We are heading to the final stretch of the NFL season.  Each week, we'll look at the current standings and see who's got things in good shape, who's fighting for a shot, and who's time is running out.

The division races remain fairly uninteresting, even with 3 weeks left.  Only one division has a team within a game, and they don't have the tiebreaker either.  The wild card race still remains interesting, but everything could really be decided before the last week.

Let's start with the AFC.

AFC North

Pittsburgh 9-4

Cleveland 8-5

This is the only division that could still be reached without the lead team falling completely apart, and even then, the Browns have to win out, and the Steelers have to go 1-2 or 0-3.  Still possible, all Pittsburgh has to do is not choke.

AFC South

Indianapolis 11-2

Jacksonville 9-4

Unless the Colts lose out, and the Jags win out, this one is locked up.

AFC East

Patriots 13-0 (Locked it up a while back)

AFC West

San Diego 8-5

Denver 6-7

Denver will have a chance in two weeks, when they play the Chargers.  But even then, they have to win out, and they need the Chargers to go on a losing streak.  The Lions and Raiders seem like two winnable games for the Chargers, so the Broncos may be out of luck.

Home-field Advantage

New England 13-0

Indianapolis 11-2

Pittsburgh 9-4

The one and two seeds are pretty much wrapped up.  NE has to lose all 3 of their games to lose the 1 seed (hint, they won't) and Indy has to lose all 3 for the Steelers to get the 2 seed.  Prepare for the bye fellas.

Wild Card

Jacksonville 9-4

Cleveland 8-5

Buffalo 7-6

Tennessee 7-6

Denver 6-7

Houston 6-7

Having a 2 game lead on the Bills and Titans makes the Jaguars pretty safe.  Provided they don't fall apart, they'll get a spot.  Cleveland and Buffalo gets interesting, considering they play this week in Cleveland.  A Browns win would finish the Bills playoff hopes.  But if the Bills win, they would be tied with the Browns for that last spot, and own the tiebreaker.  If the Browns win, they can almost clinch, as Buffalo would be done, and they likely have the tiebreaker over the Titans thanks to conference record.

Best case for Tennessee would be for the Bills to win, as that could potentially lead to a 3-way tie at the end of this week.  The Titans conference record isn't good enough for them to likely have any tiebreakers, so they have to win out and get help.  A Browns win ends the Broncos and Texans very slim hopes, but one of those two will be out anyhow since Denver and Houston play this week.

Now let's look at the NFC.

NFC North

Green Bay 11-2 (Clinched Division)

NFC South
Tampa Bay 8-5

New Orleans 6-7

As long as the Bucs win at least one of the last 3, they clinch the division.

NFC East
Dallas 12-1 (clinched division)

NFC West
Seattle 9-4 (clinched division)

Home field-Advantage

Dallas 12-1

Green Bay 11-2

Remember, Dallas owns the tiebreaker.  So Green Bay has to win out, and Dallas must lose two of their last 3.

Wild Card
NY Giants 9-4

Minnesota 7-6

New Orleans 6-7

Washington 6-7

Detroit 6-7

Arizona 6-7

Carolina 5-8

Philadelphia 5-8

Chicago 5-8

Really, it's about impossible for the Giants to not end up with a spot.  It's the intense fight for the last spot which is worth watching.  Minnesota holds the drivers' seat, and they play 3 below .500 teams to finish.  However, week 16 is Washington, who could give them trouble if they win out.  Arizona plays New Orleans, so one of them will be canceled out of the equation, while the other still has a shot.  The Lions schedule is tough, so it'll take a lot from them.

Well there you have it, we'll update you once again next week to see what's going on in the NFL Playoff race.