Eagles cause wild-card flux in NFC playoff race

How the NFL playoff picture looks after Week 13’s action.

1. Rams (11-1): NFC West champions. The first team in 2018 to officially clinch a playoff berth, Los Angeles wrapped up a second consecutive division crown after pulling away from the Lions. Week 14 opponent Chicago is the only one left on the schedule with a winning record, and the Rams now control their destiny as it pertains to pursuing home-field advantage.

2. Saints (10-2): NFC South leader. They ceded control of the No. 1 seed after the surprising loss at Dallas. New Orleans still looks like a good bet for a firstround bye but has two dates with Carolina and one with Pittsburgh over the final four weeks.

3. Bears (8-4): NFC North leader. Can’t lose to teams like the Giants if you hope to catch the Saints. They also missed a golden opportunity to take a major step toward locking up the division ... though it helped to have Green Bay and Minnesota lose.

4. Cowboys (7-5): NFC East leader. Massive defeat of Saints solidified Dallas’ playoff hopes while affording a mini-bye ahead of a home date with Philadelphia. But the margin for error remains razor thin.

5. Seahawks (7-5): Wild card No. 1. They can’t do better than this spot but must be thrilled to have it — especially after some geniuses foresaw a 4-12 season. Helps to have one game apiece remaining against the Niners and Cards over the next four weeks.

6. Vikings (6-5-1): Wild card No. 2. Kirk Cousins can thank his former Washington teammates after their Monday night loss in Philly allowed the Vikes to move back into the field. Big Week 14 game in Seattle.

In the hunt: Panthers (6-6), Eagles (6-6), Redskins (6-6), Buccaneers (5-7)

AFC

1. Chiefs (10-2): AFC West leader. Stunning setback in wake of Kareem Hunt’s release. But even as the Chiefs continue to sort the fallout, they can still lock down a berth next weekend.

2. Patriots (9-3): AFC East leader. You hate to diminish New England by saying the Patriots are on cruise control at this point. But after dismantling a solid Vikings team to start December, the Pats will be hard to slow down moving forward.

3. Texans (9-3): AFC South leader. Now winners of nine in a row, the hottest team in the league maintains pressure on the Patriots in pursuit of a playoff bye. (New England’s Week 1 defeat of Houston continues to loom large.)

4. Steelers (7-4-1): AFC North leader. Their come-from-ahead loss to the Bolts on Sunday night could effectively eliminate them from the quest for a first-round bye.

5. Chargers (9-3): Wild card No. 1. Their aspirations of winning the AFC West are alive and well. A showdown in Kansas City now just a week and a half away.

6. Ravens (7-5): Wild card No. 2. Now 3-0 with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson as the starter after Sunday’s win in Atlanta, they can’t let up with so many teams on their heels.

In the hunt: Broncos (6-6), Colts (6-6), Dolphins (6-6), Titans (6-6), Bengals (5-7)