Dissecting the road to the NFL postseason

We have reached the final quarter of the NFL season. Thus far, 2017 has been highlighted — or lowlighted, more fittingly — by injuries to superstars and a lot of bad play. There are just 12 teams with winning records three-fourths of the way through the year, while the Cleveland Browns still find themselves winless.

Still, there is plenty of intrigue as we head down the stretch, and there are some teams that are playing very well. Let’s look at the key storylines in the final four weeks of the season: 

Best division race: NFC South

There are only 12 teams in the NFL with winning records. A quarter of those winning teams reside in the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints are 9-4, the Carolina Panthers are 8-4 and the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons sit at 8-5. The Saints separated themselves with a win over Carolina (winning any tiebreaker over the Panthers) in Week 13, though dropping Thursday's game against the Falcons has kept Atlanta alive in the race.

Runner-up: NFC West

The 9-3 Rams are one of the best stories in the NFL this season. The Rams haven’t won more than eight games in a season since 2003. The Seattle Seahawks loom at 8-4 and are used to recent competition in the division, but it has come from the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals. Now, it’s the Rams’ turn. There is a colossal meeting between L.A. and Seattle in Week 15 in Seattle. 

Best weak division race: AFC West

We have a three-team mess, er, race in the AFC West. The Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders are all 6-6. This is a division where K.C. and Oakland tied at 12-4 last season. It was expected to be a great division in 2017 again. It is not — but someone has to win this race. 

Worst race: AFC East

The Patriots are 10-2 and have a four-game lead over Buffalo. This division is a bore. As usual, New England has won its division every season since 2003 except 2008—the season Tom Brady was lost for the season in Week 1. 

Key team in AFC: Pittsburgh

The Steelers are 10-2. They are probably New England’s only competition in a lousy AFC. They are stacked, so perhaps this is their year. 

Key team in NFC: Vikings

Minnesota is 10-2 and tied with Philadelphia for the best record in the tough NFC. That means the Vikings have a legitimate chance to become the first team ever to play a Super Bowl on its home field. 

Best AFC team currently not in playoff position: San Diego

The Chargers are tied for first place in the AFC West, but they currently don’t hold a tiebreaker. Still, this team may be in good shape either in the division or as a wild card. The conference stinks, and the Chargers don’t. They have won six of the past eight games since starting 0-4. We still don’t know if we can trust the Chargers because they get in their own way so often, but they are hot right now and loaded. 

Best NFC team currently not in playoff position: Atlanta

No one will want to play this team in the postseason. The Falcons have had a predictable Super Bowl hangover (28-3, anyone?), but they could make some noise if they get into the tournament. 

Best remaining AFC regular-season game: New England at Pittsburgh, Week 15

The Steelers have it set up. They win out, and the road to the Super Bowl goes through Heinz Field. That, truly, is their only way of getting to the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh must face New England at home in the playoffs or it could be just a bit to much to ask the Steelers to win on the road in Foxboro. This game is huge.

Best remaining NFC regular-season game: Philadelphia at Los Angeles Rams, Week 14

There are a lot of important games remaining in this conference, but this may have home-field and bye-week ramifications. Plus, it’s Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz. The top two picks of the 2016 draft will play many important games against each other. This is the first of the biggies between these two.