Breaking Down Each NFL Division Leader's Path to the Playoffs

The only division in the NFL that's not sewn up right now is the NFC North, where the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are just one game apart. 

Sure, it's theoretically possible for the Washington Redskins or Dallas Cowboys to somehow mount a furious comeback to catch the New York Giants in the NFC East, but it's highly unlikely. 

The biggest key for each divisional leader at this point is two-fold.

1. Stay healthy heading into the playoffs, and

2. Build momentum and peak at the right time.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the remaining schedule for each division leader and project the way they'll finish out the season. 

NFC East: New York Giants

As it always is with the New York Giants, the path they take will be determined by which team decides to show up from week to week. 

If the players come to play like they did in Week 12 vs. the Green Bay Packers, the Giants have a chance to win it all. If they don't, they'll get taken out in the first round of the playoffs.

Right now, the 7-4 Giants are two games ahead of the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. They have split the season series with the Cowboys and have beaten the Redskins already with the Monday Night Football game in Week 13 looming. 

Win that game, and the Giants are cruising into the playoffs without a challenge from either team. Lose, and we have an interesting race the rest of the way. 

Here is the team's remaining schedule, along with how I see it playing out:

- Week 13: @ Washington Redskins (win)

- Week 14: New Orleans Saints (win)

- Week 15: @ Atlanta Falcons (lose)

- Week 16: @ Baltimore Ravens (lose)

- Week 17: Philadelphia Eagles (win)

This outcome would give the Giants a 10-6 record in the regular season and set the team up to be the No. 4 seed in the NFC.

NFC North: Chicago Bears

This team's success depends on the health of Jay Cutler, who really is the engine that drives the offense—not Matt Forte. This was clearly evident when the Chicago Bears were humiliated on national television on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.

The Bears have a tough test ahead of them with three road games in their final five games and divisional contests against all three of their NFC North rivals. 

When Cutler's running the offense, and when he's not being driven into the turf on a regular basis, the Bears offense is capable of putting up points in bunches. 

Combined with one of the most dangerous defenses in the NFL, this team has a hope of playing in the big game come February. 

Here is the schedule the rest of the way, along with my predicted outcomes for every game:

- Week 13: Seattle Seahawks (win)

- Week 14: @ Minnesota Vikings (win)

- Week 15: Green Bay Packers (lose)

- Week 16: @ Arizona Cardinals (win)

- Week 17: @ Detroit Lions (win)

This projected outcome would give the Bears a final record of 12-4.

Given the fact that the Green Bay Packers could tie the Bears if they win out and have a favorable schedule, this race will certainly be one of the most intriguing ones to watch the rest of the way, along with the wild-card battles in both conferences. 

NFC South: Atlanta Falcons

In order for the Atlanta Falcons to not win their division over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons would have to lose all five of the remaining games on the schedule and the Bucs would have to win out. 

That isn't happening. 

At 10-1, the Falcons will win the NFC South. 

The biggest concerns for this team will be fixing its poor running game and staying healthy.

Here are the remaining games on the schedule for the Falcons, along with my predictions for each one:

- Week 13: New Orleans Saints (lose)

- Week 14: @ Carolina Panthers (win)

- Week 15: New York Giants (win)

- Week 16: @ Detroit Lions (win)

- Week 17: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (lose)

This outcome would give the Falcons a record of 13-3 to end the season and would secure them the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick is the quarterback of the future, and apparently the quarterback of the present, as well. 

I'm 100 percent behind Jim Harbaugh's decision to start the young phenom, but there's a good chance he'll slip up a couple of times before the season's done. 

That shouldn't be too much of a problem, though, given the team's incredible defense, which is actually better this year than it was in 2011.

Furthermore, even without Kendall Hunter, the 49ers have an offensive line that blows defenses backwards and the running backs to make them pay.

The Seattle Seahawks, at 6-5, will not catch up to the 49ers. 

Here is the team's remaining schedule, along with my prediction for each game:

- Week 13: @ St. Louis Rams (win)

- Week 14: Miami Dolphins (win)

- Week 15: @ New England Patriots (lose)

- Week 16: @ Seattle Seahawks (win)

- Week 17: Arizona Cardinals (win)

This outcome would give the 49ers a final record of 12-3-1 and would secure them the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

AFC East: New England Patriots

With a comfortable three-game lead over the Miami Dolphins and a favorable schedule—including two games against the Dolphins—the New England Patriots are locks to win the AFC East. 

Tom Brady is playing as well, if not better, than he has at any point in his career, throwing 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions thus far. Better still, he has a bruising running game to lean on, and opposing teams can't stop him and his running backs.

The Pats have scored almost 48 points per game the past four games, and this team looks to be peaking at just the right time. 

Here is the team's remaining schedule, along with my prediction for each game:

- Week 13: @ Miami Dolphins (win)

- Week 14: Houston Texans (lose)

- Week 15: San Francisco 49ers (win)

- Week 16: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (win)

- Week 17 Miami Dolphins (win)

This outcome would give the Patriots a final record of 12-4 and would secure them the No. 3 seed in the AFC.

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens live and die on the right arm of Joe Flacco.

This could be a problem in the playoffs, as Flacco is terrible on the road, but given the team's 9-2 record to this point, the Ravens won't likely face a road test in the playoffs until the AFC Championship game.

The Ravens currently hold a three-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and their lead in the AFC North is secure.

Ray Lewis is expected to return at some point during the regular season, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the Ravens win out. 

That said, there are some tough tests ahead for this team coming up. Here is the schedule, along with my prediction for each game:

- Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers (win)

- Week 14: @ Washington Redskins (win)

- Week 15: Denver Broncos (lose)

- Week 16: New York Giants (win)

- Week 17: @ Cincinnati Bengals (win)

This outcome gives the Ravens a final record of 13-3 and would secure the No. 2 seed in the AFC. 

AFC South: Houston Texans

With a three-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts and a fairly easy schedule ahead of them, the Houston Texans have the AFC South wrapped up already.

This team features one of the league's best defenses, one of the league's most consistent and dangerous rushing attacks and a solid—if not better-than-average—passing attack. 

The biggest challenge for the Texans at this point is keeping their key players healthy and getting Jonathan Joseph back in action before the playoffs. 

Here is the team's remaining schedule, along with my prediction for each game:

- Week 13: @ Tennessee Titans (win)

- Week 14: @ New England Patriots (win)

- Week 15: Indianapolis Colts (win)

- Week 16: Minnesota Vikings (win)

- Week 17: @ Indianapolis Colts (lose)

This outcome would give the Texans a final record of 14-2 and would secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

AFC West: Denver Broncos

With a four-game lead in the AFC West over the hapless San Diego Chargers, the Denver Broncos are virtually assured the divisional crown at the end of the season. 

Peyton Manning is playing as well as he ever did before his four neck surgeries—practically miraculous, if you ask me—and his defense has stepped up to become one of the more dominant units in the NFL the past couple of months. 

Von Miller is the most disruptive pure pass-rusher in the NFL, and as long as Manning's putting up points, the Broncos have a chance to win every single game they play.

Here is the team's remaining schedule, along with my prediction for each game:

- Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (lose)

- Week 14: @ Oakland Raiders (win)

- Week 15: @ Baltimore Ravens (win)

- Week 16: Cleveland Browns (win)

- Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs (win)

This outcome gives the Broncos a final record of 12-4 and would secure the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78 and check out my weekly NFL picks at Pickfactor.com