NFL Playoff Picture Week 13: Updated AFC, NFC Wild-Card Scenarios & Predictions

It should be a furious sprint to the finish line to make the playoffs in the NFL.

Not only do we get that impression from looking at the standings, but history tells us that the wild-card playoff race often comes down to the final minutes of the last week of the regular season.

It appears that three spots in the AFC are all but wrapped up, as the New England Patriots (10-1), Denver Broncos (9-2) and Cincinnati Bengals (9-2) are almost certainly going to be playing postseason football. In the case of the Patriots, they could lose their five remaining games to finish 10-6 and still likely make the playoffs.

In the NFC, the undefeated Carolina Panthers (11-0) need one more win or one more loss from the free-falling Atlanta Falcons to clinch the NFC South. The Arizona Cardinals (9-2), Minnesota Vikings (8-3) and Green Bay Packers (8-4) all appear to be in good shape to make the playoffs as well.

The Vikings and the Packers are in a battle for the NFC North title, and it appears that whichever team finishes second in the division has an excellent shot at earning one of the NFC wild-card spots.

Conference	Team	Record	Postseason Prediction
AFC	New England	10-1	No. 1 seed in AFC; first-round bye
AFC	Cincinnati	9-2	No. 2 seed in AFC; first-round bye
AFC	Denver	9-2	No. 3 seed, division champion
AFC	Houston	6-5	No. 4 seed, division champion
AFC	Kansas City	6-5	No. 5 seed, wild-card qualifier
AFC	Pittsburgh	6-5	No. 6 seed, wild-card qualifier
AFC	Indianapolis	6-5	Will not qualify
AFC	N.Y. Jets	6-5	Will not qualify
AFC	Oakland	5-6	Will not qualify
AFC	Buffalo	5-6	Will not qualify
NFC	Carolina	11-0	No. 1 seed in NFC, first-round bye
NFC	Arizona	9-2	No. 2 seed in NFC, first-round bye
NFC	Minnesota	8-3	No. 3 seed, division champion
NFC	N.Y. Giants	5-6	No. 4 seed, division champions
NFC	Green Bay	8-4	No. 5 seed, wild-card qualifier
NFC	Seattle	6-5	No. 6 seed, wild-card qualifier
NFC	Chicago	5-6	Will not qualify
NFC	Atlanta	6-5	Will not qualify
NFC	Tampa Bay	5-6	Will not qualify
NFC	Washington	5-6	Will not qualify

On Thursday night, the Vikings were one play away from taking command in the race, but Aaron Rodgers' 61-yard Hail Mary pass against the Detroit Lions was caught by Richard Rodgers, and that allowed the Packers to climb within a half game of the division lead.

If the Vikings lose at home to Seattle in Week 13, the two teams will have the same 8-4 record, but the Packers would have the lead in the division since they defeated Minnesota in a head-to-head matchup earlier this season.

While those two NFC North competitors are in good shape, it would be wrong to count out the 5-6 Chicago Bears. Chicago has exceeded expectations this season, and John Fox's team is among a group of four teams that are chasing the Seattle Seahawks (6-5, currently seeded sixth) for the final NFC playoff spot.

The Bears have a favorable schedule with three winnable home games against San Francisco, Washington and Detroit remaining, along with road games at Minnesota and Tampa Bay.

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The NFC East is likely going to see either the Washington Redskins (5-6) or the New York Giants (5-6) win the division, with no other playoff representative. The Redskins have the division lead at this point since they have a 2-1 divisional record, while the Giants are 2-3.

It doesn't seem likely that the Redskins or Giants will go on a season-ending winning streak, let alone both of them. That's why the NFC East winner will likely be the only postseason representative of the division.

The Atlanta Falcons (6-5) have the same record as the Seahawks, but they are on the outside looking in at this point because they have a 4-4 conference record compared to Seattle's 5-4 mark. The Falcons won six of their first seven games, but they have dropped four straight, and recapturing momentum at this point appears quite difficult since they still have two games remaining with Carolina.

Just a game behind are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6), and they have improved quite a bit after a typical up-and-down start with rookie quarterback Jameis Winston. However, it's tough to see this team finding the consistency needed to assert itself down the stretch.

The Seahawks are used to dominating in the NFC after representing the conference in each of the last two Super Bowls, but they were on the outside of the playoff picture until they outlasted the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. The Seahawks don't appear to be in a position to catch the Cardinals, but games against Baltimore, Cleveland and St. Louis in Weeks 13, 14 and 15, respectively, should be winnable.

On the AFC side, the New York Jets (6-5) are in the best position of any of the teams in the division to join the Patriots in the playoffs. The Jets and the Steelers have the same record as current wild-card leaders Kansas City and Houston, but the Chiefs and Texans have the tiebreaker edges heading into Week 13.

The Bills (5-6) are still in the race, and they have a favorable schedule down the stretch and could have an impact on the wild-card race.

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The Steelers have three challenging games coming up against the Indianapolis Colts, Bengals and Broncos, but if they can survive those opponents, they will close in on struggling Baltimore and Cleveland. The explosive passing game led by Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown may be difficult to stop.

During the first half of the year, the AFC South looked pitiful, but the Colts (6-5) and Texans (6-5) have both turned it around. The Colts have been winning with backup Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, while the uber-talented Houston defense has come to life and played three sensational games in a row.

With stars in J.J. Watt, Brian Cushing, Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus, the Texans may be in an excellent position to make a postseason run if they don't stumble in their last five games.

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The Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) have been dangerous after starting the season with five losses in their first six games. Head coach Andy Reid got his team to hold it together, and the Chiefs have reeled off five straight wins. 

Quarterback Alex Smith may be considered a game manager, but he has not thrown an interception since Week 3, and his stability has been a big part of the team's success.

The Raiders (5-6) earned a much-needed win at Tennessee in Week 12, but they have a brutal closing schedule that includes two games against Kansas City and matchups with Denver, Green Bay and San Diego.