The Detroit Lions stay atop the NFC, but they didn’t get any help from the true contenders. Here’s an updated look at the NFC playoff picture and standings.
The Detroit Lions took care of business with ease on Sunday afternoon, executing a blowout 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately, it looks like they’ll need to continue to take care of business because just about every other NFC contender also won in Week 11.
Let’s take a closer look at the NFL playoff picture as it currently stands, with the “Monday Night Football” Cowboys vs. Texans matchup irrelevant to the NFC standings.
NFC North standings:
- Lions: 9-1
- Vikings: 8-2
- Packers: 7-3
- Bears: 4-6
The Lions still hold just a one-game lead (plus a temporary tiebreaker) over the Vikings and two games over the Packers. That said, the Vikings and Packers weren’t playing very inspired football on Sunday. Green Bay needed a blocked field goal at the end of regulation to stave off the Bears. While Minnesota’s offense continued to struggle against the Titans.
The Bears continue to find creative ways to lose and have dropped four straight after a 4-2 start to the year. They’re done.
NFC playoff standings:
Division leaders:
- Lions: 9-1
- Eagles: 8-2
- Cardinals: 6-4
- Falcons: 6-5
The No. 1 seed has essentially become a two-division race. It’s almost certain that the NFC North or the NFC East will get the first-round bye, and you could argue it’s between five teams: Lions, Eagles, Vikings, Packers, and Commanders.
The Eagles appear to be Detroit’s biggest challenge right now, as they’ve won six straight, but they’re about to enter a tough part of their schedule:
- at Rams (SNF)
- at Ravens
- vs. Panthers
- vs. Steelers
- at Commanders
They’ll likely need to be at least 4-1 through that stretch to remain within striking distance of the Lions.
Meanwhile, the NFC South and NFC West continue to beat up on each other, to the Lions’ benefit. Arizona leads the West, but every other team is a single game behind them at 5-5. In the South, the Falcons got creamed by the Broncos, the Saints are back(?), while the Bucs and Panthers watched at home during their bye week.
Wild Card spots:
5. Vikings: 8-2
6. Packers: 7-3
7. Commanders: 7-4
Two weeks ago, the Commanders had the No. 2 seed. After back-to-back losses, they’re now the No. 7 seed this week. That just goes to show you how tight the race is right now.
In the hunt:
8. Rams: 5-5
9. Seahawks: 5-5
10. 49ers: 5-5
11. Buccaneers: 4-6
12. Bears: 4-6
13. Saints: 4-7
The Rams continue their upward trajectory with a win over the Patriots, but they’ve got the Eagles, Bills, and 49ers in three of their next four games. The Seahawks have worked their way back into the conversation after a huge win over the 49ers. And San Francisco could be in real trouble now at 5-5. They’re going to need some late-season heroics to make the postseason, and they don’t have the most favorable schedule to do so (at Packers, at Bills, vs. Bears, vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals).
Mock draftin’
14. Cowboys: 3-6
15. Panthers: 3-7
16. Giants: 2-8
None of these teams lost in Week 11! (yet)
