Titans still rising; 49ers, Ravens hold top seeds
Week 14 provided some clarity at the top of both conferences. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers both have onegame leads. The Ravens have a head-to-head victory over the Patriots, and the 49ers have beaten both the Saints and Packers, with an opportunity ahead to avenge their loss to the Seahawks.
Behind them, there is plenty left to be sorted out.
Here is how we think the playoff field will shake out.
NFC
How they will finish (with current record):
1. San Francisco 49ers, 11-2 Remaining schedule: Falcons, Rams, at Seahawks.
2. New Orleans Saints, 10-3 Remaining schedule: Colts, at Titans, at Panthers.
3. Green Bay Packers, 10-3 Remaining schedule: Bears, at Vikings, at Lions.
4. Dallas Cowboys, 6-7 Remaining schedule: Rams, at Eagles, Redskins.
5. Seattle Seahawks, 10-3 Remaining schedule: at Panthers, Cardinals, 49ers. 6. Minnesota Vikings, 9-4 Remaining schedule: at Chargers, Packers, Bears.
In the hunt:
Philadelphia Eagles, 6-7 Remaining schedule: Giants, at Redskins, Cowboys, at Giants.
Los Angeles Rams, 8-5 Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, at 49ers, Cardinals.
Not happening: Carolina Panthers (5-8), Chicago Bears (7-6), New York Giants (2-11), Washington Redskins (3-10), Detroit Lions (3-9-1), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7), Atlanta Falcons (4-9), Arizona Cardinals (3-9-1).
The top of the NFC is starting to solidify. The Packers currently hold the No. 2 seed, but they have to play the Vikings in Minnesota, and the Saints have the talent to overtake them.
That Vikings-Packers showdown in Week 16 will have major ramifications for many teams. But even if Minnesota wins that game and both teams win out otherwise against inferior competition, the Packers would hold the tiebreaker based on division record.
The Rams stayed alive Monday, just one game behind the Vikings, with an impressive victory over Seattle. Los Angeles needs to play in San Francisco, though. The Rams need the Vikings to slip up, and they’ll be watching the Green Bay-Minnesota game closely.
AFC
How they will finish: 1. Baltimore Ravens, 11-2 Remaining schedule: Jets, at Browns, Steelers.
2. New England Patriots, 10-3 Remaining schedule: at Bengals, Bills, Dolphins.
3. Kansas City Chiefs, 9-4 Remaining schedule: Broncos, at Bears, Chargers.
4. Tennessee Titans, 8-5 Remaining schedule: Texans, Saints, at Texans.
5. Buffalo Bills, 9-4
Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Patriots, Jets.
6. Houston Texans, 8-5 Remaining schedule: at Titans, at Bucs, Titans.
In the hunt:
Pittsburgh Steelers, 8-5 Remaining schedule: Bills, at Jets, at Ravens.
Hanging on: Cleveland Browns (5-7), Oakland Raiders (6-7), Indianapolis Colts (6-7).
Not happening: Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9), Los Angeles Chargers (5-8), Denver Broncos (5-8), New York Jets (5-8), Miami Dolphins (3-10), Cincinnati Bengals (1-12).
Do you know the only AFC team other than the Ravens and Patriots that controls its own fate for earning a bye? It’s the Bills, who would own the tiebreaker over the Patriots if they can finish 3-0.
That’s easier said than done, starting with Sunday night’s meeting with the Steelers in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will get back injured stars JuJu SmithSchuster and James Conner. The result will go a long way in shaping the AFC playoff field.
The Chiefs could also take a run at a bye. If they win out and the Patriots stumble at all, they’ll overtake the Patriots for the No. 2 seed.
The Titans get the nod over the Texans in this projection simply because they’re playing so well and Houston’s inconsistency makes the Texans hard to trust.