The New Year is right around the corner, and it’s time to break down the NFL playoff picture.

AFC
New England (11-2), Pittsburgh (10-3), Kansas City (8-5) and Jacksonville (8-5) sit at the top of their divisions with New York (9-4) and Baltimore (9-4) currently holding the Wild Card seats.

The race is cutthroat in the AFC with San Diego (7-6), Indianapolis (7-6), Miami (7-6) and Oakland (6-7) in the hunt for a playoff appearance. Each team needs to finish the season perfectly and some even need help from other teams over the next three weeks.

NFC
Who would have thought that the Atlanta Falcons (11-2) would be the NFC’s best team, currently keeping the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints (10-3) out of first place in the Southern Division and into the Wild Card?

Chicago (9-4), Philadelphia (9-4) and St. Louis (6-7) are the other teams leading their divisions in the NFC. However, the New York Giants (9-4) are vying for that top spot in the Eastern division, but remain in second place due to their tie-breaking loss against Philadelphia on Nov. 21.

The Giants need a victory when they host the Eagles this Sunday and if they get it, they remove Philadelphia from the top of the division and into the Wild Card.

Tampa Bay (8-5) and Green Bay (8-5) are still in the hunt for the NFC Wild Cards, but the Packers will face adversity on the way to the postseason. This week, they travel to New England and may do so without their starting quarterback.

Tampa Bay has been a great surprise and will battle against New Orleans for that Wild Card bid. The Buccaneers face the Lions, Seahawks and New Orleans in their next three games.