DETROIT – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – All eyes are on the NFC North pecking order with a Thursday showdown between the Lions and Packers kicking off Week 14 in Motown.
The Lions (11-1) already registered a win over Green Bay (9-3) at Lambeau Field and begin their second pass through the division with a 3-0 record in the North. The Vikings (10-2) sit between the teams in the standings, but there are tangible and desirous goals in play for Minnesota on Sunday.
With a win over the NFC South-leading Falcons, Minnesota would gain a game on the losing team Thursday and potentially push their former quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and Atlanta outside the playoff picture behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs (6-6) host the 2-10 Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
There’s less drama in the AFC, where the division leaders have enough cushion to breathe and ample motivation to continue putting up victories with home-field advantage not yet decided.
Last week, the Bills (10-2) clinched the AFC East and the Chiefs (11-1) can clinch the West on Sunday by beating the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) in Kansas City.
Looming for the murky AFC wild-card picture are head-to-head matchups between the Denver Broncos and Chargers (Dec. 19) and Indianapolis Colts and Broncos (Dec. 15). And Baltimore’s closing schedule is unusual, if not tricky, with a Saturday division game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 21) and a midweek, Christmas Day game pitting the Ravens and Texans in a 2024 playoff rematch.
The current playoff picture entering Week 14:
AFC Division Leaders
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
Up Next: vs. Chargers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)
Up Next: at L.A. Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
Up Next: vs. Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
4. Houston Texans (8-5)
Up Next: Bye Week
AFC Wild-Card Standings
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
Up Next: at Kansas City, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET
6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
Up Next: Bye Week
7. Denver Broncos (8-5)
Up Next: Bye Week
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
Up Next: Bye Week
9. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Up Next: vs. N.Y. Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
Up Next: at Dallas, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
11. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Up Next: at Pittsburgh, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
12. New York Jets (3-9)
Up Next: at Miami, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
13. Tennessee Titans (3-9)
Up Next: vs. Jacksonville, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
The New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders have been eliminated.
NFC Division Leaders
1. Detroit Lions (11-1)
Up Next: vs. Green Bay, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
Up Next: vs. Carolina, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
Up Next: at Arizona, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
Up Next: at Minnesota, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
NFC Wild-Card Standings
5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
Up Next: vs. Atlanta, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
6. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Up Next: at Detroit, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
Up Next: Bye Week
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
Up Next: vs. Las Vegas, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
Up Next: vs. Seattle, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
10. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
Up Next: vs. Buffalo, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
Up Next: vs. Chicago, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)
Up Next: vs. Cincinnati, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
13. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
Up Next: at N.Y. Giants , Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
14. Chicago Bears (4-8)
Up Next: at San Francisco, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
15. Carolina Panthers (3-9)
Up Next: at Philadelphia, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
The New York Giants have been eliminated.
–Field Level Media