The 2021 NFL season is entering double-digit weeks and nearing the end of its new 17-game schedule. It’s time to double-check the updated standings and what the playoff picture will look like for Week 13.
The League still keeps the playoff playing field open, with 14 of the 32 teams (43.8%) set to qualify for the most recent post-season. That number includes 7 people who attended the AFC and NFC, only the No. 1 seed said goodbye thanks to the home field advantage.
Who will join, who is still in contention, and who will think about next season? Here is a comprehensive view:
NFL POWER RANKINGS:
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NFL Standings for Week 13
Pictures of the AFC playoff match
Who will participate?
1. Baltimore Ravens (8-3), 1st place, AFC North. The Ravens were firmly ahead of the Patriots in the race for the first seed and Bengal for the divisional lead by beating the Browns at home on Sunday night. Baltimore still has a tough group ahead but is looking for ways to win even without the best form on either side of the ball. Raven still has four division games and two fearsome NFC enemies waiting. Remaining schedule: at PIT, at CLE, versus GB, at CIN, versus LAR, versus PIT
2. New England Patriots (8-4), 1st place, AFC East. The Patriots matched the Bills in Week 12 to return to the top of the division after one inning. They are behind Raven with a lesser win percentage after two games. Their win over the Titans also got them a win for No, 2. Remaining schedule: versus BUF, BYE, at IND, versus BUF, versus JAX, at MIA
3. Tennessee Titans (8-4), 1st place, AFC South. The Titans slipped from 1st place after their loss to the Patriots, lagging a full win behind Raven and only half way ahead of the Chiefs, whom they defeated earlier in the season, along with the Bills. The Titans still don’t need to worry about Remaining schedule: BYE, versus JAX, at PIT, versus SF, versus MIA, at HOU
4. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4), 1st place, AFC West. The Chiefs stayed here after defeating the Cowboys because they lost to both the Titans and Ravens and the Patriots also had outstanding conference records. A huge win to keep the Chargers ahead. Team Leaders have a much-needed goodbye in Week 12. Remaining schedule: vs.DEN, vs. LV, at LAC, vs. PIT, at CIN, at DEN
5. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4), 2nd place, AFC North. The Bengals have returned to division playoff competition and wild cards with important consecutive big wins over the Raiders and Steelers after the bye. They beat Raven on the road earlier and could finish in first place if Raven loses to the Browns. They hold this position against the Bills with a better conference record. However, nothing easy remains on the leaderboard. Remaining schedule: vs. LAC, vs. SF, at DEN, vs. BAL, vs. KC, at CLE
6. Buffalo Bills (7-4), 2nd place, AFC East. The Bills dropped here after their victory over the Patriots Saints responded by taking care of the Titans. They’ll get their shot at catching and overtaking the Patriots next Monday night. Unlike New England twice, Buffalo also has a big challenge against Tampa Bay. Remaining schedule: versus NE, at TB, versus CAR, at NE, versus ATL, NYJ.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (6-5), 2nd place, AFC West. The Chargers lost heavily to the Broncos in the top lane to blow a big chance to keep up the tempo with wins by the Bengals, Raiders, and Bills. They have a head-to-head match against the Bengals and have a chance to progress in Week 13. Remaining schedule: at CIN, versus NYG, with KC, at HOU, versus DEN, at LV
Who can go there?
8. Denver Broncos (6-5)
9. Las Vegas Raiders (6-5)
10. Indianapolis Colts (6-6)
11. Cleveland Browns (6-6)
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1)
The Raiders won to help themselves in Week 12, while the Steelers and Colts lost to fall behind them. The Browns squandered a great opportunity against Raven on Sunday night, while the Broncos took advantage of them against the Chargers.
Who’s going out?
13. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
14. New York Jets (3-8)
15. Houston Texans (2-9)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)
The Dolphins won four games in a row after starting 1-7 in a respectable escalation, but too little, too late to secure a spot in the knockout stages. The Jets separated themselves from the bottom two with a win over Texans and they still played Jaguar.
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NFC playoff images
Who will participate?
1. Arizona Cardinals (9-2), first class, NFC West. The Cardinals did their best to deliver an impressive home win in Seattle once again without Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins. They jumped back here after the Packers lost to the Vikings in Week 11. The Cardinals are saying goodbye in Week 12. Remaining schedule: at CHI, against LAR, at DET, against IND, at DAL, against SEA
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3), first class, NFC North. The Packers took on the business against the Rams to move in the half-match of the idle Cardinals, whom they defeated, for the top seed. In the process, they also help the Cardinals develop a greater leadership position within their department. Now they can rest. and hopefully the Cardinals will be annoyed by the Bear in Week 13. Remaining schedule: BYE, vs. CHI, at BAL, vs. CLE, vs. MIN, at DET
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-3), first class, NFC South. The Buccaneers used their Week 12 win over the Colts to move closer to the top seed. They danced again to the Cowboys, who lost, and trailed the Packers for 2nd place with worse conference performance. Tampa Bay needs a second straight win after losing two in a row around goodbye with Tom Brady having a rare interception accident. Remaining schedule: at ATL, versus BUF, versus NO, at CAR, at NYJ, versus CAR
4. Dallas Cowboys (8-4), first class, NFC East. The Cowboys stayed here after the game against The Saints in Week 13 on the NFC track on Thursday night to recover from a straight loss to the Raiders in Week 12. They advanced just one game behind the Packers and lost half the game. The Buccaneers, who they lost in Week 1. They needed the win to create some separation between themselves and Washington, the next opponent, in the division. The rest of the schedule: at WAS, at NYG, versus WAS, versus ARI, in PHI
5. Los Angeles Rams (7-4), 2nd place, NFC West. The Rams lost their third game in a row and they had a disappointing result with Matthew Stafford struggling harder after saying goodbye to Green Bay. Now they are two games behind the Cardinals and only one game ahead of the 49ers, who Remaining schedule: against JAX, at ARI, against SEA, at MIN, at BAL, against SF
6. San Francisco 49ers (6-5), third place, NFC West. The 49ers beat the Vikings to their third straight win and four of the past five games, rising from a slow start to a solid playoff spot for Kyle Shanahan despite playing in a tough division. They defeated the Vikings and put more pressure on the Rams to get the top wild card from the West. They have one more break with the last place reeling the Seahawks ahead of a crucial crossroads game against the Bengals. Remaining schedule: at SEA, at CIN, against ATL, at TEN, against HOU, at LAR
7. Washington football team (5-6), second place, NFC East. Washington clinched the final NFC playoff spot at a game under .500 with a win over the Seahawks on Monday night to close Week 12 thanks to a stellar 5-2 conference record. Ron Rivera’s team is no stranger to this situation, they had to split points with a losing record in 2020. WFT is only 2 and a half games behind Dallas with the season series still ahead. Remaining schedule: at LV, versus DAL, at PHI, at DAL, versus PHI, at NYG
Who can go there?
8. Minnesota Vikings (5-6)
9. Atlanta Falcons (5-6)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
11. Carolina Panthers (5-7)
12. New Orleans Saints (5-7)
13. New York Giants (4-7)
14. Chicago Bears (4-7)
15. Seattle Seahawks (3-8)
The Vikings fell here after losing to San Francisco and winning in Washington on Monday night. The Falcons defeated the Jaguars to jump the Saints, whom they had defeated on the road before. The Eagles lost to the Giants, giving them the same record as losing to the Panthers. The Giants’ victory allows them to jump the Bears, who defeated the Lions on Thanksgiving. The Seahawks finished with a miraculous six-game spin. The Saints, who had previously lost to the Eagles and Panthers, dropped further after losing to the Cowboys to open Week 13.
Who’s going out?
16. Detroit Lions (0-10-1)
The Lions went back to losing disappointingly in Week 11 after drawing after a bye in Week 10. That only increased with their most recent teenage loss to the Bears on the field. home on Thanksgiving.
