As the NFL rolls into December, the playoff races are beginning to heat up. Teams are starting to make their playoff push with wild card spots up for grabs in both conferences. The Washington Commanders are the biggest beneficiaries in the playoff chase, winning six of their last seven games to emerge into the playoff picture.
All four NFC East teams are in the playoffs as Week 12 comes to a close, showcasing the strength of the division. The AFC also has a heated battle in the AFC East and for the final playoff sports in the conference, setting the stage for a crazy month of games coming up.
Below, you can find a division-by-division breakdown of the current standings and what each contender is facing on their schedule the rest of the way.
AFC East Miami DolphinsWhat to know: The Dolphins stay in control in the AFC East with their win over the Texans. They hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills and boast the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, at Chargers, at Bills, vs. Packers, at Patriots, vs. Jets
Buffalo BillsWhat to know: The Bills are the No. 5 seed in the AFC, losing the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Dolphins. Buffalo is up two games on the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, vs. Jets, vs. Dolphins, at Bears, at Bengals, vs. Patriots
New York JetsWhat to know: The Jets are the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs, as the Bengals hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over them for the No. 6 seed. They are one game behind Miami and Buffalo for the division lead.
Remaining schedule: at Vikings, at Bills, vs. Lions, vs. Jaguars, at Seahawks, at Dolphins
New England PatriotsWhat to know: New England is a game behind New York and Cincinnati for the final playoff spot. The Patriots are the No. 8 seed in the AFC, holding the conference win percentage tiebreaker over the Chargers.
Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Cardinals, at Raiders, vs. Bengals, vs. Dolphins, at Bills
AFC North Baltimore RavensWhat to know: The Ravens are tied with the Bengals for the AFC North lead, but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. Baltimore is the No. 4 seed in the AFC, as Tennessee holds the conference win percentage tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: vs. Broncos, at Steelers, at Browns, vs. Falcons, vs. Steelers, at Bengals
Cincinnati BengalsWhat to know: The Bengals caught the Ravens in the division, but Baltimore holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Cincinnati holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over New York for the No. 6 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, vs. Browns, at Buccaneers, at Patriots, vs. Bills, vs. Ravens
Cleveland BrownsWhat to know: The Browns are the No. 13 seed in the AFC, three games out of the final playoff spot. They'll get Deshaun Watson back form suspension this week.
Remaining schedule: at Texans, at Bengals, vs. Ravens, vs. Saints, at Commanders, at Steelers
Pittsburgh SteelersWhat to know: The Steelers travel to Indianapolis to play the Colts on "Monday Night Football."
Remaining schedule: at Colts, at Falcons, vs. Ravens, at Panthers, vs. Raiders, at Ravens, vs. Browns
AFC South Tennessee TitansWhat to know: The Titans are still in control of the AFC South, even with their loss to the Bengals Sunday. Tennessee holds the conference record tiebreaker over Baltimore for the No. 3 seed.
Remaining schedule: at Eagles, vs. Jaguars, at Chargers, vs. Texans, vs. Cowboys, at Jaguars
Indianapolis ColtsWhat to know: The Colts host the Steelers on "Monday Night Football." Indianapolis is the No. 10 seed in the AFC.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cowboys, Bye, at Vikings, vs. Chargers, at Giants, vs. Texans
Jacksonville JaguarsWhat to know: The Jaguars are the No. 11 seed in the AFC with their win over the Ravens Sunday, three games out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Lions, at Titans, vs. Cowboys, at Jets, at Texans, vs. Titans
Houston TexansWhat to know: The Texans have the worst record in the NFL and are in position for the top pick in the NFL Draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, at Cowboys, vs. Chiefs, at Titans, vs. Jaguars, at Colts
AFC West9
2
0
.818
83
6
5
0
.545
-30
Raiders
4
7
0
.364
-11
Broncos
3
8
0
.373
-37
Kansas City ChiefsWhat to know: The Chiefs maintain control of the No. 1 seed in the AFC with their win over the Rams. They have a one-game lead over the Dolphins and Bills for the top seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Bengals, at Broncos, at Texans, vs. Seahawks, vs. Broncos, at Raiders
Los Angeles ChargersWhat to know: The Chargers keep pace in the wild card race with their comeback win over the Cardinals. They are the No. 9 seed in the AFC, as the Patriots hold the conference record tiebreaker. Los Angeles is a game behind Cincinnati and New York for the final playoff spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Raiders, vs. Dolphins, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Rams, at Broncos
Las Vegas RaidersWhat to know: The Raiders are three games out of the final playoff spot and the No. 12 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Chargers, at Rams, vs. Patriots, at Steelers, vs. 49ers, vs. Chiefs
Denver BroncosWhat to know: The Broncos have the second-worst record in the AFC and are the No. 15 seed in the conference, four games out of the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Cardinals, at Rams, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
NFC East10
1
0
.909
87
Cowboys
8
3
0
.727
92
Giants
7
4
0
.636
-7
7
5
0
.583
-3
Philadelphia EaglesWhat to know: The Eagles are still the No. 1 seed in the NFC after defeating the Packers. Philadelphia is one game up on Minnesota for the top record in the conference with the head-to-head tiebreaker in tow.
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Giants, at Bears, at Cowboys, vs. Saints, vs. Giants
Dallas CowboysWhat to know: The Cowboys are the No. 5 seed in the NFC, two games behind the Eagles for the division lead. Philadelphia also owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Dallas.
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Texans, at Jaguars, vs. Eagles, at Titans, at Commanders
New York GiantsWhat to know: The Giants free fall continues, losing three of four to fall to the No. 6 seed in the conference. New York is up one game over Seattle for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Commanders, vs. Eagles, at Commanders, at Vikings, vs. Colts, at Eagles
Washington CommandersWhat to know: The Commanders are now the No. 7 seed in the NFC, a half-game ahead of the Seahawks for the final playoff spot. Their next two games are against the Giants.
Remaining schedule: at Giants, Bye, vs. Giants, at 49ers, vs. Browns, vs. Cowboys
NFC North9
2
0
.800
-2
Lions
4
7
0
.400
-32
Packers
4
8
0
.364
-41
Bears
3
9
0
.273
-33
Minnesota VikingsWhat to know: The Vikings are the No. 2 seed in the NFC and appear to be locked there going forward. Up two games on the 49ers for the No. 3 seed, Minnesota can clinch the NFC North next week -- and the first playoff spot in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Lions, vs. Colts, vs. Giants, at Packers, at Bears
Detroit LionsWhat to know: The Lions are the No. 10 seed in the conference, two games behind the Commanders in the loss column for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, vs. Vikings, at Jets, at Panthers, vs. Bears, at Packers
Green Bay PackersWhat to know: The Packers' playoff hopes are all but dead after Sunday's loss to the Eagles. Green Bay is three games out of the final playoff spot, sitting No. 11 in the conference.
Remaining schedule: at Bears, Bye, vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Vikings, vs. Lions
Chicago BearsWhat to know: The Bears have the worst record in the conference after 12 weeks and are in position for the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, Bye, vs. Eagles, vs. Bills, at Lions, vs. Vikings
NFC South5
6
0
.455
-3
5
7
0
.417
-21
Panthers
4
8
0
.333
-36
Saints
4
8
0
.333
-31
Tampa Bay BuccaneersWhat to know: The Buccaneers still lead the NFC South thanks to the Falcons loss Sunday (Tampa Bay lost too). They are the No. 4 seed in the conference.
Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at 49ers, vs. Bengals, at Cardinals, vs. Panthers, at Falcons
Atlanta FalconsWhat to know: The Falcons are still a half game behind the Buccaneers for the division lead and are the No. 9 seed in the NFC, two games behind Washington for the final playoff spot.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, Bye, at Saints, at Ravens, vs. Cardinals, vs. Buccaneers
Carolina PanthersWhat to know: The Panthers are three games out of the final playoff spot in the NFC, sitting as the No. 13 seed. They beat the Saints this year, so there's the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: Bye, at Seahawks, vs. Steelers, vs. Lions, at Buccaneers, at Saints
New Orleans SaintsWhat to know: The Saints are three games out of the final playoff spot in the NFC, sitting as the No. 14 seed. They lost to the Panthers this year, so there's the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Remaining schedule: at Buccaneers, Bye, vs. Falcons, at Browns, at Eagles, vs. Panthers
NFC West49ers
7
4
0
.636
76
Seahawks
6
5
0
.545
10
4
7
0
.333
-57
3
8
0
.273
-75
San Francisco 49ersWhat to know: The 49ers control the NFC West with their win and the Seahawks loss Sunday. San Francisco is the No. 3 seed in the NFC, two games behind Minnesota