If there's one thing we can say with some certainty about the 2020 NFL playoff picture, it's that the AFC is historically top-heavy. All seven AFC playoff teams are 8-4 or better. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, it's the first time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger that one conference had that many teams with a winning percentage of .667 or better through Week 13. (The AFC also has four teams with three or fewer wins.)
Let's take a closer look at where the NFL playoff picture. We'll use ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) to provide context where necessary.
Note: X denotes a team that has clinched a playoff berth, Y shows a team that has clinched its division and Z indicates a team that has secured a first-round bye.
AFC
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1)
FPI chances to make playoffs: 99.9%
FPI chances to win division: 97.6%
The good news is that the Steelers are still atop the AFC despite Monday's home loss to the Washington Football Team. They hold the conference-record tiebreaker over the Chiefs. The bad news: The Steelers lost at home to Washington, a week after barely holding on against a deeply outmanned Ravens team. The loss also means that the Steelers, despite leading the AFC throughout the season, have not yet clinched a playoff spot, let alone the AFC North. The playoff spot could come as early as Week 14, but the Steelers' schedule is about to get tougher.
Up next: at Bills