Playoffs!

With the NFL approaching the final quarter of the 2013 regular season, the playoff picture is gradually coming into focus. The Minnesota Vikings have yet to be eliminated from playoff contention but their chances are beyond bleak. The Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle Seahawks can clinch playoff spots with this week's games. The Broncos visit the Chiefs. The winner of the game can clinch if a couple of other games fall their way. The Seahawks can clinch with a win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night and a loss by either the San Francisco 49ers or Arizona Cardinals. It's amazing that the teams with the four best records in the league are playing each other this weekend. The 9-2 Broncos vs. 9-2 Chiefs. The 9-2 Saints vs. 10-1 Seahawks. It's almost like the playoffs are starting a month early.

Here's how the playoffs look as we look forward to this weekend's games.

AFC

The division leaders are pretty comfortable right now.

Denver and Kansas City in the West. They have a four game lead.
Indianapolis has a two game lead in the South.
Cincinnati has a 1.5 game lead in the North.
New England has a three game lead in the East.

If those five teams can keep their leads, that leaves as many as eight teams fighting for the final playoff spot.
Baltimore Ravens 6-6
Tennessee Titans 5-6
San Diego Chargers 5-6
New York Jets 5-6
Miami Dolphins 5-6
Long shots, but still in play:
Pittsburgh Steelers 5-7
Cleveland Browns 4-7
Buffalo Bills 4-7

I think that it comes down to a battle between the Chargers and Ravens. Each has some difficult games in the final quarter of the season. Ravens host Minnesota (it doesn't get more difficult!), at Detroit, host New England, and at Cincinnati. The Chargers host Cincinnati tomorrow, host New York Giants, at Denver, host Oakland, and host Kansas City. It's fortunate, and unusual, for the Chargers to have four home games in their final five. I pick the Ravens to grab that sixth playoff spot.

NFC

The Seahawks, Saints, and Carolina Panthers are pretty much in the playoffs.
The winner of the Saints-Seahawks game on Monday night will have the edge for home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Saints and Panthers play twice in the final four weeks. If one should sweep those games, there's your NFC South champ. The other should be a Wild Card team.

The Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals control their playoff fates. The Lions lead and control the NFC North. The Chicago Bears are right there at a half game back but the Lions own the tie-breaker. The Cowboys have a half game lead over the Eagles. Their matchup on the final weekend of the season could decide the division. The 49ers or Cardinals could catch the Seahawks in the NFC West but that's a real long shot. The 49ers are finally starting to play closer to their talent. They get Michael Crabtree back this week or soon. They could take off now and do some real damage in the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Cardinals are playing as well as any team right now. They have a terrific young defense. Tomorrow's Cardinals-Eagles game is one of the more intriguing on a weekend that includes Broncos-Chiefs and Saints-Seahawks. The Chicago Bears need some help. The loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers for at least a month has turned the Green Bay Packers into a long shot. The St. Louis Rams are starting to play well but they are looking up at the 49ers, Cardinals, and Seahawks in their division. I like the Seahawks, Saints, Lions, and Cowboys to win their divisions and the 49ers and Panthers to earn the Wild Card bids. That would leave the hot Cardinals and Eagles out in the cold.