There have already been 12 weeks of NFL football played, and the final six weeks of the season are shaping up to be some of the best. NFL Playoff races are heating up in each conference, and those races will be decided over the next few games.
There are now seven teams that make the playoff field in each conference, and that has added to the drama. Some teams already appear to have a playoff spot locked up, while other teams can still get into the picture with a big run.
Here is a quick look at the playoff standings through 12 games.
NFC Has Clear Leaders
All four divisions in the NFC have clear leaders at this point, and it doesn’t look like there will be many changes. The Arizona Cardinals are still the top team in the NFC with a 9-2 record, but Tampa Bay and Green Bay are right behind them.
The Buccaneers have a pretty comfortable lead in the NFC South as they are the only team over the .500 mark. Green Bay is in the same situation in the NFC North, but the Packers and Bucs are trying to get back to the top overall seed.
In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys have a two-game lead over the Washington Football Team. This division continues to really struggle overall, but the Cowboys appear to have taken complete control.
The Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers are the only other NFC teams with a winning record. The final playoff spot is completely up for grabs and will make for an exciting finish.
AFC West is Wild
Kansas City has dominated the AFC West in recent years, but that’s not happening so far in 2021. Kansas City is back on top of the division with a 7-4 record, but the other teams are keeping the pressure on.
The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders all enter Week 13 with a record of 6-5. The AFC West is the only division in football with all four teams over the .500 mark.
It’s going to take a big run from some team to get past the Kansas City Chiefs, but there is potential for this scenario to play out.
AFC Looks Strong
While the NFC has just six teams at or over the .500 mark, there are 12 such teams in the AFC. The race to the top of the AFC is going to be just as crazy as the race for the final few playoff spots.
The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) are currently the top team in the AFC, but the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans have eight wins as well. Of course, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are both still in the position to get the top overall seed as well.
There are going to be some really good teams not make the NFL playoffs in the AFC, while a team below .500 could wind up sneaking into the NFC Playoff field. Only time will tell.
