National Football League

NFL Playoffs 2016: Wild Card Standings After Week 12

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Looking at the NFL Wild Card standings following Thanksgiving Day and the rest of Week 12 to see which teams are currently in the 2016 NFL Playoffs.

When you look at the divisional standings after Week 12 of the 2016 NFL season, there are teams that seemingly have it all locked up. That would apply to someone like the New England Patriots and, despite the quality of the division, the Dallas Cowboys. Meanwhile, there are teams races elsewhere that are going to come down to the wire. Not only does that make the division race fun, but also makes the Wild Card races in each conference a thrill.

Right now, there are eight team in each conference that have a viable shot at making a run for one of the two Wild Card spots after the Week 12 slate of games (sans Monday Night Football). I define viable as being within two games of the final playoff spot.

Though the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers can shake things up out in the NFC on Monday, we largely have an idea. And yes, there was a big shake-up after the Sunday Night Football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos and their wild overtime matchup.

Let’s start with the AFC in looking at the standings and races for the Wild Card spots in the conference.

AFC Wild Card Standings

Division Leaders (with seeding): 1. New England Patriots, 2. Oakland Raiders, 3. Baltimore Ravens, 4. Houston Texans

5. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3)*
6. Miam Dolphins (7-4)* – Tie-break over Broncos for record vs. AFC.
7. Denver Broncos (7-4)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) – Tie-break over Bills for record vs. AFC.
9. Buffalo Bills (6-5)
10. Tennessee Titans (6-6)
11. Indianapolis Colts (5-6)
12. San Diego Chargers (5-6)

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Things are obviously tight at the top of the AFC Wild Card standings and the Week 12 Sunday night game only further complicated that. It was a wild game in all the ways you don’t expect (or perhaps want) with game-managing for nearly 75 minutes and elite defenses grinding it out. Then the Dolphins are there hanging out after six-straight wins just waiting for teams to falter as they keep rolling.

Onto the other conference.

NFC Wild Card Standings

Division Leaders (with seeding): 1. Dallas Cowboys, 2. Seattle Seahawks, 3. Detroit Lions, 4. Atlanta Falcons

5. New York Giants (8-3)
6. Washington Redskins (6-4-1)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) – Tie-break over Vikings for record vs. NFC
8. Minnesota Vikings (6-5)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) – Play Monday Night
10. New Orleans Saints (5-6)
11. Arizona Cardinals (4-6-1)
12. Green Bay Packers (4-6) – Play Monday Night

Right now, it would be an all NFC East Wild Card berth party with the Giants and Redskins taking the two spots. That tie in London is really looming large for Washington in this regard as they have the lead over the Bucs and Vikings because of it. Of course, Tampa is quite hot right now and a team like Saints and Eagles are capable of going on a run late.

Predictably, it’s going to come down to the wire in the NFC Wild Card standings. As a fan of football, though, you shouldn’t want it any other way. These teams are all dangerous in the postseason, so it should come down to survival of the fittest at the end of Week 17. That’s what it looks like we’re going to get.

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