Falcons and Bucs flip spots as playoff races tighten up

NFL NOTES

Atlanta’s Arnold Ebiketie celebrates a sack against the New York Giants in Sunday’s win that lifted the Falcons back atop the NFC South. KEVIN C. Cox/Getty Images

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The Associated Press

The NFL ’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday.

The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes with help, and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive.

With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up playoff berths and 11 more are competing for the six remaining spots.

The biggest change in the standings occurred in the NFC South with Atlanta reclaiming the top spot from Tampa Bay.

A breakdown by division:

AFC EAST

BILLS (12-3): Locked up their fifth straight division crown weeks ago. Buffalo could still land the AFC’s No. 1 seed, but must win out and need the Chiefs to lose two games.

Dolphins (7-8): Sunday’s win over San Francisco kept Miami in contention for a wild-card spot. The Dolphins have to beat the Browns and Jets on the road and get plenty of help.

AFC NORTH

STEELERS (10-5): They’ve dropped two in a row, including Saturday’s loss to Baltimore that prevented the Steelers from winning the division. Facing Kansas City on three days’ rest on Christmas Day will be a challenge for an injury-depleted crew. Pittsburgh controls its division hopes, needing wins over the Chiefs and Bengals to take the division.

RAVENS (10-5): Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry delivered a big win over the Steelers and Baltimore now can win the division with two victories and one loss by Pittsburgh.

BENGALS (7-8): Cincinnati has to beat the Broncos and Steelers, and get a lot of help.

AFC SOUTH

TEXANS (9-6): Houston already won its second straight division title.

COLTS (7-8): Indy stayed in contention with Sunday’s win. The Colts should beat the Giants and Jaguars to close out the season but they’ll need a ton of help to get in.

AFC WEST

CHIEFS (14-1): Kansas City has its their ninth straight division title in hand with eyes toward a Super Bowl three-peat.

CHARGERS (9-6): Jim Harbaugh’s crew has the inside track for the No. 6 seed following Thursday’s win over Denver that gave them a season sweep. The Chargers earn a wild-card spot with a victory over either the Patriots or Raiders.

BRONCOS (9-6): Denver is one win away from securing its first playoff berth since winning a Super Bowl nine years ago. The Broncos visit the Bengals and finish at home vs. Kansas City.

NFC EAST

EAGLES (12-3): Philly can clinch the division with a victory over the Cowboys or Giants and most likely will finish with the No. 2 seed.

COMMANDERS (10-5): Jayden Daniels and the Commanders moved closer to a playoff berth. They need to win out, plus have the Eagles to lose twice for a division title.

NFC NORTH

LIONS (13-2): Detroit beat Chicago on Sunday for their franchise-best 13th win. The Lions can win the division and secure the No. 1 seed with a victory over San Francisco and if Minnesota loses to Green Bay. Or, the division and the NFC’s top seed could come down to Week 18 when the Vikings visit Detroit.

VIKINGS (13-2): Sunday’s win in Seattle kept Minnesota in the hunt for the No. 1 seed. The Vikings have to beat the Packers at home and Lions on the road to get it.

PACKERS (10-4): Green Bay was in position to earn a wild-card spot with a victory over New Orleans in Monday’s late game.

NFC SOUTH

FALCONS (8-7): Atlanta’s win Sunday in Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start plus Tampa Bay’s loss at Dallas put Atlanta back in first place. The Falcons swept the Buccaneers and hold the tiebreaker. Atlanta closes at Washington and against Carolina at home.

BUCCANEERS (8-7): Tampa Bay lost control of the division with a disappointing loss to Dallas. The Bucs have to beat the Panthers and Saints at home and need the Falcons to lose once. Tampa Bay could make the playoffs as a wild-card if it wins out and the Commanders lose twice.

NFC WEST

RAMS (9-6): Sunday’s win over the Jets coupled with Seattle’s loss to Minnesota gave the Rams an inside track to the division crown. The Rams can take the West with a win over the Cardinals and a loss by the Seahawks to the Bears.

SEAHAWKS (8-7): Seattle has been eliminated from wild-card contention and can only make the playoffs by winning the division. They’ll need the Rams to lose to Arizona and they have to win out. There’s a minuscule chance Seattle could win the division on the fifth tiebreaker if the Rams beat the Cardinals and both teams finish 10-7.

COWBOYS TOP BUCS

Cooper Rush threw for a touchdown, Brandon Aubrey kicked two 58-yarders among four field goals, and Dallas beat Tampa Bay, 26-24 on Sunday night, costing Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers control of their playoff fate.

The end of a four-game winning streak left the Bucs (8-7) even with Atlanta atop the NFC South with two games remaining.

A three-year playoff run for the Cowboys (7-8) ended when they were eliminated from postseason contention before the prime-time kickoff. Still, Dallas won for the fourth time in five games since a five-game losing streak.

Rush threw for 292 yards with a 10-yard TD to Jalen Tolbert in the first quarter. Mayfield threw for two touchdowns.