NFL playoff picture Week 12: Lions and Chiefs occupy the top spots as the postseason race heats up

The playoff race is heating up, but nothing has changed at the top.

Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions won on Sunday, maintaining their lead in the AFC and NFC races, respectively. The Chiefs earned a victory over the Panthers with a game-winning field goal as time expired and the Lions overtook the Indianapolis Colts. The Lions are now 10-1 for the first time since 1934. Neither has officially secured a spot in the playoffs yet, but that appears to be imminent.

Here’s a look at the state of the playoffs after Week 12 of the NFL season.

NFC playoff picture

This is what the playoff race in the NFC looks like starting November 26th

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (7-5)

3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5) vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)

On the bubble

8. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)

10. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)

AFC playoff image

This is what the AFC playoff race looks like on November 26th

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2) vs. 7. Denver Broncos (7-5)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

4. Houston Texans (7-5) vs. 5. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

On the bubble

8. Miami Dolphins (5-6)

9. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)

10.Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)

Complete NFC rankings

As of November 26th, here is the state of play in the NFC

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-2)

2. Washington Commanders (7-5)

3. Dallas Cowboys (4-7)

4. New York Giants (2-9)

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)

2. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)

3. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

4. Chicago Bears (4-7)

NFC South

1. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)

3. New Orleans Saints (4-7)

4. Carolina Panthers (3-8)

NFC West

1. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)

2. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)

3. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)

4. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)

Complete AFC rankings

Here is the state of play in the AFC as of November 26th.

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

2. Miami Dolphins (5-6)

3. New York Jets (3-8)

4. New England Patriots (3-9)

AFC North

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

2. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7)

4. Cleveland Browns (3-8)

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (7-5)

2. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)

3. Tennessee Titans (3-8)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

2. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

3. Denver Broncos (7-5)

4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)