NFL playoff picture after Week 14: Despite loss, Ravens narrowly remain in field

Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks after Week 14's afternoon games.

NFC
y — 1. Los Angeles Rams (11-1):
NFC West champions. They'll clinch a first-round bye by beating the Bears on Sunday night.

y — 2. New Orleans Saints (11-2): NFC South champions. They overcame the scrappy Bucs to win consecutive division crowns for first time in franchise history.

3. Chicago Bears (8-4): NFC North leader. Hoping Mitchell Trubisky's return can help them upset Rams.

4. Dallas Cowboys (8-5): NFC East leader. A loss would have knocked them from the field. Instead, they stunned the Eagles in overtime and essentially put a hammerlock on this division.

5. Seattle Seahawks (7-5): Wild card No. 1. They can't do better than this spot but can tighten their grip by dispatchinig Minnesota on Monday night.

6. Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1): Wild card No. 2. Panthers' free fall helps, but win in Seattle would obviously help.

In the hunt: Carolina Panthers (6-7), Philadelphia Eagles (6-7), Washington Redskins (6-7), Packers (5-7-1)

x — clinched playoff berth
y — clinched division

AFC
x — 1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-2):
AFC West leader. Outlasted Baltimore to clinch fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

2. New England Patriots (9-4): AFC East leader. Collapse in Miami means they'll have to wait at least one more week to secure division for 10th straight season.

3. Houston Texans (9-4): AFC South leader. First loss since September prevented them from moving past Pats and into position for first-round bye.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1): AFC North leader. Missed black and golden opportunity to get breathing room in division by laying egg in Oakland.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3): Wild card No. 1. Huge game at Arrowhead on Thursday night with AFC West lead at stake.

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-6): Wild card No. 2. Despite losing in Kansas City, they retain this spot by narrowest of margins since they have one more win against common opponents than Miami.

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (7-6), Miami Dolphins (7-6), Tennessee Titans (7-6), Denver Broncos (6-7), Cleveland Browns (5-7-1)

x — clinched playoff berth
y — clinched division

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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

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