NFL: 6 NFL Teams Whose Playoff Hopes Took Massive Hits in Week 13

A few teams made tremendous strides towards helping their playoff chances in Week 13. The Denver Broncos tied up the lead in the AFC West, and both the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers officially clinched their divisions. It sounds like football circa 1997. 

A few teams, however, had some losses that dearly hurt them. How bad will the backlash from these losses be? Only time can tell...

6. Chicago Bears

I'm feeling for the Chicago Bears; the injury bug has hit them hard. 

First they lose their quarterback Jay Cutler, who was playing some of his best football ever, and now they lose Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte to injury. 

Hopefully Forte comes back soon, because the Bears offense is pretty when it's both Cutler-less and Forte-less. 

The Bears lost to the Kansas City Chiefs and are now tied with the Detroit Lions for the last Wild Card spot in the NFC. 

5. Cincinnati Bengals

Three weeks ago, the young Cincinnati Bengals were sitting pretty. They were the league's surprise team and had an uncontested lead in the AFC playoff race. 

After two tough losses to division foes Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals are now part of a slew of 7-5 teams in the AFC. 

4. Buffalo Bills

With another loss in Week 13, the Buffalo Bills are almost certainly not this year's Cinderella story. 

Although they have an explosive offense and had a great start to the season, the Bills just don't have what it takes to win. 

The Fred Jackson injury hurt them, but they haven't answered to the adversity. At 5-7, they need to win out if they want any shot at making the playoffs. 

3. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions got way to cocky way to early in the season, and they are paying for it now. 

Sunday night's loss to the New Orleans Saints was sad for the Lions; it not only represented their third loss in four weeks, but was a game plagued by stupid penalties by the Lions. 

They look extremely undisciplined, making it seem like Ndamukong Suh is not the only one on the team with an attitude problem. 

They are in a complete tailspin, and they need to turn it around fast and soon. 

2. Oakland Raiders

All they had to do was beat the Miami Dolphins in Miami and they would maintain a one-game lead in the AFC West. Sounds easy enough, right?

Well, the Raiders got blown out to Miami and looked terrible in doing so. 

If they let this loss be a hit to their morale, it will also be a hit to their playoff chances. The Denver Broncos are playing red-hot football and have the advantage of a star player and momentum on their side. Being that their schedule isn't too hard either, it will be very hard for the Raiders to win this division. 

1. Dallas Cowboys

A two-game lead in a tight division with four weeks remaining is a great place to be. That is where Dallas could have been if they had only beaten the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. 

Instead, they lost in overtime and only managed to put up 13 points against one of the league's worst defenses.

Now, they only hold a one-game lead over the New York Giants and have to play said Giants twice in the next month.

Despite losing to the Green Bay Packers in Week 13, the Giants looked great and now have a chip on their shoulder as they head to Dallas in Week 14.