The NFL just moved through one of the most eventful weekends in recent memory, as it managed a COVID-19 outbreak in Baltimore, the sudden loss of all four quarterbacks in Denver and the unexpected three-week closure of the 49ers' stadium and practice facility. The league's playoff picture, meanwhile, remained remarkably unchanged.
The most notable development was entirely expected: The Jacksonville Jaguars were eliminated from postseason contention after losing at home to the Browns. With five weeks left in the season, here is a closer look at where things stand in the 2020 playoff picture, using ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) for context when appropriate.
AFC
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 97.4%
The Steelers were originally scheduled to play the third game of Week 12, but thanks to three separate COVID-19 delays, they ended up playing the last. Their closer-than-expected victory over the depleted Ravens allowed them to maintain the top spot in the AFC -- a loss would have pushed them to the No. 2 spot! -- but they did not yet clinch a playoff berth.
Up next: vs. Washington
2. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 99.9%
The Chiefs improved to 6-0 away from Arrowhead Stadium with their 27-24 victory Sunday over the Buccaneers. While everyone would agree the Chiefs are one of the NFL's top teams, they're having to slug it out here in the second half of the season. Their past three victories have all come by four points or fewer.
Up next: vs. Broncos
3. Tennessee Titans (8-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 96.7%
FPI chances to win division: 88.0%
The Titans pulled off what might have been the most impressive victory of Week 12, one that allowed them to reclaim control over the AFC South from the Colts. It was their second consecutive victory over a team in playoff contention after a 1-3 slide, and once again, their multifaceted offense and physical defense have them looking like one of the league's best teams.
Up next: vs. Browns
4. Buffalo Bills (8-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 89.8%
FPI chances to win division: 78.4%
A home victory over the Chargers kept the Bills atop the AFC East. But the Titans jumped over Buffalo in the conference standings because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. (The Titans won a Week 5 game between the two teams.) Now comes a challenging portion of their schedule: Three of their final five games are on the road, and their two remaining home matchups are against the Steelers (Week 14) and Dolphins (Week 17).
Up next: at 49ers
5. Cleveland Browns (8-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 74.0%
FPI chances to win division: 0.8%
No matter what else happens, the Browns have already accomplished one bit of (recent) history: Their win Sunday in Jacksonville guaranteed their first non-losing season since 2007. But their schedule is about to turn rough. After rolling up three consecutive victories against the Texans (4-7), Eagles (3-7-1) and Jaguars (1-10), they now face back-to-back games against the Titans and Ravens.
Up next: at Titans
6. Miami Dolphins (7-4)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 45.9%
FPI chances to win division: 19.4%
After taking care of business Sunday against the Jets, the Dolphins have another highly winnable game in Week 13, at home against the Bengals. And then we'll find out if the Dolphins are truly a playoff team. They'll have games against the Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders and Bills to close out the season. Yikes.
Up next: vs. Bengals
7. Indianapolis Colts (7-4)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 47.6%
FPI chances to win division: 11.5%
The Colts ended up splitting the season series with the Titans. They looked awful Sunday, allowing the Titans to rush for 229 yards against them. But in a league in which the week-to-week outlook can change dramatically, we should note that the COVID-19 absence of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner probably had a lot to do with that. It's not quite time to panic yet, especially given the recent play of the Ravens and Raiders.
Up next: at Texans
Also in the AFC mix
Las Vegas Raiders (6-5): The Raiders took a terrible loss in Atlanta and are fortunate to have the Jets next on their schedule.
Baltimore Ravens (6-5): The Ravens made it a game in Pittsburgh, despite a steep shortage of players, but in the end, they continued to sink down the playoff rankings. They're now behind the Raiders because of a worse conference record.
New England Patriots (5-6): Victories in three of their past four games have put the Patriots in position to capitalize on other AFC teams' struggles in the final month of the season.
NFC
1. New Orleans Saints (9-2)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 98.0%
NFC playoff contenders probably didn't appreciate the Saints getting a gimme game at Denver, where all four Broncos quarterbacks were sidelined. But let's face it: The Saints were heavy favorites even before the Broncos' COVID-19 issues, and they deserve to be atop the NFC as December approaches. Oh, and they're 2-0 since Taysom Hill took over at quarterback.
Up next: at Falcons
2. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 96.8%
FPI chances to win division: 54.5%
The Seahawks returned to the top of the NFC West, thanks to their victory Monday night combined with the Rams' loss to the 49ers. They haven't looked great over the past month, winning three of their past six games, but their schedule is pretty favorable the rest of the way. The only team with a winning record left on it is the Rams.
Up next: vs. Giants
3. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.7%
FPI chances to win division: 99.2%
The Packers' win Sunday night gave them a three-game lead in the NFC North with five left to play. They weren't able to gain on the Saints, however, and they settled into the No. 3 spot after the Seahawks won Monday night. But at the very least, Week 12 told us it's very likely Green Bay will repeat as division champion.
Up next: vs. Eagles
4. New York Giants (4-7)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 31.5%
FPI chances to win division: 31.5%
And look what we have here: A three-game winning streak has pushed the Giants to the nominal top of the awful NFC East. Their immediate future is in question as quarterback Daniel Jones nurses a hamstring injury, but they maintained the top spot after the Eagles lost Monday night.
Up next: at Seahawks
5. Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 91.5%
FPI chances to win division: 36.7%
The Rams met a stronger-than-expected opponent in the 49ers, who are starting to get some of their sidelined players back on the field. The Rams shouldn't look ahead, but we can: As long as they stay within one game of the Seahawks, the teams' Week 16 game could decide the division.
Up next: at Cardinals
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 85.7%
FPI chances to win division: 2.0%
The Buccaneers will head into their bye -- a late one! -- trying to figure out the struggles that have led to three losses in their past four games. They're giving up 28.8 points per game over that stretch while their all-star offense continues to look out of sync. They're now 2½ games back in the division, and while it'll take a massive collapse for them to miss the playoffs, the Buccaneers' chances for advancing in the postseason don't look great at the moment.
Up next: vs. Vikings (Week 14)
7. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 53.6%
FPI chances to win division: 7.1%
The only thing standing between the Cardinals and a four-game losing streak is the Hail Mary touchdown that lifted them to a victory over the Bills three weeks ago. The best news for the Cardinals is that they still have both games against the Rams remaining. But they've been going in the wrong direction for a while.
Up next: vs. Rams
Also in the NFC mix
Minnesota Vikings (5-6): The Vikings came back from an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit Sunday to beat the Panthers, Minnesota's fourth victory in five games. If any team is ready to climb the standings, it could be the Vikings.
Chicago Bears (5-6): The Bears could have leapfrogged the Cardinals and vaulted into the wild-card picture with a victory Sunday night. Instead, Chicago lost for the sixth time in eight games.
San Francisco 49ers (5-6): The 49ers snapped a three-game losing streak as their injured and unavailable players began returning to the field. They're not out of it yet.
Washington Football Team (4-7): If you're in the NFC East, you're by definition in the race for the division title.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1): Even after their atrocious performance Monday night, the Eagles really are only one game back in the equally awful NFC East.