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Chiefs, lions have the best seeds
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Chiefs, lions have the best seeds

The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions are very different, and yet they are the same.

Kansas City has had to consistently hold onto its lead at the end of games, while Detroit has rolled over one team after another. And yet both are 10-1 and ranked No. 1 in their respective conferences.

Meanwhile, there was a change in the NFC playoff picture, with the Seattle Seahawks jumping to third place after beating the Arizona Cardinals, who from there dropped out of the playoff picture entirely with a single loss.

Here’s what everything looks like in both conferences, updated to the second.

Additional, all play-off odds are thanks to The Athletic’s model.

AFC: WHO’S INSIDE

File: 10–1, first place, AFC West

Remaining opponents above .500: 4

Probability of the play-offs: 99%

Kansas City held off the pesky Carolina Panthers on Sunday, earning an AFC-best 10 win. A short week lies ahead for the Chiefs, who host the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday.

File: 9–2, first place, AFC East

Remaining opponents above .500: 1

Probability of the play-offs: 99%

The Bills had a week off. A big three-game stretch looms with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in Orchard Park.

File: 8–3, first place, AFC North

Remaining opponents above .500: 3

Probability of the play-offs: 88%

After getting into the first seed conversation, the Steelers lost in the snow to the Cleveland Browns. Then the Cincinnati Bengals, clinging to life at 4-7.

File: 7–5, first place, AFC South

Remaining opponents above .500: 2

Probability of the play-offs: 94%

After winning convincingly in Dallas on Monday evening, Houston was troubled by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. CJ Stroud & Co. has a two-game lead in the AFC South, but appears headed for the fourth seed.

File: 7–3, second place, AFC West

Remaining opponents above .500: 4

Probability of the play-offs: 91%

Los Angeles will look to stay in this spot with a win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, while also opening a two-game lead in the loss column with a tiebreaker in hand.

File: 7–4, second place, AFC North

Remaining opponents above .500: 4

Probability of the play-offs: 95%

The Ravens have a chance to close the gap in the AFC North while beating the Chargers with a win at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix

Bo Nix passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns in Denver’s win over Las Vegas on Sunday. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn images

File: 7–5, third place, AFC West

Remaining opponents above .500: 2

Probability of the play-offs: 60%

Denver took care of the Raiders in Las Vegas to give them a second straight win before coming home to host the Browns on Monday night. The Broncos still have the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals on their schedule, easily their biggest games yet.

IN THE HUNT

Miami Dolphins (5–6): The Dolphins bombarded the New England Patriots on Sunday behind Tua Tagovailoa’s four touchdown passes. Miami will take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving Day.

Indianapolis Colts (5–7): Anthony Richardson struggled in a loss to the Detroit Lions. Despite being two games under .500, Indianapolis has a real shot at the playoffs with a soft schedule the rest of the way.

Cincinnati Bengals (4–7): Cincinnati should probably win. That won’t be easy with two games left against the Steelers, starting this weekend.

NFC: WHO’S INSIDE

File: 10–1, first place, NFC North

Remaining opponents above .500: 3

Probability of the play-offs: 99%

The Lions appear to be the best team in football. Detroit took on a plucky Colts team and handled them with ease, allowing just six points. Still, there is no breathing room with Detroit playing just one game in the NFC North.

Remaining opponents above .500: 3

Probability of the play-offs: 99%

The Eagles visit the Rams on Sunday evening. We’ll update this space after the game.

File: 6–5, first place, NFC West

Remaining opponents above .500: 3

Probability of the play-offs: 21%

Seattle lost five of six before picking up two huge division wins over the 49ers and Arizona Cardinals in the past two weeks. With those wins, the Seahawks moved up to the third seed, with a tiebreaker over the Atlanta Falcons for the spot.

Remaining opponents above .500: 3

Probability of the play-offs: 83%

Atlanta had its bye week and comes out of the break against the Chargers and Minnesota Vikings in the next two weeks.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota’s overtime win over Chicago on Sunday. / Mike Dinovo-Imagn images

File: 9–2, second place, NFC North

Remaining opponents above .500: 5

Probability of the play-offs: 98%

The Vikings are still just one game behind the Lions in the NFC North as they remain the top team in the NFC wild-card picture after a 30-27 overtime win over the Chicago Bears.

File: 8–3, third place, NFC North

Remaining opponents above .500: 3

Probability of the play-offs: 93%

Green Bay handled the injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers with ease and continued to make a playoff push. The Packers now have a short week and Miami comes to Green Bay on Thursday.

File: 7–5, second place, NFC East

Remaining opponents above .500: 2

Probability of the play-offs: 72%

Free fall in Washington? The Commanders have now lost three games in a row, with a loss to the listless Dallas Cowboys being the worst of them all.

IN THE HUNT

Arizona Cardinals (6–5): Arizona went to Seattle and managed just six points. The Cardinals will look to bounce back this weekend against the Vikings in Minnesota.

Los Angeles Rams (5–5): The Rams host the Eagles on Sunday night. We’ll update this space after the game.

San Francisco 49ers (5–6): This could be the end for San Francisco. The Niners have been plagued by injuries to Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa, Brock Purdy and Trent Williams. Next up, Buffalo.