With three games left, NFL has most crowded playoff race since 2004

NFL Week 14 is in the books and the playoff picture has gotten slightly clearer only in that two more teams – the Bears and Rams – have been eliminated from contention, joining the Jets, Jaguars, Browns and 49ers. The Cowboys remain the only team that has clinched a playoff spot.

Here’s how things look heading into Week 15 with tip of the cap to Joe Ferreira, who knows more about this subject than just about anyone.

NFC

1. Cowboys 11-2: Dallas already had clinched a playoff spot after Week 13 but failed to secure the NFC East title and a first-round playoff bye after losing to the Giants on Sunday night. The Cowboys will clinch the division and a first-round bye with a win or tie combined with a Giants loss to the Lions. They’ll clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win combined with a Giants-Lions tie.

2. Lions 9-4: Detroit will clinch the NFC North with a win over the Giants combined with a Packers loss or tie against the Bears, or with a tie against the Giants, a Packers loss and a Vikings loss or tie against the Colts.

3. Seahawks 8-4-1: Seattle will clinch the NFC West with a win or tie Thursday against the Rams, or if the Cardinals lose to the Saints.

4. Falcons 8-5: Atlanta and Tampa Bay are tied atop the NFC South, but the Falcons currently hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their better record vs. common opponents (6-3 vs. 5-4). Neither team can clinch a playoff berth next week.

5. Giants 9-4: New York has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cowboys by virtue of their season sweep, so they’re not out of the running for the NFC East title just yet. The Giants will clinch a playoff berth next weekend with a win over the Lions, a Redskins loss to the Panthers, a Vikings loss or tie and a Packers loss or tie.

6. Bucs 8-5: Tampa Bay has won five straight — its longest winning streak in 14 years — to stay ahead of the Redskins (7-5-1), Vikings (7-6), Packers (7-6) and Cardinals (5-7-1) for the last wild-card spot.

AFC

1. Patriots 11-2: New England’s Monday night win over Baltimore kept the Patriots on top in the hunt for the No. 1 seed.

2. Chiefs 10-3: Kansas City holds the AFC West tiebreaker over the Raiders by virtue of its 2-0 series sweep of Oakland.

3. Steelers 8-5: Pittsburgh maintained a one-game lead over Baltimore for the top spot in the AFC North.

4. Texans 7-6: Houston beat Indianapolis to assume the AFC South lead over the 7-6 Titans by virtue of its head-to-head win earlier in the year.

5. Raiders 10-3: Oakland would go a long way toward clinching a playoff berth with a win in San Diego this weekend.

6. Broncos 8-5: Denver has the tiebreaker advantage over Miami for the final wild-card spot.

Also in the hunt: Dolphins (8-5), Ravens (7-5), Titans (7-6), Colts (6-7).

Technically still alive: Bills (6-7), Bengals (5-7-1), Chargers (5-8).