NFL playoff picture 2017: Patriots back atop AFC, Cowboys don’t clinch NFC East yet

The NFL playoff race is heating up as we head into the final weeks of the season. A couple of teams were set up to potentially clinch berths this week, but plenty more are just fighting to stay in the picture.

The Chiefs handled the Raiders on Thursday night to take over first place in the AFC West. Now owning a season sweep over Oakland, Kansas City controls its own fate for the divisional title. The Raiders’ loss is great news for the Patriots, who moved back into the top spot in the AFC after their win over the Ravens. New England could have clinched the AFC East with a win and a loss by the Dolphins, but Miami’s last-second win over the Cardinals prevented that before the Patriots even played.

The AFC North remains tight. The Ravens entered in first place, holding a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Steelers, who owned the same record but lost to Baltimore earlier in the year. The Steelers beat the Bills on Sunday, coupled with the Raven’s loss, gives Pittsburgh control of the division for this week. The Ravens Their Week 16 rematch could end up deciding the division.

It’s all a big mess in the South, with three teams entering the week at 6-6. The Texans held on to the division lead with a win over the Colts, but the Titans are right there with them after a win over the Broncos. The Titans and Texans face off in a Week 17 matchup that could decide the division.

The Dolphins surged into the wild card picture with a six-game winning streak, but they suffered a setback with a blowout loss to the Ravens. Miami got back to its winning ways and is breathing down Denver’s neck in the wild card race. Everyone else still alive is more or less in “win out and get help” territory.

Still in the hunt:

Miami Dolphins (8-5)
Baltimore Ravens (7-6)
Tennessee Titans (7-6)
Buffalo Bills (6-7)
Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1)
San Diego Chargers (5-8)

The Cowboys have already locked up their playoff berth, but the Giants prevented them from clinching the NFC East with a win on Sunday Night Football. The Giants still have hope of catching up in the division race, but more realistically they’re hunting for the No. 5 seed.

Despite losing Earl Thomas and falling flat against the Packers, the Seahawks are sitting pretty in the NFC West. Detroit is threatening to run away with the NFC North, and won again by the skin of their teeth. However, the Lions still don’t have any margin for error with the Packers and Vikings lurking just behind.

Things are getting real interesting in the NFC South, with the Buccaneers creeping up to a first-place tie with the Falcons. Atlanta did split its season series with Tampa so head-to-head tiebreakers won’t come into play, but the Bucs aren’t going away.

The NFC Wild Card race is setting up for a sprint to the finish line. Washington fell behind the Bucs but rebounded with a win against the Eagles. With Kirk Cousins and the offense playing so well, the team can never be counted out. The Vikings and Packers will certainly take a wild card spot if the division becomes out of reach.

Still in the hunt:

Washington (7-5-1)
Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
Green Bay Packers (7-6)
Arizona Cardinals (5-7-1)
New Orleans Saints (5-8)
Philadelphia Eagles (5-8)
Carolina Panthers (5-8)
Los Angeles Rams (4-9)