The NFL playoffs standings are nearly set and home field advantage in the AFC and NFC is coming into focus, with the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions all in position to get byes and potential home games in the postseason, while the Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, Packers, Cardinals, Chargers, Bengals and Colts have clinched spots or are alive to get in.
The NFC playoff picture is getting very clear now that the Seahawks have won over the Cardinals and now they have the inside track to the top seed and home field advantage. The Lions are still alive for that as well depending on what happens next week, but they need some help. The team needs to win and the Seahawks need to lose to get the home field, but if they both win, the Lions are in with a bye and a division title in the NFC North.
The Lions and Packers are playing for the division title and the loser will end up as one of the wild card teams in the NFC. The NFC South has the Falcons and Panthers playing to see who gets in as the division winner, while the loser will miss the playoffs. The Seahawks just need to win to get the number one seed and in the unlikely scenario that the Packers and Lions tie and the Cowboys win, they will not. The Lions have the tiebreaker over the Packers and they have to win to get the division title.
The Cowboys are in as NFC East champions and they will get a first round bye if the Seahawks and the Cardinals lose on Sunday. The Panthers or Falcons are locked into the number four seed, while the number five and six seeds will be decided with the games next week. The Cardinals can still win the west with a win and a Seahawks loss, while the Packers can get a first round bye with a win over the Lions and the NFC North title.
The AFC has the Patriots, Broncos, Colts and Steelers in with clinched playoff spots and the Bengals can join that depending on what happens on Monday night football. The Steelers made it in with their win against the Chiefs on Sunday and now the Bengals will try and upset the Broncos on Monday and if they do that they can put themselves in position to win the division. The Bengals are still alive for a first round bye if they win over the Broncos and they can also clinch the North over the Steelers.
The Ravens lost to the Texans on Sunday and they are right outside the playoff picture with Houston at nine wins, while the Texans have eight. The Eagles and Niners are out of things in the NFC and now all the spots are locked up in that conference with just the seeding to get figured out.