NFL playoff picture - how things look ahead of WiId Card weekend
Monday 4 January 2016 12:11, UK
The playoff picture is set and now the world waits to see which NFL sides can continue on their path to the Super Bowl.
Here, we pick out the competition in each of the divisions ahead of this weekend's first round WiId Card playoffs.
AFC
Top seeds
Veteran QB Peyton Manning came off the bench to help the Denver Broncos (12-4) grab the top playoff seed in the AFC with a victory over San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
The result means that the Broncos now have a first-round bye and home advantage in the divisional playoffs.
Second seeds
Reigning Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots (12-4) were relegated to second seeds after losing 20-10 to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Pats will get a first round bye but failed to clinch home-field advantage after two consecutive losses.
Wild Cards
The result, coupled with Pittsburgh's win over Cleveland, left both teams with 10-6 records but the Steelers advanced on the tiebreaker.
The Houston Texans (9-7) claimed their third AFC South title in five years with a 30-6 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Texans will host wild card Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) in the first round, while the Steelers will visit the Cincinnati Bengals (12-4).
Wild card playoffs Saturday January 9:
Chiefs @ Texans
Steelers @ Bengals
NFC
Top seeds
Carolina Panthers (15-1) locked up the top seed and home field advantage with a a 38-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Second seeds
Arizona Cardinals (13-3) have the other first-round bye, they suffered a 36-6 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in their final regular season game.
Wild Cards
Which means, the Vikings (11-5) will host the Seattle Seahawks (10-6) and the Packers (10-6) will visit the Washington Redskins (9-7) in the first round.
Wild card playoffs Sunday January 10:
Seahawks @ Vikings
Packers @ Redskins
