Playoff picture Week 12

[Lee Borgersen]

           playoff picture post-Week 12

              NFC

1. Carolina Panthers (11-0): They are in the driver's seat for home-field advantage. But with two showdowns with the Falcons remaining, they have not yet wrapped up the NFC South.

2. Arizona Cardinals (9-2): Bruce Arians' crew has the edge for a first-round bye. But with games against the Vikings, Packers and Seahawks remaining, they won't have much room for error.

3. Minnesota Vikings (8-3): The Vikings jump the Packers in the NFC North standings after Green Bay's loss to the Bears. But the division could come down to a Week 17 matchup at Lambeau Field.

4. Washington Redskins (5-6): A winning record is not a prerequisite in the NFC East, with the sub-.500 Redskins and Giants leading the way. Washington holds the edge for now based on its divisional record, but plenty will be resolved in the final five weeks.

5. Green Bay Packers (7-4): An opportunity to seize control of the NFC North slipped away on Thanksgiving. Aaron Rodgers and Co. remain very much in the mix for the division, though.

6. Seattle Seahawks (6-5): Seattle's second-half push appears to be right on schedule, as the defending NFC champions are back in the playoff picture.

Next up: Atlanta Falcons (6-5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6), New York Giants (5-6), Chicago Bears (5-6)