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NFL Playoff Picture: Postseason seeds, projected draft order

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NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LX.

AFC

Seed Team Division Record
1 Broncos (x) West 12-2
2 Patriots East 11-3
3 Jaguars South 10-4
4 Steelers North 7-6
5 Chargers West 10-4
6 Bills East 10-4
7 Texans South 9-5

x = clinched playoff berth

The Denver Broncos extended their winning streak to 11 games and officially became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff spot this season. With the New England Patriots' loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Broncos are getting closer to claiming the AFC's No. 1 seed, which would give them a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

In the hunt

Rank Team Division Record
8 Colts South 8-6
9 Ravens North 7-7
10 Dolphins East 6-7

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday to end their divisional rivals' slim playoff hopes and bolster their own chances in the race for the AFC North. The first-place Pittsburgh Steelers play the Miami Dolphins on Monday. Baltimore and Pittsburgh will also face off in their regular-season finale.

NFC

Seed Team Division Record
1 Rams (x) West 11-3
2 Bears North 10-4
3 Eagles East 9-5
4 Buccaneers South 7-7
5 Seahawks West 11-3
6 49ers West 10-4
7 Packers North 9-4-1

x = clinched playoff berth

We know that the Los Angeles Rams are going to the postseason after their triumph over the Detroit Lions, but the rest of the NFC playoff picture remains wide open. The Chicago Bears will finish the week as the conference's 2-seed, moving from the seventh spot after their blowout win over the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Broncos.

In the hunt

Seed Team Division Record
8 Lions North 8-6
9 Panthers South 7-7
10 Cowboys East 6-6-1

The Carolina Panthers had a chance to take a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, but Dave Canales' outfit fell to the New Orleans Saints - one week after the Bucs did the same. At the moment, Tampa Bay wins the tiebreaker over Carolina for having a better win percentage in common games. However, they will face each other twice in the season's final three weeks.

Projected NFL draft order

Pick Team
1 Giants
2 Raiders
3 Titans
4 Browns
5 Jets
6 Cardinals
7 Saints
8 Commanders
9 Bengals
10 Rams (via Falcons)

A matchup between the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders in two weeks could decide which team gets the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans, who are stuck with them at the bottom of the standings with only two wins, are also in the mix. If it comes down to the tiebreaker, the team that played the schedule with the lowest winning percentage is awarded the higher pick.

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