NFL Playoff Picture Far From Settled

With two weeks left in the NFL season, here is the playoff picture:

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

East Division

Philadelphia Eagles--They are in the driver’s seat for the division championship. Tied with New York for first place with a 10-4 record, the Eagles have the tiebreaker advantage because they beat the Giants twice this season.

If the Eagles win their last two games, all the Giants can hope for is a wild-card berth.

New York Giants--The only way the Giants can win the division is with an overall better record than Philadelphia. They’re in good shape for a wild-card berth, though. To miss it, they would have to lose their last two games and the Green Bay Packers would have to win their final two. Even then, the Giants could make it if the Rams lost their last two.

Washington Redskins--They have to win their last two games and the Rams would have to lose their remaining two in order for the Redskins to get a wild-card berth.

Central Division

Minnesota Vikings--Their magic number is one. That’s all they need to clinch the division title--either one victory or one loss by Green Bay. As for a wild-card, the Vikings have an edge in a tiebreaker because of a better division record.

Green Bay Packers--They can’t afford a slip in the last two games. They have to win their last two games and Minnesota must lose its last two to win the division title. The Packers still have a chance as a wild-card team because of a tiebreaker advantage with their conference record.

West Division

San Francisco 49ers--The 49ers have already clinched the division championship by beating the Rams Monday night.

Rams--Since they were beaten Monday night, they probably will have to win their last two to gain a wild-card berth.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

East Division

Buffalo Bills--The Bills are in pretty good shape to win the division championship. They are tied with Miami at 8-6, but have the advantage, having swept the season series from the Dolphins.

If they win their last two games, the Dolphins can’t do anything but hope for a wild-card berth.

Miami Dolphins--The Dolphins need two wins to assure themselves of a playoff berth. They can win the division title by beating Indianapolis and Kansas City if Buffalo loses one of its last two games.

Indianapolis Colts--The Colts must win the last two games against Miami and New Orleans and hope for the Bills to lose both of theirs. The Colts would have the tiebreaker advantage over Miami because of a better conference record.

Central Division

Houston Oilers--The Oilers are sitting pretty. All they need is a split in their last two games against Cincinnati and Cleveland to win the division championship. If they win their last two, the Oilers have a chance for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Cleveland Browns--The Browns need to follow a complicated script to win the division title. First, they must win their last two games and hope that Houston loses to Cincinnati. In that case, the Browns will have the better overall record in the division.

Cincinnati Bengals--The Bengals’ cause is almost lost. First, they must win their last two against Houston and Minnesota, hope that the Browns lose to Minnesota next Sunday, and hope that Houston loses to Cleveland. Cincinnati and Houston would be tied then at 9-7 but the Bengals would prevail as division winner based on the better division record.

Pittsburgh Steelers--They cannot win the title but they still can make it as a wild card.

West Division

Denver Broncos--The Broncos are in, having clinched the division title two weeks ago. They will be the host team for a divisional playoff game Jan. 6 or 7 and can be assured of the home field advantage throughout the playoffs with one more victory, either at Phoenix or San Diego.

Raiders--The Raiders can qualify as a wild card, based on overall record, with wins over Seattle and the New York Giants.

Kansas City Chiefs--The Chiefs can clinch a wild-card berth by winning against San Diego and Miami, coupled with a loss by either Cleveland or the Raiders. In that case, they will gain a berth on overall conference record.

Seattle Seahawks--The Seahawks will be eliminated from the wild-card race if they lose to either the Raiders or Washington.