Saints clinch top spot in NFC

For a decade, the New England Patriots have owned the AFC East.

The Patriots clinched their 10th straight division title Dec. 23 when they beat Buffalo, 24-12. They got an added bonus when Houston fell at Philadelphia, 3230, to drop out of the second seed in the conference, which New England grabbed.

The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles remained alive in the NFC wild-card chase with that win on Jake Elliott’s 35yard field goal as time expired. Dallas took the NFC East crown when it defeated Tampa Bay, 27-20.

New Orleans secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by beating Pittsburgh, 31-28, dropping the Steelers into second place behind Baltimore in the AFC North. Here’s how things look with one week remaining:.

AFC

It was a double treat for the Patriots, who probably need to be home in the postseason considering they are 7-0 in Foxboro — the league’s only undefeated team in its own building — and 3-5 on the road.

Baltimore (9-6), fresh off its victory at the Chargers on Saturday night, has a half-game lead on Pittsburgh (8-6-1), which has lost four of five. The Ravens will take the North with a home win against Cleveland next week. The Steelers host Cincinnati and need help to get into the postseason.

In the South, Houston (10-5) is leading Indianapolis and Tennessee, both 9-6. The Colts and Titans face off in Nashville next Sunday night, and the winner there will be in. The Texans host Jacksonville (5-10).

NFC

Dallas (9-6) grabbed the East and will host a wildcard game. If Minnesota (86-1) wins next week at home against North winner Chicago, it will get a wild card. Seattle (8-6) is in with a victory against Kansas City on Dec. 23. Philadelphia (8-7) needs to beat Washington and get help.

The Bears (11-4) still have a shot at a first-round bye, needing to beat the Vikings and have the West champion Rams (12-3) lose at home to San Francisco.

New Orleans (13-2) has the league’s best mark.