2012 NFL Playoffs Predictor
Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins still in the hunt
Heading into Week 14, several playoff spots are still very much up in the air. Andrew Luck worked some rookie magic against the Detroit Lions as the Indianapolis Colts moved to 8-4. The St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers came within 30 seconds of tying for the second time this year, but Greg Zuerlein sealed the upset win with his enormous leg. This year is about rewarding the backup and Jim Harbaugh claims he is staying with Colin Kaepernick, even though he made a brutal pitch that led to St. Louis' tying touchdown in regulation. In line with that theme, Mark Sanchez was finally benched, but because Tim Tebow was inactive, Greg McElroy stepped in and got the win for the New York Jets to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
As Nate Silver did for the 2012 election, we do for the 2012 NFL season. Using the mythical powers of math, we let you know first who will be in and who will be out of this year's postseason.
Below is a projection of who will be in this year's playoffs. Be sure to come back each week as we update the projection with the latest results. And once the playoffs begin, we'll reset the bracket and tell you who has the best chance to bring home the Lombardi trophy.
To see the projected 2012 NFL playoff bracket -- and to find out which teams won't make the playoffs -- you must be an ESPN Insider.
-
ESPN The Magazine subscribers
-
Need more information?
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE NFL HEADLINES
- Crabtree has surgery for torn Achillies
- Urlacher retiring from NFL after 13 seasons
- Jets' Smith picks Jay-Z's agency to rep him
- Giants open OTAs minus WRs Cruz, Nicks
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
NFL WEEK 14 COVERAGE

Fantasy Football on ESPN.com
NFL Nation blog | Leaders NFL Stadium Guides | QBR ratings
Playoff Machine | MONDAY NIGHT HQ
TRAGEDY IN DALLAS
MNF: Texans at Patriots, 8:30 ET
- Kuharsky vs. Walker: Texans-Pats debate
- Kuharsky: How do franchises compare?
- Stats & Info: Who has rushing edge?
- Bruschi: Matchup worth the hype
- Reiss: Brady welcomes aggression
WEEK 14 PICKS
POWER RANKINGS
- Shakeup among top 10
- How they voted | Bloggers | Rank 'Em
- Playoffs Predictor: Skins closing in
- Bettors' Poll: Patriots still No. 1
- Sando, Fox
| Mike & Mike 
CLAYTON / FOX / SCHEFTER
- Fox: What does future hold for Vick?
- Schefter: If Wilson weren't a Seahawk
- Clayton's First & 10: No. 1 seeds devalued
- Schefter's Mailbag: Who'll win NFC East?

- Clayton's Mailbag: Teams that fell flat in '12
- Clayton's Last Call: Steelers still in it
- Fox: Flacco's flaws should alarm Ravens
COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
- Fleming: 10 postgame handshakes to watch
- Grantland: Who's the Most Valuable Person?
- Bryant: Mixed messages on health, safety
- Yasinskas: Resilience defines Falcons
- Graziano: Burden is on Coughlin, Eli
- Sando's MVP Watch: Rookie QBs in focus
- Hensley: Time to take the Bengals seriously
- Seifert: 'Fail Mary' changes NFC playoff race
- Knee-jerk Reactions: 32 strong opinions
INSIDER
- Scouts: Week 14 game by game previews

- Kiper: What work do Lions need?

- Yates: Unleash Kaepernick

- Sprow: Five possible fits for Vick

- Jaworski: Who tops QB ratings?

- Horton: Can the Bucs make the playoffs?

- FBO: Is Atlanta's window closing?

- PFF: Ranking the best and worst O-lines

- FBO: Who's on Week 14 upset watch?

- Keating: NFL's best (and worst) QB values

- Rookie Watch: Blackmon's blossoming

- Edwards: The NFL's most versatile players

- Joyner: Potential RB keepers for 2013

2013 NFL DRAFT
EDITORS' PICKS

- He Changed The Game
- Paul Brown's coaching influence is remarkable. Brown's legacy »

- He Stands Out
- Brian Urlacher should be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kevin Seifert »

- To Lead Or Not To Lead?
- Tony Romo needs to act like the Cowboys' leader. Jean-Jacques Taylor »

- Gridiron Genius
- ESPN.com celebrates the NFL's greatest coaches. Garber »

- Putting Heads Together
- Owners are still trying to fix the Pro Bowl. Clayton's mailbag »
- Bowen: 5 second-year breakout candidates
- Edwards: The NFL's all-time Top 20 coaches
- Tuley: Best early-season win-total bets
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South | West
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs

