The Philadelphia Eagles became the first team to clinch an NFL playoff berth with their 48-22 dismantling of the New York Giants last week, and with four weeks left in the regular season, they look like the class of the NFC.
The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings are two games back of the Eagles in the NFC standings, but Philadelphia has head-to-head wins over both and can clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with wins the next two weeks.
The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) are the only other NFC team with more than seven wins, and probably the team with the next best chance to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The 49ers have one of the league’s best defenses and two dynamic skill players in Deebo Samuel, though he’s hurt again, and Christian McCaffrey. They are on their third-string quarterback, but have a manageable schedule down the stretch that could vault them to the No. 2 seed if the Vikings slip up again. Minnesota was beaten soundly by the Detroit Lions last week, 34-23.
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In the AFC, the top of the playoff picture is less clear.
The Buffalo Bills, who currently hold the top seed, and Kansas City Chiefs are competing for homefield advantage, and whoever gets that will be the favorite to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.
The Cincinnati Bengals are lurking a game behind both teams, but would be a wild card if the season ended today by virtue of their early-season loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals play both the Bills and Ravens in the final four weeks.
Handicapping that race, I’d give the Chiefs a slight edge based on their remaining schedule, though the AFC feels like it will come down to whichever of the NFL’s three best quarterbacks – Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow – plays his best football in January.
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This week’s power rankings:
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. San Francisco 49ers
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Miami Dolphins
10. Los Angeles Chargers
11. Tennessee Titans
12. New York Jets
13. Detroit Lions
14. Washington Commanders
15. Seattle Seahawks
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
17. Green Bay Packers
18. New England Patriots
19. New York Giants
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Las Vegas Raiders
23. Cleveland Browns
24. Atlanta Falcons
25. Los Angeles Rams
26. Carolina Panthers
27. Indianapolis Colts
28. New Orleans Saints
29. Arizona Cardinals
30. Chicago Bears
31. Denver Broncos
32. Houston Texans
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.