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    • Seahawks take the lead in the NFC West, jumping into third place
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    Seahawks take the lead in the NFC West, jumping into third place

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    Throughout the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates on the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture each week – beginning after late Sunday afternoon games and continuing throughout the rest of the week (through Monday’s games and Thursday). or Saturday, if applicable).

    What just happened? What does it mean? What are the relevant factors (and perhaps the deciding factors) that are coming into prominence as each conference’s seven-person group begins to crystallize? Everything will be explained and analyzed up to the point where the postseason field is finalized on Sunday evening, January 5.

    Here’s where things stand as week 12 of the 2024 season nears completion:

    AFC play-off photo

    1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1), AFC West leaders: It wasn’t pretty – again – but they outlasted Carolina by extending their lead over Buffalo by half a game, although the Bills’ head-to-head tiebreaker advantage still means KC can’t afford to back down at all at this point – especially since the champions are back in action on Black Friday. Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Chargers, at Browns, vs. Texans, at Steelers, at Broncos

    2. Buffalo Bills (9-2), AFC East leaders: Coming out of their break, they will play a battered San Francisco side at home, looking for a sixth straight win. A fifth consecutive division title is all but a foregone conclusion, and Pittsburgh’s loss only strengthened the Bills’ position at the top of the conference. And with that potentially crucial tiebreaker against the Chiefs in hand, the Bills could soon be heading to Super Bowl 59 via Western New York. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, at Rams, at Lions, vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

    3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3), AFC North leaders: A win in Cleveland on Thursday night would have put them ahead of the Bills and into second place. Instead, the Steelers suffered a damaging loss – to a divisional opponent no less – that could greatly hinder their ability to compete for home field advantage. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Browns, at Eagles, at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals

    4. Houston Texans (7-5), AFC South leaders: Losers of four of six after falling at home to lowly Tennessee on Sunday, it’s starting to look like they might find themselves back on the throne of a bad division and be done once the postseason starts. Remaining schedule: at Jaguars, BYE, vs. Dolphins, at Chiefs, vs. Ravens, at Titans

    5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), Wild Card No. 1: Their defense was quite tough. Their schedule was anything but. Still, the Bolts are starting to build a nice bond between themselves and the clubs pursuing them — and could really put a stranglehold on a playoff berth by winning the “Harbaugh Bowl” on Monday night. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Falcons, at Chiefs, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Broncos, at Patriots, at Raiders

    6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4), Wild Card No. 2: As good as they are (most of the time), losses to the wrong teams could mean no home playoff games this season. Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Eagles, BYE, at Giants, vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns

    7. Denver Broncos (7-5), Wild Card No. 3: Their grip on the AFC’s last place continues to harden… and should continue to do so in the coming weeks. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, BYE, vs. Colts, at Chargers, at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

    8. Miami Dolphins (5-6), on the hunt: As QB Tua Tagovailoa says, so go the Finns – and the whole operation is heating up after a third straight win on Sunday. However, a team that tends to struggle in cold climates will have to play in Green Bay on Thanksgiving night. Remaining schedule: at Packers, vs. Jets, at Texans, vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

    9. Indianapolis Colts (5-7), on the hunt: They’re starting to lose sight of Denver and the final wild card slot after Sunday’s setback, though they’ll get a shot at them soon enough in the Mile High City. But that might be moot now that the Colts have been swept by the Dolphins. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, BYE, at Broncos, vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

    10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7), on the hunt: Crushing losses in their previous two games may be too much to overcome. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cowboys, at Titans, vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers

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    NFC Playoff Photo

    1. Detroit Lions (10-1), NFC North leaders: They worked a bit on Sunday in Indianapolis and could be short of some injuries given the quick turnaround of their annual Thanksgiving game. However, there is no reason to panic at the moment. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears vs. Packers vs. Bills, at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

    2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2), NFC East leaders: Philly pulled away from Washington in Week 11 to solidify its grip on first place in the division — and might need that reinforcement later in the process. However, the Iggles are now also officially a clear and present danger to Detroit. Remaining schedule: at Rams, at Ravens, vs. Panthers, vs. Steelers, at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

    3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5), NFC West leaders: No team had a better Sunday, the ‘Hawks who jumped from ninth place are also running to the division leaders after knocking off the Cards. Wins over Arizona and Atlanta put Seattle in this spot. Remaining schedule: at Jets, at Cardinals, vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

    4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5), NFC South leaders: They dropped a seed during their week off. A Bucs season win effectively gives Atlanta a two-game lead in the division. The Falcons don’t have much of an advantage over the suddenly emerging Saints. Remaining schedule: vs Chargers, vs Vikings, vs Raiders, vs Giants, vs Commanders, vs Panthers

    5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2), Wild Card No. 1: They’re winning ugly – including Sunday’s breakout in Chicago – but have also won four in a row. It may not seem like the Vikes are a threat to win their division, but they are still just one game behind Detroit in the NFC North. Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Falcons, vs. Bears, at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

    6. Green Bay Packers (8-3), Wild Card No. 2: After dealing with the depleted Niners, the Pack also remains relevant in the NFC North despite how dominant Detroit appears. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, vs. Lions, vs. Seahawks, vs. Saints, vs. Vikings, vs. Bears

    7. Washington Commanders (7-5), Wild Card No. 3: Ambushed by the Cowboys, that’s three losses in a row for a team that needs to get its mojo back if it wants to keep the horde of NFC West wannabes lurking… who aren’t far from future possibilities. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, BYE, at Saints, vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

    8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5), on the hunt: Their four-game win streak – and division lead – went up in smoke on Sunday in Seattle. Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Seahawks, vs. Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

    9. Los Angeles Rams (5-5), on the hunt: Wins over the 49ers and Seahawks give them a tenuous lead in the conference’s currently .500 draw, although LA was blown out in Arizona earlier this year. Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Saints, vs. Bills, vs. 49ers, vs. Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

    10. San Francisco 49ers (5-6), in the hunt: The talent is still there, but there just isn’t enough on the field right now, as became clear Sunday in Green Bay. A Week 10 win over the Bucs helps. Remaining schedule: at Bills, vs. Bears vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

    11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6), on the hunt: With their four-game slide now in the rearview mirror after embarrassing the Giants, the chance is there for a strong final kick. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

    12. New Orleans Saints (4-7), on the hunt: Under interim HC Darren Rizzi, they are 2-0. And given the way the NFC South is compressing, don’t count them out. A 3-4 record in NFC games puts them ahead of Chicago and Dallas. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams, at Giants, vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers

    13. Chicago Bears (4-7), on the hunt: A five-game skid means they’re almost done — perhaps well done by the time Thanksgiving rolls around in Detroit. A slightly better mark in conference matchups currently puts them ahead of Dallas. Remaining schedule: at Lions, at 49ers, at Vikings, vs. Lions vs. Seahawks, at Packers

    14. Dallas Cowboys (4-7), on the hunt: Give it to Mike McCarthy’s crew: They don’t die easily, when at this point it would be pretty easy to do just that. (See the Giants, Dallas’ Thanksgiving opponent.) Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, vs. Bengals, at Panthers, vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders

    ***

    Follow Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

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