Consider This—NFL playoff field taking shape

courtesy photo

Now that Week 10 is in the books and all 32 NFL teams have played at least half their schedule, it’s a good opportunity to take stock of what the playoff picture looks like.

In the AFC, six teams currently have a winning record, and it sure feels like all six of them will make their way into the playoffs.

The undefeated Chiefs have a three-game lead in the AFC West, while the Bills have a five-game lead in the AFC East. It’s not exactly going out on a limb to call those division races right now. Most people felt coming in that the Chiefs would have an easy road, but the Bills have had no resistance from the disappointing Jets and Dolphins.

The Steelers and Ravens are battling for the AFC North crown, but both appear primed to be playoff teams. Whichever team fails to win the division will likely end up as the top AFC wild-card. Baltimore has peeled off seven wins in their last eight games, while there must be something in the water in Pittsburgh that has rejuvenated Russell Wilson. The Week 11 matchup between these two teams will be one to watch.

The Colts have dropped three in a row, which has strengthened the Texans’ hold on the AFC South’s top spot. Houston has been a little up-and-down this year, and squandered a 16-point halftime lead to the Lions on Sunday night, but they’re getting very little push from the rest of the division. Jacksonville, in particular, has been a sizable disappointment. Houston looks to be locked in.

The Chargers would be getting a lot more credit nationally if they weren’t in the same division as the Chiefs. Coach Jim Harbaugh has really turned this team around, and at 6-3, they look like a solid playoff team.

If we think we know the Chiefs, Bills, Texans, Ravens, Steelers, and Chargers will get in, that means there’s one spot to be claimed. At the moment, it looks like it’ll come down to the 5-5 Broncos, the 4-6 Colts, and the 4-6 Bengals. Of those three teams, you’d have to think the Bengals have the inside track, having the clear top quarterback in that group with Joe Burrow. It’s been a trying year for Bengals fans, as the team has let games slip away. If it is Cincinnati with the seven-seed, that’s not exactly ideal for whoever the two-seed will be.

In the NFC, things are much tighter. It’s tough to make a call on any division, but if there’s one we can make, it’s the Falcons in the NFC South. Atlanta is up two games on Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers are decimated with injuries on their offense. Barring a collapse, Atlanta should be fine, but if any team knows how to collapse, it’s the Falcons.

The NFC East is down to the Eagles and Commanders, but both should be playoff teams. The Cowboys have been generally bad all year, and now that Dak Prescott is essentially out for the season, so is Dallas. Philadelphia and Washington will meet in Week 11, which will surely be a game to watch.

The NFC North will be a fight to the very end, with the Lions, Vikings, and Packers all having legitimate chances to win the division. It’s rather possible that all three of them will find their way into the playoffs. It’s hard to handicap anything more than Chicago is going to be the odd team out. The Bears seem like the last second loss in Washington will sink their ship for this season.

Out in the NFC West, it’s anyone’s guess. One loss separates the team in first from the team in fourth. Parity, right? The Cardinals have surprised some people, and find themselves in first, for now. The 49ers finally have Christian McCaffrey’s services after missing the first eight games due to injury. The Rams high-powered offense is getting healthier at the right time, and they can beat anyone in the conference. The Seahawks 3-0 start seems like it was forever ago, as they’ve since dropped five of six.

For now, in no order, it feels like the Lions, Commanders, Falcons, Packers, Vikings, and Eagles will get in, with whoever survives the battle in the West. We’ll pick the Rams for now, but that’s likely going to come down to the final week.

Brian Attard is a lifelong resident of Hammonton, avid sports fan and host on The Sports Box Network (@SportsBoxSports on all social media platforms).