NFL Playoff Picture Week 13: Latest AFC, NFC Standings and Bracket Scenarios

The first tickets to the NFL playoffs might get punched during Week 13.

Three different teams—the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions—will carry clinching scenarios into their upcoming contests, though some of those paths are far more direct than others.

Whether or not this trio of teams officially secures a postseason spot at this juncture is essentially moot, though. Barring any kind of catastrophic collapse, these three teams know they'll be invited to football's big dance.

Truth be told, a number of teams should have a pretty good idea of where they stand, at least in relation to whether they'll make the playoffs or not. Having said that, there are some bubble teams in each conference, so we'll spotlight their outlook while laying out the latest standings.

AFC Standings

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates his rushing touchdown with teammates Khalil Shakir #10 Dawson Knox #88 against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

4. Houston Texans (7-5)

Wild-Card Race

5. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (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)

12. New York Jets (3-8)

13. Tennessee Titans (3-8)

14. New England Patriots (3-9)

15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

NFL.com's playoff probabilities show...well, only faint hopes held by the teams who don't occupy a top-seven seed.

The Broncos, seeded seventh, hold a 73 percent chance to make the playoffs. The next closest club is the Colts, whose 23 percent chance probably has less to do with their play and more to do with the recent struggles of the AFC South-leading Texans, have dropped four of their last six.

The Dolphins, who have won three straight, only have a 14 percent chance of reaching the postseason. Those are the same chances given to the Bengals, who have lost three of their last four.

The things to watch in this conference, then, are the remaining fights for seed lines and division crowns.

The Bills, who toppled the Chiefs in Week 11, are only a game out of the top seed. The Steelers have only a half-game cushion on the Ravens, whom they'll meet—in Baltimore—in Week 16. The Chargers are in a similar spot with the Broncos, though at least will host the teams' head-to-head matchup the same week.

It sure feels like we know which seven AFC teams will be playoff-bound. As for their order, though, that's still all up in the air.

NFC Standings

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 24: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions runs for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Division Leaders

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)

3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

Wild-Card Race

5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

7. Washington Commanders (7-5)

8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)

10 Los Angeles Rams (5-6)

11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)

12. New Orleans Saints (4-7)

13. Chicago Bears (4-7)

14. Dallas Cowboys (4-7)

15. Carolina Panthers (3-8)

16. New York Giants (2-9)

There is a bigger bubble and less certainty in the NFC. Having said that, those same probabilities put the playoff chances of the Lions, Eagles, Vikings and Packers all at 90-plus percent. And the Falcons aren't too far behind at 70 percent.

Because the Commanders, losers of three straight, seem vulnerable, and neither the Falcons, nor the Seahawks are running away with their respective divisions, there are a handful of playoff-hopefuls sitting outside of the top seven.

Seattle has the same number of wins as Arizona and only one more victory than San Francisco and the Rams. Atlanta only has a single-game edge on Tampa Bay, though the Falcons did sweep their two head-to-head meetings. Still, based on point differential, Tampa Bay (plus-36) might be the better team than Atlanta (minus-30).

Finally, the fights for the NFC's top seed and the NFC North title should be worth watching. The should qualifier is necessary, though, because both races will be put to bed if the Lions can keep their winning streak (nine games and counting) going.

Then again, the Eagles, winners of seven straight, aren't going away. And the Vikings and Packers are both riding smaller winning streaks (spanning six games combined) of their own. Detroit may well hold off the pack, but the top seed and the NFC North crown will be earned.