Postseason race heating up

Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks after Week 14’s action.

NFC

y-1. New Orleans Saints (11-2): NFC South champions. They overcame scrappy Bucs to win consecutive division crowns for first time in franchise history.

y-2. Los Angeles Rams (11-2): NFC West champs. Fumbled chance to sew up first-round bye while giving inside track to homefield advantage back to Saints.

3. Chicago Bears (9-4): NFC North leader. Long shots to get first-round bye, even after picking up tiebreaker against Rams.

4. Dallas Cowboys (8-5): NFC East leader. A loss would have knocked them from field. Instead, they stunned the Eagles in overtime and essentially put hammerlock on this division.

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-5): Wild card No. 1. They can’t do better than this spot but gave themselves breathing room after cruising by Vikings on Monday night.

6. Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1): Wild card No. 2. Only thing they seem to have going for them is that no one else seems to want this spot.

In the hunt: Carolina Panthers (6-7), Philadelphia Eagles (6-7), Washington Redskins (6-7), Green Bay Packers (5-7-1).

AFC

x-1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-2): AFC West leader. Outlasted Baltimore to clinch fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

2. New England Patriots (9-4): AFC East leader. Collapse in Miami means they’ll have to wait at least one more week to secure division for 10th straight season.

3. Houston Texans (9-4): AFC South leader. First loss since September prevented them from moving past Pats and into position for a bye.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1): AFC North leader. Missed black and golden opportunity to open up lead in division by gagging in Oakland.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3): Wild card No. 1. Huge game at Arrowhead on Thursday night with AFC West lead at stake.

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-6): Wild card No. 2. Despite losing in Kansas City, they retain this spot by narrowest of margins since they have one more win against common opponents than Miami.

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (7-6), Miami Dolphins (7-6), Tennessee Titans (7-6), Denver Broncos (6-7), Cleveland Browns (5-7-1).

x–clinched playoffs

y–clinched division