The Minnesota Vikings love playing the spoiler.
NFL playoff picture 2013: AFC and NFC standings tightening in Week 13
The early games on Sunday featured more spoilers.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport
A week after getting a tie against the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings beat the Chicago Bears to drop them to 6-6 on the season and give the Detroit Lions a bit of breathing room in the NFC North.
The rest of the playoff picture didn’t get too much of a jolt during the early games on Sunday, but here is the latest look at both the AFC and NFC standings.
*Denotes a team that hasn’t completed its Week 13 game yet
1. Denver Broncos (9-2)*
2. New England Patriots (9-3)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)*
5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-2)*
6. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
The Patriots have managed to keep pace with the Denver Broncos and stay in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. It took a close game against the Houston Texans, but New England improved to 9-3. Baltimore has emerged as the No. 6 seed in the AFC after a Thanksgiving win.
In the hunt
Miami Dolphins (6-6), San Diego Chargers (5-6)*
NFC Playoff Picture
*Denotes a team that hasn’t completed its Week 13 game yet
1. Seattle Seahawks (10-1)*
2. New Orleans Saints (9-2)*
3. Detroit Lions (7-5)
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
5. Carolina Panthers (9-3)
6. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)*
The division races in the North and East will come down to the wire. The Cowboys still hold a slim lead on the Eagles in the East, while the Lions are starting to gain ground in the North. The biggest game of the week will be on Monday Night Football. The Seahawks and Saints will play to see which team will take the driver’s seat in the NFC.
In the hunt
Philadelphia Eagles (7-5), Arizona Cardinals (7-5), Chicago Bears (6-6)
More from SB Nation NFL
See More:
