NFL Playoff Standings: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers Terrible, As Dallas Cowboys Fly High

NFL playoff standings have the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers going in opposite directions. NFL action for Week 10 had the Packers losing (again), while the Cowboys beat out the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the updated NFL standings, the Packers and Steelers not only have identical 4-5 records but are fading in the hunt for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cowboys improved to 8-1 on the season, which has the team as the top seed in the NFL playoff standings once again.

There was a time where the Minnesota Vikings were competing for the best record in the NFC, but the Vikings lost their fourth consecutive game on Sunday (Nov. 13). That dropped the Vikings to 5-4 on the season, but still kept them just above the Packers (4-5) in the NFC North. Taking into account the current tie-breakers, the Detroit Lions have now taken over the division, putting the team into a playoff spot with just seven games left on the regular season schedule.

With the exception of the Detroit Lions moving up to the No. 4 spot, the NFL playoff standings from the NFC remained exactly the same following Week 10 games. The Seattle Seahawks remain No. 2, followed by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 3, the New York Giants at No. 5, and the Washington Redskins at No. 6. The NFC East has become the toughest division in football this season, with the Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) residing in seventh place.

The Green Bay Packers have been playing terrible football lately, culminated by an embarrassing loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Packers have fallen all the way to 12th place in the NFC playoff standings, only slightly ahead of the San Francisco 49ers in the conference. The Packers are still ahead of the Carolina Panthers, though, as Cam Newton’s team fell to 3-6 on the season and even further back in the NFC South standings.

Over in the AFC playoff standings, the New England Patriots still lead the conference but have a Sunday night game against the Seattle Seahawks that could alter their record on the season. It was certainly billed as one of the best games on the NFL Week 10 schedule. Hot on their heels are the Kansas City Chiefs, as the team has won five straight games to take over first place in the AFC West. Two other AFC West teams hold the Wild Card slots, as the Oakland Raiders (7-2) and Denver Broncos (7-3) have also been playing great football.

The Baltimore Ravens have taken over sole possession of first place in the AFC North to secure the No. 4 playoff slot. At No. 3 are the Houston Texans, as the team won again to hold on to first place in the AFC South. Just outside of the playoff picture are the Miami Dolphins (5-4) and Tennessee Titans (5-5). The Dolphins are winners of four straight games but have a tough road ahead when it comes to playing in the postseason.

There are some key games during Week 11 of the schedule that will directly affect how the NFL playoff standings look the following week. They include the Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins, and the Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders on Monday night football (Nov. 21).

Full 2016 NFL Playoff Standings

AFC Playoff Standings

1 – New England Patriots (7-1)
2 – Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
3 – Houston Texans (6-3)
4 – Baltimore Ravens (5-4)
5 – Oakland Raiders (7-2)
6 – Denver Broncos (7-3)

7 – Miami Dolphins (5-4)
8 – Tennessee Titans (5-5)
9 – Pittsburgh Steelers (4-5)
10 – Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
11 – Buffalo Bills (4-5)
12 – Cincinnati Bengals (3-4-1)
13 – San Diego Chargers (4-6)
14 – New York Jets (3-7)
15 – Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7)
16 – Cleveland Browns (0-10)

NFC Playoff Standings

1 – Dallas Cowboys (8-1)
2 – Seattle Seahawks (5-2-1)
3 – Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
4 – Detroit Lions (5-4)
5 – New York Giants (5-3)
6 – Washington Redskins (5-3-1)

7 – Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
8 – Minnesota Vikings (5-4)
9 – Arizona Cardinals (4-4-1)
10 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
11 – New Orleans Saints (4-5)
12 – Green Bay Packers (4-5)
13 – Los Angeles Rams (4-5)
14 – Carolina Panthers (3-6)
15 – Chicago Bears (2-7)
16 – San Francisco 49ers (1-8)

[Featured Image by Joe Sargent/Getty Images]