With week 14 in the books the NFL has 22 teams realistically in the hunt for the playoffs for the next three weeks, thats the most the league has had in contention for the playoffs since 2006. We are also welcoming some new comers to the playoff hunt, the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. Neither of them been in contention together since 2002. Were in for a tight race for those 22 teams trying to qualify for 12 playoff spots.

NFC South

There hasn’t been a under .500 team to make the playoffs since the 2009 seahawks, they then upset the defending champs Saints at home. With the 5-8 Falcons leading that division we could very well have a below .500 team make the playoffs. The Saints have the same record but all the way back in week one the Falcons won 37-34. A match up in week 16 could very well deside who wins the division and who hits the golf course. You also have to keep an eye out for the now Derek Anderson lead Panthers since Cam Newton was involved in a car crash and hurt his back. They are 4-8-1, with a tie to the bengals in week 6 the panthers can finish with the same amount of wins as the Saints or Falcons they win the division. The odds are stacked against the Panthers as they don’t have easy schedule finishing the year and Cam Newton has a back injury that looks like he might not play the rest of the season. The remaining schedules favor the Saints. This division will be desided in week 16.

NFC North

This division is no where near complicated as the NFC South. With the Lions one game behind the Packers it looking to be a tight last 3 weeks. Back in week 3 the Lions won this rivalry 19-7, which makes the division tie breaker go to the Lions if they have the same record. So before the week 17 rematch the Packer play the Bills and the Bucs on the road. With the tiebreaker belonging to the Lions they can’t afford to lose these next two games if the Lions win in week 15 and 16. Since the Lions are one game back they have to match the Packers results the next 2 weeks to have a game to play for the division in week 17. If the Lions don’t win the division they still have a very good shot to make it in as a wild card team. Theres not as much urgency for the Lions as there are other teams but I bet they want to play for a division at Lambeau week 17.

NFC West

With the Cardinals have a very low scoring and field goal friendly game Thursday  against the Rams secures them first place for at least this week. The Seahawks are right behind the Cardinals in the standing at 1.5 games back, The game against the 49ers and the Seahawks in Seattle this week can either put the nail in the coffin for the 7-6 49ers or help the Seahawks with a huge playoff push. If the Seahawks win this week, week 16 will decide the division. If the Seahawks win the next 2 weeks they will secure the division because they will hold the tie breaker.