How the NFL playoff picture looks coming out of Week 11

The NFL is wrapping up Week 11, and a few teams are standing out in the playoff picture heading into Week 12.

By David Fucillo@davidfucillo Updated Nov 21, 2021, 8:38pm PST

Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball for a touchdown in the game against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York.

The NFL is moving through Week 11 and the playoff picture continues to develop. We do get some clarity, but with seven weeks left in the season, we’re getting some more fuzziness as well.

The AFC East is officially flipped on its ear. The Patriots beat the Falcons on Thursday and then saw the Colts thump the Bills on Sunday and all of a sudden New England is in first place. They have a half game lead on Buffalo and suddenly Week 13 Monday Night Football between these two teams is a massive one.

That was quickly followed by the Vikings shocking the Packers in the closing seconds. The division rivals went back and forth before Minnesota kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. Add in the Texans stunning the Titans in Nashville and it was a wild morning for the top teams around the league.

4:05/4:25 p.m. update: The Bengals went into Las Vegas and impressed with a 32-13 win over the Raiders. Cincinnati moves into one of the wild card spots pending the Chargers-Steelers outcome. The Chiefs jumped on top of the Cowboys early and held on for a 19-9 win. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 23-13 in spite of the absence of Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins.

SNF update: The Chargers won a wild one over the Steelers to move up to the sixth spot.

MNF update: The Bucs thumped the Giants to move back into third place in the NFC standings.

Here’s a look at what the playoff picture looks like Sunday afternoon. We still have a small afternoon slate, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football to close out Week 11. We’ll drop in updates as each of the remaining groups of games wraps.