The Cardinals are back on top, the Saints and Bills are still clinging to the edge of the playoff field, and yes, that Thanksgiving matchup will be of vital importance.
The standings in each conference are as crowded as ever, with no teams emerging as a clear front-runner. There are 20 teams at .500 or better, all of whom with a chance to make the playoff field. Another five teams are sitting at 4-6 or better, set up for a potential run in the second half of the season.
One odd standings quirk: Heading into Week 12, there isn't a single 6-win team in the NFC, while three teams are 5-5 (Saints, 49ers and Vikings). In the NFC, there's a 6-win team in each conference (Bengals, Chargers, Colts, Browns).
Here's a rundown of how the NFL standing are shaping up heading into Week 12. Scroll below for a rundown of each conference, as well as which team each should be rooting for on a short week (for several teams).
NEED A BREAKDOWN OF THE NFL TIEBREAKERS? CLICK HERE.
No teams are yet eliminated, but several are getting close. Here are the top three tiebreaker games for Week 12:
- RAMS 7-3, 2nd NFC West) AT PACKERS 8-3 (1st NFC South): The Rams have been a top team in the NFC all year, but they continue to look up at the Arizona Cardinals. All is not lost, though, if they can continue to hold serve in their NFC matchups. Their best hope at the division will be taking the 2nd head-to-head matchup with Arizona and forcing a secondary tiebreaker. The Rams will have to hope another NFC South team can hand Arizona at least one loss, in which case it'd come down to the best record in NFC games.
- VIKINGS (5-5, 2nd NFC North) at 49ERS (5-5, 3rd NFC West): The Vikings currently hold the tiebreaker and the No. 6 seed in the playoff field, but none of that really matters: The head to-head matchup in Week 12 will officially give one of those teams the edge, and what is effectively a 2-game lead on the other (barring a 3-way tie). Both teams have a steep hill to climb in their respective divisions, so this game might be what ultimately punches a wild card ticket for the winner.
- STEELERS (5-4-1, 3rd AFC North) AT BENGALS (6-4, 2nd AFC North): Yet another matchup of teams that are right on the fringe of the AFC North. The Steelers lost a tough game to the Chargers in Week 11, dropping them out, with the Bengals climbing in. With a win, Cincinnati would sweep the season series, setting themselves in great position in the wild card race and nipping at the heels of the Ravens.
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NFC | THE DIVISION LEADERS
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1. ARIZONA CARDINALS (9-2, 1st NFC West)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 4-0/5-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Rams, vs 49ers, at 49ers, at Seahawks
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Packers, vs Panthers
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Bears, vs Rams, at Lions, at Cowboys, vs Seahawks
- CARDINALS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Rams over Packers; Colts over Bucs; Raiders over Cowboys
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2. GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-3, 1st NFC North)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-1/6-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Lions, at 49ers, at Bears, at Cardinals, vs Seahawks
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Saints, at Vikings
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Rams, vs Bears, vs Vikings, at Lions
- PACKERS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Colts over Bucs; Bills over Saints
NOTES: The Packers still hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Cardinals, and as long as they can continue to keep pace, they'll continue to like their odds. But they suddenly have some pressure in the division race. Even with a two-game cushion, they've lost the first half of the season series to a surging Vikings team. One more Packers loss and that second head-to-head meeting could get very interesting.
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3. TAMPA BAY BUCS (7-3, 1st NFC South)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 1-1/5-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Cowboys, vs Falcons, at Eagles, vs Bears, vs Giants
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Saints, at Rams, at Washington
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Falcons, vs Saints, at Panthers, vs Panthers
- BUCS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Rams over Packers; Bills over Saints; 49ers over Vikings
NOTES: The Bucs are as secure atop the NFC South as they have been all season, but find themselves in a similar situation the Packers, having lost to the 2nd place team already this season.
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4. DALLAS COWBOYS (7-3, 1st NFC East)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 2-0/5-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Eagles, vs Panthers, vs Giants, at Vikings, vs Falcons
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Bucs
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Saints, at Washington, at Giants, vs Washington, vs Cardinals, at Eagles
- COWBOYS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bills over Saints; Rams over Bucs; Giants over Eagles
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THE WILD CARDS
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5. L.A. RAMS (7-3, 2nd NFC West)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 1-2/5-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Bears, vs Bucs, at Seahawks, at Giants, vs Lions
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Cardinals, at 49ers
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at Packers, at Cardinals, vs Seahawks, at Vikings, vs 49ers
- RAMS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bills over Saints; Colts over Bucs; Washington over Seattle; Vikings over 49ers
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6. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-5, 2nd NFC North)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 2-0/4-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Seahawks, vs Lions, at Panthers, vs Packers- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Cardinals, vs Cowboys
- NFC GAMES LEFT: at 49ers, at Lions, at Bears, vs Rams, at Packers, vs Bears
- VIKINGS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Rams over Packers; Colts over Bucs; Bills over Saints
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7. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-5, 2nd NFC South)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 1-2/4-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Packers, at Washington, at Seahawks, vs Bucs
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Panthers, vs Giants, vs Falcons, at Eagles
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Cowboys, at Bucs, vs Panthers, at Falcons
- SAINTS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Rams over Packers; Colts over Bucs; Dolphins over Panthers; Jaguars over Falcons; Washington over Seahawks
NOTES: The Saints have a really odd tiebreaker resume, in that it's brutal within the division ... other than when it comes to the team leading the NFC South. They'd lose the tiebreakers to the teams behind them, but not the one ahead of them. The good news is a 4-4 record in the NFC puts them in a solid position. Despite a three-game losing streak, they're currently on the right side of a three-way tiebreaker with the 49ers and Vikings at 5-5. If the Saints can find a way to win a few games despite all the injuries, they'll control their own destiny in the playoff push.
Related
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IN THE HUNT
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-5, 3rd NFC West)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 1-3/4-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Lions, at Eagles, at Bears, vs Rams
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Packers, vs Seahawks, at Cardinals, vs Cardinals
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Vikings, at Seahawks, vs Falcons, at Rams
- 49ERS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bills over Saints; Packers over Rams; Washington over Seahawks; Colts over Bucs
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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-6, 2nd NFC East)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 0-1/4-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Falcons, at Panthers, at Lions, vs Saints
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs 49ers, at Cowboys, vs Bucs
- KEY GAMES LEFT: at Giants, vs Washington, vs Giants, at Washington, vs Cowboys
- EAGLES SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Raiders over Cowboys; Bills over Saints; Colts over Bucs; Seahawks over Washington
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CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-5, 3rd NFC South)
- DIVISION RECORD: 2-0/3-5
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Saints, at Falcons, at Cardinals
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Cowboys, vs Vikings, vs Giants, vs Washington
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Falcons, vs Bucs, at Saints, at Bucs
- PANTHERS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bills over Saints; Colts over Bucs; Jaguars over Falcons
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WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (4-6, 3rd NFC East)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 1-0/4-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Giants, at Falcons, vs Bucs, at Panthers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Saints, at Packers
- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Seahawks, vs Cowboys, at Eagles, at Cowboys, vs Eagles, at Giants
- WASHINGTON SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bills over Saints; Raiders over Cowboys; Giants over Eagles
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ATLANTA FALCONS (4-6, 4th NFC South)
- DIVISION/NFC RECORD: 1-2/2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Giants, at Saints
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Eagles, at Bucs, vs Washington, vs Panthers, at Cowboys- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Bucs, at Panthers, at 49ers, vs Lions, vs Saints
- FALCONS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Dolphins over Panthers; Bills over Saints; Colts over Bucs
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- DIVISION RECORD: 0-2/2-5
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Saints, vs Panthers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Washington, vs Falcons, at Cowboys, vs Rams, at Bucs- NFC GAMES LEFT: vs Eagles, vs Cowboys, at Eagles, at Bears, vs Washington
- GIANTS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12):
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LONGSHOTS
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- New York Giants (3-6, 3rd NFC East)
- Chicago Bears: 3-7, 3rd NFC North
- Seattle Seahawks: 3-7, 4th NFC West
- Detroit Lions: 0-8-1, 4th NFC North
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AFC | THE DIVISION LEADERS
1. TENNESSEE TITANS (8-3, 1st AFC South)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 3-1/5-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Colts, at Jaguars, vs Bills, vs Chiefs, at Colts
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Jets, vs Texans
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Patriots, vs Jaguars, at Steelers, vs Dolphins, at Texans
- TITANS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Saints over Bills; Bucs over Colts; Browns over Ravens
NOTES: The Titans are still the top dogs in the AFC, but looked suddenly susceptible in a stunning loss to the Texans. Playing without Derrick Henry, their hold on the top spot in the conference appears light, at best. The good news: Their lone conference losses have come to the bottom-dwellers Jets and Texans. If it comes down to a tiebreaker, they'll be in good shape.
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2. BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-3, 1st AFC North)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 0-1/4-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Chiefs, at Broncos, vs Colts, vs Chargers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Raiders, vs Bengals, at Dolphins
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Browns, at Steelers, at Browns, at Bengals, vs Steelers
- RAVENS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bucs over Colts; Patriots over Titans; Steelers over Bengals
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3. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-4, 1st AFC East)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 2-1, 5-1
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Jets, at Texans, vs Jets, at Chargers, vs Browns
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Dolphins
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Titans, at Bills, at Colts, vs Bills, vs Jaguars, at Dolphins
- PATRIOTS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Saints over Bills; Browns over Ravens; Bucs over Colts
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4. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-4, 1st AFC West)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 1-1/2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Browns, at Raiders
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Ravens, vs Chargers, vs Bills, at Titans
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Raiders, vs Broncos, vs Raiders, at Chargers, vs Steelers, at Bengals, at Broncos
- CHIEFS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Cowboys over Raiders; Saints over Bills; Broncos over Chargers; Browns over Ravens; Bucs over Colts
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THE WILD CARDS
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CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-4, 2nd AFC North)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 2-1/4-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Steelers, vs Jaguars, at Ravens, at Raiders
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Jets, vs Browns
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Steelers, vs Chargers, at Broncos, vs Ravens, vs Chiefs, at Browns
- BENGALS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Browns over Ravens; Broncos over Chargers; Patriots over Titans; Bucs over Colts
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6. L.A. CHARGERS (6-4, 2nd AFC West)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 2-0/4-2
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Chiefs, vs Raiders, vs Browns, vs Steelers
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Ravens, vs Patriots
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Broncos, at Bengals, vs Chiefs, vs Texans, vs Broncos, at Raiders
- CHARGERS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Browns over Ravens; Steelers over Bengals; Saints over Bills; Patriots over Ravens; Bucs over Colts
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7. BUFFALO BILLS (6-4, 2nd AFC East)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 3-0/5-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Dolphins, vs Texans, at Chiefs, vs Dolphins, at Jets
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Steelers, at Titans, at Jaguars, vs Colts
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Patriots, vs Jets
- BILLS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Ravens over Patriots; Broncos over Chargers; Steelers over Bengals; Bucs over Colts
Related
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IN THE HUNT
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-4-1, 3rd AFC NORTH)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 1-1/3-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Bills, vs Broncos, at Browns
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Raiders, vs Bengals, at Chargers
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Bengals, vs Titans, at Chiefs, vs Browns, at Ravens
- STEELERS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bucs over Colts; Cowboys over Raiders; Broncos over Chargers; Browns over Ravens; Saints over Bills
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INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-5, 2nd AFC South)
- DIVISION AFC RECORD: 2-2/5-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Dolphins, vs Texans, vs Jets, vs Jaguars, at Bills
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Titans, at Ravens, vs Titans
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Texans, vs Patriots, vs Raiders, at Jaguars
- COLTS SHOULD ROOT FOR (Week 12): Saints over Bills; Patriots over Titans; Broncos over Chargers; Ravens over Browns; Steelers over Bengals
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CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-5, 4th AFC North)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 1-1/3-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Texans, vs Broncos, at Bengals
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Chiefs, at Chargers, vs Steelers, at Patriots
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Ravens, vs Ravens, vs Raiders, at Steelers, vs Bengals
- BROWNS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Saints over Bills; Bucs over Colts; Broncos over Chargers; Steelers over Bengals; Cowboys over Raiders
- NOTES:
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LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-5, 3rd AFC West)
- DIVISION/AFC RECORD: 1-2/4-3
- TIEBREAKER WINS: vs Ravens, at Steelers, vs Dolphins, at Broncos
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: at Chargers, vs Chiefs, at Bengals
- AFC GAMES LEFT: at Chiefs, at Browns, vs Broncos, at Colts, vs Chargers
- RAIDERS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Broncos over Chargers; Bucs over Colts; Saints over Bills; Steelers over Bengals
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DENVER BRONCOS (5-5, 4th AFC West)
- DIVISION RECORD: 0-1/2-4
- TIEBREAKER WINS: at Jaguars, vs Jets
- TIEBREAKER LOSSES: vs Ravens, at Steelers, vs Raiders, at Browns
- AFC GAMES LEFT: vs Chargers, at Chiefs, vs Bengals, at Raiders, at Chargers, vs Chiefs
- BRONCOS SHOULD ROOT FOR (WEEK 12): Bucs over Colts; Cowboys over Raiders; Saints over Bills; Steelers over Bengals; Ravens over Browns
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LONGSHOTS (very long)
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- Miami Dolphins (4-7, 3rd AFC East)
- Houston Texans (2-8, 3rd AFC South)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8, 4th AFC South)
- N.Y. Jets (2-8, 4th AFC East)