The playoff race for the NFL is starting to heat up with the season coming to an end. Starting with the NFC, the Chicago Bears clinched their first playoff berth since 2010 with a win over the rival Green Bay Packers. With Chicago Bears, LA Rams, and the New Orleans Saints all clinched for the NFC there is a lot of teams in the playoff hunt for the wild card spot. While the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys battling for the NFC East, the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings in the two leading wild card spot, with the Eagles, Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins still in the hunt. There have been seven teams eliminated from playoff contention, including the Green Bay Packers who at the beginning of the season were believed to be Super Bowl contenders. The NFC is looking to heat up with a key matchup between the Eagles and Redskins in week 17.

The AFC has been entertaining as well. The battle for the AFC west is in full swing as the LA Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs are tied for first and are the only two teams to be clinched in the AFC.  The AFC North looks to heat up a the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and for the first time in a while the Cleveland Browns are all still in playoff contention. With the Patriots a win away from clinching the AFC East they look to take down the Buffalo Bills in week 16. The wild card spot is open for grabs as the Ravens, Colts, and Tennessee are all 8-6, which make them all tied for the wild card spot. Along with them Miami and Cleveland all look to grab spots. Keep a close eye on the AFC as the teams begin to play for high stakes.  

Photo from: (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS)