NFL playoff picture after Week 14

Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports Published 8:35 p.m. ET Dec. 10, 2017 | Updated 12:08 a.m. ET Dec. 12, 2017

SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell breaks down the state of the playoff picture. USA TODAY Sports

Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks after Week 14's games.

NFC
1. x-Philadelphia Eagles (11-2): NFC East leader. Wrapping up the division and reclaiming the top seed Sunday looks like a Pyrrhic victory after QB Carson Wentz was declared out for the season with a torn ACL.

2. Minnesota Vikings (10-3): NFC North leader. Their winning streak was snapped at eight, preventing them from clinching the division and costing them the inside track to home-field advantage.

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-4): NFC West leader. Lose next Sunday in Seattle, and the Seahawks replace L.A. atop division.

4. New Orleans Saints (9-4): NFC South leader. They gave up ground to the Falcons and Panthers, but a season sweep of Carolina keeps them in first place ... for now.

5. Carolina Panthers (9-4): Wild card No. 1. Huge win over Minnesota solidifies their position. However they may be facing Aaron Rodgers next Sunday as the Packers try to ride another late-season wave to January.

6. Atlanta Falcons (8-5): Wild card No. 2. Thursday's win over the Saints, combined with last month's victory in Seattle, vaults Atlanta back into the mix. The Falcons will win the NFC South if they win out — and remember, they were 7-5 after 12 games a year ago.

In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-5), Dallas Cowboys (7-6), Detroit Lions (7-6), Green Bay Packers (7-6), Arizona Cardinals (6-7)

x-division winner

AFC
1. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2): AFC North leader. They clearly missed injured LB Ryan Shazier on Sunday night but hung on to beat Baltimore and clinch the division. Now on to next week's epic matchup with New England.

2. New England Patriots (10-3): AFC East leader. They suffered a semi-regular stumble in Miami but will still be in position to get home-field advantage by prevailing in Heinz Field on Sunday.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4): AFC South leader. They passed a major litmus test by beating Seattle and also overtook the fading Titans for the division lead. But Jags will need two-game lead on Tennessee entering Week 17 if they don't want a winner-take-all scenario for AFC South title.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (7-6): AFC West leader. Their defeat of the Raiders on Sunday was probably their best overall performance since September, allowing the Chiefs to retain a share of the division lead (they currently hold the head-to-head advantage over Los Angeles). However the scalding Chargers head to Kansas City on Saturday, and the winner will assume sole possession of first place.

5. Tennessee Titans (8-5): Wild card No. 1. Talk about backing into the playoffs. LT Taylor Lewan, probably their best player, was hurt Sunday, and QB Marcus Mariota played poorly again as Titans relinquished AFC South lead.

6. Buffalo Bills (7-6): Wild card No. 2. The strength of victory of tiebreaker currently puts them in the field ahead of the Ravens, though Baltimore's final three opponents have a combined record of 8-31. The Chargers' poor conference record (4-5) hurts them.

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (7-6), Los Angeles Chargers (7-6), Oakland Raiders (6-7), Miami Dolphins (6-7)

x-division winner

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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

PHOTOS: Week 14 NFL action

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jakeem Grant (19) celebrates his touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports

NFL playoff picture after Week 14

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