With a the Buffalo Payments on a bye, a giant Thursday Night time Soccer recreation, a Sunday night time contest that includes two NFC playoff hopefuls, and a Monday night time recreation that includes two AFC playoff groups, Sunday afternoon felt somewhat gentle 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 additional time towards the Minnesota Vikings, and the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders scored 4 touchdowns within the final three minutes however missed additional factors determined the result.
On the high of the NFC, the Detroit Lions continued their profitable methods, changing into the primary 10-win staff within the NFL in 2024 earlier than they had been joined by the Chiefs.
The Minnesota Vikings proceed pushing the Lions, only one recreation again within the NFC North. The Philadelphia Eagles can transfer inside a recreation of Detroit with a Sunday night time win over the Rams.
The Seattle Seahawks leapt into third place by defeating the Arizona Cardinals and the fourth-place Atlanta Falcons held regular on their bye due to a head-to-head loss to Seattle. The Cardinals went from third place to out of the playoff image utterly as the one staff within the NFL with a profitable document that doesn’t maintain a playoff spot.
Within the NFC Wild Card, the Vikings at 9-2 management the place whereas the Inexperienced Bay Packers received in convincing trend to stay at sixth. The Washington Commanders had a golden alternative towards the Cowboys backups however couldn’t seal the deal, and at the moment are only a half-game from being out of the playoff image utterly.
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’re going to depart 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 recreation 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 and the division standings are beneath.
Be aware: Within the standings beneath, solely the pertinent tiebreakers are listed. Groups marked with an asterisk have been eradicated from profitable 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 (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, win over TEN)
13. Tennessee Titans (3-8, 3-4 AFC, loss 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)*
NFC standings throughout Week 12
1. Detroit Lions (10-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-5, win over ARI, win over ATL)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5. loss to SEA)
5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
6. Inexperienced Bay Packers (8-3)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5)
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5, loss to SEA)
9. Los Angeles Rams (5-5, 2-1 NFCW)
10. San Francisco 49ers (5-6, win over TB)
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6, loss to SF)
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 recreation 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 recreation (Week 15 @ Chargers). The wild card and division race are each open to the Bucs due to 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 residence stretch towards 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 yr, 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 recreation again of the ultimate playoff spot.
Houston Texans are fortunate the AFC South is horrible
The Houston Texans beat a foul Dallas Cowboys staff in Week 11, however misplaced two video games earlier than that. On Sunday towards the Tennessee Titans, they couldn’t cease tripping over themselves even towards a staff on the backside of the standings. They wanted a number of Titans errors simply to remain within the recreation, however in the end 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’d roll to victory in Charlotte, however Bryce Younger and the Panthers gave them the whole lot they might deal with. Carolina tied it late with a landing and two-point conversion, however Patrick Mahomes did what he often does and drove the Chiefs all the way down to safe a game-winning area purpose.
Washington Commanders blow massive alternative towards 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 additional time with a late miracle catch-and-run landing, however Austin Seibert missed an additional level and Dallas secured the win.
Minnesota Vikings conserving 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 staff with extra wins can also be of their division. Minnesota stored tempo with Detroit and the 2 groups face off within the ultimate week of the season and could possibly be for the NFC North crown. Both method, it seems like each groups are going to be within the playoffs, as Minnesota is now 4 wins higher than the eighth-place staff within the convention.
Each staff with a profitable document is in NFL Playoff place
Normally there are groups which might be good and simply not adequate, however each staff with a profitable document was in a playoff spot heading into the week. The Cardinals at 6-5 are the one staff on the skin wanting in regardless of sporting a profitable document.
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 nicely.
Seahawks take the lead in NFC West race
The Cardinals couldn’t construct on their divisional lead and now a minimum of two groups are tied on the high, pending the Rams recreation towards the Eagles. Arizona took an early 3-0 lead, however couldn’t get a lot of something going the remainder of the sport and the Seahawks offense did simply sufficient to safe a 16-6 win. Seattle holds the division lead due to now having the head-to-head tiebreaker over Arizona till they face off once more in two weeks.
Packers keep tempo, 49ers stumble additional
The 49ers had been lacking quite a few gamers as a consequence of damage and it confirmed. They hung shut for stretches, however the Packers pulled away to win in a rout. Inexperienced Bay maintained tempo with Detroit and Minnesota whereas San Francisco now sits a recreation again of the highest of the NFC West.
Denver Broncos are proving they belong in Wild Card race
We talked in regards to the Denver Broncos quite a bit this week. They’re proving to be legit contenders within the AFC playoff image fueled by Bo Nix and Sean Payton’s thoughts meld. They’re one recreation out of the highest spot within the Wild Card race and tied within the win column with the Los Angeles Chargers. They end their 2024 common season on the Chargers, on the Bengals, and residential vs the Chiefs in order that they nonetheless have a methods to go.
Monday Night time Soccer goes to be so essential to the AFC standings
The Baltimore Ravens are one recreation behind the Steelers within the AFC North following Pittsburgh’s Thursday night time loss. Baltimore can’t go them with a MNF win, however they will pull inside a half recreation and they’re additionally within the midst of a Wild Card race. That race is at the moment led by Baltimore’s Monday night time opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers. Each groups wish to solidify their playoff place with a win to shut out Week 12.
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, 7-5
- Las Vegas Raiders*, 2-9
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, 9-2
- Inexperienced Bay Packers, 8-3
- Chicago Bears, 4-7
NFC South standings
- Atlanta Falcons, 6-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5-6
- New Orleans Saints, 4-7
- Carolina Panthers, 3-8
NFC West standings
- Los Angeles Rams, 6-5
- Arizona Cardinals, 6-5
- Seattle Seahawks, 5-5
- San Francisco 49ers, 5-6
