NFL playoff picture and standings 2014: Patriots, Broncos, Colts close to clinching

Thanks to big wins over postseason-contending opponents in Week 14, the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts are all just one win away from clinching divisional crowns next week. Things aren't as clean in the NFC, where no team has more than a one-game divisional lead.

For the most part, Week 14 didn't feature many upsets -- six of the eight teams at the top of their respective divisions were able to earn victories. However, no team suffered a bigger upset loss than the San Francisco 49ers, who dropped a game to the Oakland Raiders, damaging any hopes at an NFC West title and making a wild card spot an uphill battle.

The NFL's toughest postseason race didn't see much separation, with the Cincinnati Bengals blowing an opportunity to separate from the field. After a 42-21 victory over the Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers drew even with the Bengals in wins, as did the Baltimore Ravens, although a tie instead of a loss still gives Cincinnati the divisional lead. The Cleveland Browns dropped to the basement of the division with a loss to the Colts, but will have a chance to climb back in to contention with a Week 15 game against Cincinnati.

The Indianapolis Colts could clinch in Week 15 with a victory over the Houston Texans that would give them a three-game lead with two weeks left to play. With the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars far from contention, holding off the Texans is the only thing left for the Colts. For the Texans, a loss would not only end their chances at winning the AFC South, but severely hurt the team's chances in a tight AFC wild card race.

No team is closer to being in the postseason than the New England Patriots, who carry a three-game lead in the AFC East with three weeks left to play after a 23-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers. With the New York Jets eliminated long ago, the Patriots need just one win or a loss from both the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in any of the next three weeks and it'll be a sixth straight AFC East crown.

The final score made it appear closer than it actually was, but the Denver Broncos cruised to a third straight win, beating the Bills in Week 14. Thanks to losses by the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos are close to cruising to a fourth consecutive AFC West crown. Despite the loss, the Chargers will have a chance to cut the divisional lead to just one game if they can beat the Broncos at home. If not, Denver will clinch in Week 15.

The Green Bay Packers are winners of four straight and can make it five in a row on Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons. They need to keep the wins coming, too, with the Detroit Lions just a game back in the division. For the second consecutive week, the Lions came up with a 34-17 victory, this time over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and improved to 9-4. With a victory over the Packers earlier in the year, the Lions still control their own destiny in the NFC North and will have a chance to win the division in a Week 17 game in Green Bay, as long as they can stay within striking range of the Packers.

Week 14 isn't quite over for the NFC South; New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers fans will certainly want to tune in to a Monday Night Football matchup between the Packers and Falcons. After the Panthers dismantled the Saints, 41-10, the Falcons have a chance to take a one-game lead over the Saints for the top spot in the division with an upset victory. If the Packers get a win, it'll be the Falcons and Saints tied at 5-8 with the Panthers just behind at 4-8-1.

The Dallas Cowboys earned a 41-28 victory on Thursday, and now sit tied atop the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles after the Seattle Seahawks dealt Chip Kelly and company a 24-14 loss on Sunday. With Washington and the New York Giants out of postseason contention, it's a two-team race and those two teams meet in Week 15 in Philadelphia. The Eagles picked up a win over the Cowboys in Week 13, so another win would put the Eagles comfortably in control of the divisional race.

The Arizona Cardinals rebounded from back-to-back losses and earned a 17-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on the back of a second-half shutout. It was needed to keep the lead in the NFC West, too, with the Seattle Seahawks improving to 9-4 after a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. A Week 16 matchup between the two teams at the top of the NFC West could decide the divisional crown, especially after the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Oakland Raiders, 24-13, on Sunday.