Updated NFL Playoff Picture: Analyzing the Latest Scenarios for Week 13

Yes, there is an awful lot of football remaining over the next five weeks.

And more than the usual chunk of it will take place this Thursday.

Both the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are currently tied for first place in their respective divisions, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are all square at 5-6 as one of them looks to get back to the .500 mark.

Yes, it’s safe to say that the Thanksgiving’s triple-header certainly has plenty of intrigue when it comes to the playoff picture.

Ah, the playoffs. It’s getting to be about that time, isn’t it? So once again, here is a glance at the NFL’s postseason matchups as they stand at this time.

Given what we saw this past weekend around the NFL, the “N” might actually stand for “Never Say Never.”

Okay, it’s a stretch. Work with me, okay?

On The Bubble

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Listed below are the top teams in each conference that would be on the outside looking in come playoff time. The number attached is their current seeding.

AFC

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6)

The Black and Gold have won three straight games and allowed a combined 48 points since that 55-31 loss to the New England Patriots. The Steelers will have a different kind of bird on Thanksgiving, as they'll face the Ravens in Baltimore. A win gives them a sweep of the defending Super Bowl champions.

8. Baltimore Ravens (5-6)

John Harbaugh’s team did what it does best, and that’s play good defense at home. The Ravens forced New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith into three turnovers in a 19-3 win. But quarterback Joe Flacco continues to throw interceptions, and that could be bad news against a revived Steelers defense on Thursday.

9. San Diego Chargers (5-6)

How do you figure Mike McCoy’s team? The Chargers snapped a three-game losing streak by hanging 41 points on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Losses to the Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins won’t help them come tiebreaker time, however.

10. New York Jets (5-6)

Rex Ryan’s team finally snapped that habit of alternating wins and losses...by losing a second straight game. What has remained consistent is rookie quarterback Geno Smith’s inability to secure the football. Three more turnovers at Baltimore on Sunday gave him 23 for the season.

11. Miami Dolphins (5-6)

Joe Philbin’s team couldn’t close the deal on Sunday against the visiting Carolina Panthers. The Dolphins were shut out in the second half after owning a 16-3 second-quarter lead. The lack of a running game (52 yards on Sunday) remains an issue.

NFC

7. Arizona Cardinals (7-4)

Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer has caught fire as of late, throwing eight touchdown passes and just two interceptions during the team’s current four-game winning streak. And Arizona’s defense is getting better on a weekly basis. Could Bruce Arians be on the verge of being named coach of the year for a second straight season?

8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-5)

Quarterback Nick Foles has thrown 16 touchdown passes and zero interceptions, and running back LeSean McCoy leads the league in rushing. Chip Kelly’s team takes a three-game winning streak into this week’s showdown with the hot Arizona Cardinals.

9. Chicago Bears (6-5)

Oh where, oh where has the Bears defense gone? The St. Louis Rams rolled up 406 total yards, including 258 yards on the ground, and Marc Trestman’s team was doubled up on the scoreboard, 42-21. Chicago heads to the Metrodome this week, where it's guaranteed to get a large dose of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

10. Green Bay Packers (5-5-1)

Considering the Packers rallied from a 23-7 deficit to earn a tie with the Vikings, you can’t feel awful if you are Mike McCarthy. After all, his team picked up a half-game on both the Detroit Lions and Bears in the NFC North. Green Bay will be in Detroit on Thanksgiving.

11. St. Louis Rams (5-6)

What has gotten into Jeff Fisher’s club? Two weeks ago at Indianapolis, the Rams rolled the Colts, 38-8. On Sunday, the club showed it hadn’t cooled off during its mini-vacation with a 42-21 rout of the Bears. But Fisher’s team may need to run the table to get in.

AFC No. 1 Seed: Denver Broncos (9-2)

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Playoff Opponent: First-Round Bye

How on earth do you explain this one?

Fortunately for the Denver Broncos, they haven’t had to deal with the aftermath of a loss too often in 2013. The team opened 6-0 before being cooled down by the Indianapolis Colts and then won three more games in a row.

Make that three-and-a-half, as quarterback Peyton Manning and Co. managed to jump out to a 24-0 lead at intermission on the road over the New England Patriots.

But before you could say Foxborough, Massachusetts., the Broncos found themselves down late in the fourth quarter. Denver got a Manning-to-Demaryius Thomas touchdown pass to help force overtime but then lost in the extra session, 34-31.

There is no way to gauge the effects of this setback until the Broncos take the field next week against the Kansas City Chiefs, who also lost in high-scoring fashion on Sunday. In any case, Manning’s team could be in danger of letting the conference’s top seed fall from its grasp.

AFC No. 2 Seed: New England Patriots (8-3)

Playoff Opponent: First-Round Bye

Add another wild installment to the rivalry between quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Down 24-0 at home at halftime to the Broncos on Sunday night, the New England Patriots quarterback orchestrated the greatest comeback in franchise history. When it was all said and done, the Pats managed to come all the way back for a 34-31 overtime win over their guests from Denver.

The victory gave the Pats a three-game lead in the AFC East with five weeks to go. Bill Belichick’s team is on the verge of a fifth straight AFC East title and an 11th division crown in the last 13 years.

New England’s offense is starting to gel at the right time. The team’s top two scoring performances of the season have come in their last three games. And quarterback Tom Brady has thrown eight touchdown passes and just one interception in his last three games.

Consider this as well: If the Broncos and/or Chiefs aren’t careful the next two weeks, the path to Super Bowl XLVIII could wind up going through Foxborough.

AFC No. 3 Seed: Indianapolis Colts (7-4)

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Playoff Opponent: Tennessee Titans (5-6)

We all know about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s impressive record when it comes to bringing his team from behind.

Unfortunately for head coach Chuck Pagano, his team is going out of its way to show what its talented second-year signal-caller can do.

The Colts have split their last four games since knocking the Denver Broncos from the unbeaten ranks in Week 7. In those contests, they've been outscored a combined 42-3 in the first quarter and a mind-numbing 93-12 in the first half.

Over that span, Luck led his team to wins over the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans after trailing by 18 and 14 points, respectively. The Colts have also lost to the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals by 30 and 29 points, respectively.

Indianapolis welcomes the Titans to town this Sunday and still owns a two-game lead in the AFC South. As a public service to Pagano’s team, here’s a reminder that the game starts at 1 p.m. local time.

AFC No. 4 Seed: Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)

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Playoff Opponent: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)

The standings show that the Cincinnati Bengals own a two-game lead in the AFC North with five games to play.

It is certainly not an insurmountable lead, but consider this: The Bengals are the only team in their division to sport a winning record. Despite eight interceptions by quarterback Andy Dalton in his last three games, Cincinnati has managed to keep its head above water.

Marvin Lewis’ team is seeking the franchise’s first division title since 2009 and an unprecedented third straight postseason appearance.

It is very safe to say that this club will have a huge impact on the AFC playoff picture going forward. The Bengals head to San Diego this week to face the Chargers and then host the erratic Indianapolis Colts. A win over Chuck Pagano’s team could be crucial in terms of playoff seeding.

Cincinnati also travels to Pittsburgh in Week 15 and hosts the Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season finale.

Yep, these Bengals are getting ready to earn their stripes. At the very least, they could be earning a few for the other contenders in the conference as well.

AFC No. 5 Seed: Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)

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Playoff Opponent: at Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)

Suddenly, the Kansas City Chiefs have gone from the last unbeaten team in the league to looking very beatable.

After allowing 111 points during the team’s 9-0 start, Andy Reid’s team has surrendered a combined 68 points in consecutive losses to the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.

The Chiefs’ vaunted pass rush has produced just two sacks in their last four games. To be fair, Sunday’s home loss to San Diego saw the team play the majority of the afternoon without outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.

What’s interesting is that a lot of criticism aimed at Kansas City this season has been directed at quarterback Alex Smith. On Sunday, the nine-year veteran threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns (one interception) in the 41-38 setback to the Chargers.

This Sunday, the Denver Broncos invade Arrowhead Stadium, and it’s safe to say Peyton Manning and his team are reeling after their own disappointing outcome on Sunday.

Now things are really going to get interesting.

AFC No. 6 Seed: Tennessee Titans (5-6)

Playoff Opponent: at Indianapolis Colts (7-4)

How crazy of a league is this?

After dropping two home games in the span of five days, the Tennessee Titans suddenly find themselves in the driver's seat in terms of a playoff appearance.

A 23-19 road win over the Oakland Raiders temporarily takes the sting out of those two recent home losses, first to the then-winless Jacksonville Jaguars and then to the Colts after squandering a 14-0 lead.

So Mike Munchak’s club, winners just twice in the last seven games, sits in the sixth spot in the AFC as we speak. How? Remember, the Titans have wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets and Sunday’s triumph over the Raiders this season.

Of course, beating their division rivals in the AFC South (0-3) has been a far different story.

NFC No. 1 Seed: Seattle Seahawks (10-1)

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Playoff Opponent: First-Round Bye

Do you like your salmon Cajun style?

The final game of the NFL’s Week 13 slate will feature the 10-1 Seattle Seahawks, now armed with the league’s best record, against the 9-2 New Orleans Saints.

At the moment, the teams occupy the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs. The 19 combined wins are more than the four teams in the AFC South (16) and just as many as the entire NFC East and NFC North.

Neither club has been defeated within the conference, both teams 7-0 versus NFC competition, and each club is 3-0 within its own division.

Both squads will also have a little extra time to prepare for this tilt. New Orleans played Thursday night at Atlanta, and Seattle is returning from its off week.

Of course, neither the Saints (6-0) nor Seahawks (5-0) have lost at home, which makes this a tough task for Sean Payton’s talented club.

And need we remind anyone of the last time these teams met? In case your memory is a little fuzzy, here’s a little clip that may bowl you over.

NFC No. 2 Seed: New Orleans Saints (9-2)

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Playoff Opponent: First-Round Bye

Last Thursday night, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees did what he does best: beat the Atlanta Falcons.

Since his arrival in the Crescent City in 2006, the prolific signal-caller has owned the Saints' longtime rival. Thanks to a 17-13 win at the Georgia Dome, Brees and his team know they won’t have the Falcons to kick around anymore this season.

Sean Payton’s club, despite a 9-2 record (two more wins than all of last season), still has plenty of work ahead of it.

There is this week’s Monday night showdown with the Seahawks in Seattle. There are also two games to play against the red-hot 8-3 Carolina Panthers. In Week 14, the Saints will host Cam Newton and his team at the Superdome. It will mark the team’s third straight prime-time contest.

Fortunately for Payton, Brees and this club, they have gotten very acclimated to the bright lights in recent seasons.

NFC No. 3 Seed: Detroit Lions (6-5)

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Playoff Opponent: San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

Yes, despite two straight losses, the Detroit Lions are still tied atop the NFC North this season.

It just doesn’t feel that way.

In any case, a loss by the Chicago Bears to the St. Louis Rams and a tie between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers still has Jim Schwartz’s team in prime position for the franchise’s first division title since 1993.

That's the good news. As for the bad news, the Lions host the Packers this Thursday afternoon. Detroit has dropped five straight and 23 of its last 26 games in the series.

To make matters worse, the traditional holiday hosts have been turkeys. The Lions have lost nine straight games on Thanksgiving dating back to 2004 and have been outscored a combined 319-144 in the process.

And just who will be the Packers’ starting quarterback on Thursday? Could it actually be Matt Flynn? Of course, everyone knows what he did the last time he started a game for the Packers.

NFC No. 4 Seed: Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

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Playoff Opponent: vs. Carolina Panthers (8-3)

Anyone out there know if Dallas Cowboys Jerry-of-all-trades Jerry Jones is a fan of Aerosmith?

Following Sunday’s entertaining 24-21 win over the host New York Giants, you can imagine what song may have popped into his head.

But let’s consider what the Cowboys, who next have a Thanksgiving Day date with the Oakland Raiders, managed to accomplish on Sunday.

In sweeping the Giants for the first time since 2007, Jones and Co. raised their record within the division to 4-0 this season. That includes a road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, whom the Cowboys host in the teams’ regular-season finale.

First things first, though, which means not looking past the Raiders this Thursday. In any case, it’s possible that, for the third straight year, the Cowboys will be playing for the NFC East title on the final Sunday of the season.

NFC No. 5 Seed: Carolina Panthers (8-3)

Playoff Opponent: at Dallas Cowboys (6-5)

While the final numbers showed that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton didn’t have his best day of the season, he and his team were terrific when they had to be against the Miami Dolphins.

Trailing 16-3 late in the second quarter, Ron Rivera’s team slowly but surely responded with 17 unanswered points on the way to a 20-16 victory.

As the Panthers defense kept the team in the game, it was seemingly just a matter of time before Newton got it done.

"He's playing with a lot of confidence in the last six, seven, eight weeks," head coach Ron Rivera told Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today. "I know this much: It gives everyone else confidence, and I think that's probably the biggest thing."

That confidence came in the form of a 12-play, 80-yard drive in the closing minutes, capped off by a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen with 43 seconds remaining.

Speaking of remaining, the Panthers are still just one game behind the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South...with two games remaining versus Sean Payton’s club.

NFC No. 6 Seed: San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

Playoff Opponent: at Detroit Lions (6-5)

For the second time this season, the defending NFC champions San Francisco 49ers faced the prospect of a three-game losing streak.

For the second time this season, Jim Harbaugh’s club responded with a big effort.

The Niners kept the Washington Redskins absolutely and positively out of the end zone in a 27-6 Monday night victory at FedExField.

Meanwhile, it was 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who delivered following a pair of sub-par performances. The third-year pro threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, including two to veteran wideout Anquan Boldin.

The win kept the defending NFC West champs within shouting distance of the first-place Seattle Seahawks. It also enabled them to leapfrog past the Arizona Cardinals for now in terms of a playoff invitation.

Imagine having Harbaugh face Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz in the postseason.