024 earlier than they had been joined by the Chiefs.
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns in a snow globe, and the remainder of the AFC was watching with bated breath. The Steelers entered the week in third place within the AFC and they’ll go away in third place, however the door opened for a number of groups with their loss.
With the Pittsburgh loss, the Buffalo Payments opened up a full sport lead over the Steelers for second place within the convention. The highest 4 seeds within the AFC can’t change, because the Chiefs, Payments, Steelers, and Texans are additionally locked into fourth this week.
Listed below are the present NFL playoff standings following Thursday evening’s AFC North showdown.
Word: Within the standings under, solely the pertinent tiebreakers are listed. Groups marked with an asterisk have been eradicated from successful their division.
AFC standings throughout Week 12
1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (10-1)
2. Buffalo Payments (9-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
4. Houston Texans (7-5)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)
6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)
7. Denver Broncos (6-5)
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, win over TEN)
13. Tennessee Titans (3-8, 3-4 AFC, loss to NYJ)
14. New England Patriots (3-9)*
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)*
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
NFC standings following Week 11
1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
3. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-3)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5)
8. Los Angeles Rams (5-5, 2-1 NFCW)
9. Seattle Seahawks (5-5, 1-2 NFCW, win over SF)
10. San Francisco 49ers (5-5, 1-3 NFCW, loss to SEA)
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
12. New Orleans Saints (4-7, 3-4 NFC)
13. Chicago Bears (4-7, 2-4 NFC)
14. Dallas Cowboys (4-7, 2-5 NFC)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-8)
16. New York Giants (2-9)*
Key playoff image takeaways, Week 12
Tampa Bay Bucs deal with their enterprise
Tampa entered Sunday a sport and a half again of Atlanta with the Falcons on a bye. The Buccaneers crushed the Giants to start out a run the place they’ll probably be favored in all however one sport (Week 15 @ Chargers). The wild card and division race are each open to the Bucs because of their closing schedule.
Detroit Lions win a workmanlike effort
Detroit wasn’t overly spectacular in Week 12, however they’re so good proper now that even a reasonably low key effort was greater than sufficient. The Colts led early, however the Lions took management within the second quarter and by no means seemed again. Detroit now heads into an enormous house stretch in opposition to the Bears, Packers, and Payments.
The Miami Dolphins quietly lurking in AFC Wild Card race
Tua Tagovailoa has been fairly good within the video games he’s began and completed this 12 months, and the Miami Dolphins are nonetheless type of hanging across the outskirts of the Wild Card image. They simply dealt with the New England Patriots on Sunday to maneuver to 5-6, only one sport again of the ultimate playoff spot.
Houston Texans are fortunate the AFC South is horrible
The Houston Texans beat a nasty Dallas Cowboys group in Week 11, however misplaced two video games earlier than that. On Sunday in opposition to the Tennessee Titans, they couldn’t cease tripping over themselves even in opposition to a group on the backside of the standings. They wanted a number of Titans errors simply to remain within the sport, however finally couldn’t overcome their very own miscues. They’re fortunate the remainder of the AFC South has been poor and they’re firmly in fourth place within the AFC proper now.
Chiefs escape with bounce-back win
Kansas Metropolis seemed like they might roll to victory in Charlotte, however Bryce Younger and the Panthers gave them every thing they may deal with. Carolina tied it late with a landing and two-point conversion, however Patrick Mahomes did what he normally does and drove the Chiefs all the way down to safe a game-winning area aim.
Washington Commanders blow huge alternative in opposition to Cowboys
The Commanders hosted a short-handed Cowboys squad and struggled all day lengthy. They led twice within the first half, however the Cowboys hung shut and took over within the second half. Washington seemed like they could power extra time with a late miracle catch-and-run landing, however Austin Seibert missed an additional level and Dallas secured the win.
Minnesota Vikings protecting stress on Lions, Wild Card race
The Minnesota Vikings moved to 9 wins on Sunday, the second-most within the NFC. Sadly for them, the one group with extra wins can also be of their division. Minnesota stored tempo with Detroit and the 2 groups face off within the remaining week of the season and could possibly be for the NFC North crown. Both approach, it appears like each groups are going to be within the playoffs, as Minnesota is now 4 wins higher than the eighth-place group within the convention.
Monday Evening Soccer goes to be so essential to the AFC standings
The Baltimore Ravens are one sport behind the Steelers within the AFC North following Pittsburgh’s Thursday evening loss. Baltimore can’t move them with a MNF win, however they’ll pull inside a half sport and they’re additionally within the midst of a Wild Card race. That race is at present led by Baltimore’s Monday evening opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers. Each groups wish to solidify their playoff place with a win to shut out Week 12.
Each group with a successful file is in NFL Playoff place
Normally there are groups which are good and simply not ok, however each group with a successful file is at present in a playoff spot. That’s might change because the NFC West groups are taking part in within the late window.
A number of NFL groups eradicated from divisional races
For the primary time in 2024, groups have been eradicated from a portion of the playoff image. The two-9 New York Giants can’t climb into the lead within the NFC East. Within the AFC, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots have each been eradicated from their division races, as properly.
NFL Division Standings
AFC East standings
- Buffalo Payments, 9-2
- Miami Dolphins, 5-6
- New York Jets, 3-8
- New England Patriots*, 3-9
AFC North standings
- Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-3
- Baltimore Ravens, 7-4
- Cincinnati Bengals, 4-7
- Cleveland Browns, 3-8
AFC South standings
- Houston Texans, 7-5
- Indianapolis Colts, 5-7
- Tennessee Titans, 3-8
- Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-9
AFC West standings
- Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 10-1
- Los Angeles Chargers, 7-3
- Denver Broncos, 6-5
- Las Vegas Raiders*, 2-8
NFC East standings
- Philadelphia Eagles, 8-2
- Washington Commanders, 7-5
- Dallas Cowboys, 4-7
- New York Giants*, 2-9
NFC North standings
- Detroit Lions, 10-1
- Minnesota Vikings, 10-2
- Inexperienced Bay Packers, 7-3
- 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
- Arizona Cardinals, 6-4
- Los Angeles Rams, 5-5
- Seattle Seahawks, 5-5
- San Francisco 49ers, 5-5