NFL Playoff Preview
A preview of what the NFL 2012-13 playoffs might look like.
With only two weeks left in the NFL regular season, playoffs are right around the corner. Teams have risen to dominance, while others have fallen to defeat. It’s time to see if the hard work has paid off and which teams have the chance of the walking away with a championship ring on their finger.
Standings
American Football Conference
East
The New England Patriots have clinched their division with a current record of 10-4. Following behind the Patriots are the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins at 6-8, and the Buffalo Bills at 5-9.
North
The Baltimore Ravens are on top after clinching a wild card spot at 9-5, while the Cincinnati Bengals are only one game behind at 8-6. The Pittsburgh Steelers stand at an even record of 7-7 and the Cleveland Browns at 5-9.
South
The Houston Texans have clinched their division at 12-2. Coming in second at the moment are the Indianapolis Colts at 9-5, followed by the Tennessee Titans at 5-9 and the Jacksonville Jaguars at 2-12.
West
At 11-3, the Denver Broncos clinched their division with the San Diego Chargers behind them at 5-9. The Oakland Raiders are standing in third at 4-10 and the Kansas City Chiefs at 2-12.
National Football Conference
With the Washington Redskins in 1st place, the Dallas Cowboys in 2nd, and the New York Giants in 3rd, all with a record of 8-6, neither of the three teams have clinched the division nor a wild card spot. The Philadelphia Eagles are standing in last at 4-10.
North
The Green Bay Packers have clinched their division at 10-4, followed by the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears standing at 8-6. The Detroit Lions sit in last place at 4-10.
South
Clinching the division at 12-2 are the Atlanta Falcons, with the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 6-8. The Carolina Panthers are in last place at 5-9.
West
The San Francisco 49ers have clinched a wild card spot at 10-3-1. The Seattle Seahawks follow at 9-5, the St. Louis Rams at 6-7, and the Arizona Cardinals at 5-9.
The wild-card round of the playoffs will kick off Jan. 5, and will consist of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seed of each conference, a total of 8 teams. The lowest winning seed and the highest winning seed from each conference will advance to the divisional round on Jan. 12, where they will have to play either the 1st or 2nd seed of their conference. The two teams left standing in each division will advance to the Conference Championships on Jan. 20. The top team in the AFC will take on the top team in the NFC on Feb. 3 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
The Houston Texans are projected to be the 1st seed in the AFC followed by the Denver Broncos, while the Atlanta Falcons are projected to be the 1st seed in the NFC followed by the San Francisco 49ers.
The following seeds are subject to change:
AFC
New England Patriots 3rd seed
Baltimore Ravens 4th seed
Indianapolis Colts 5th seed
Cincinnati Bengals 6th seed
NFC
Green Bay Packers 3rd seed
Washington Redskins 4th seed
Seattle Seahawks 5th seed
Minnesota Vikings 6th seed
***EDITORS NOTE: STATS, SCORES AND STANDINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES.***
