The NFL season has reached its midway point, bringing increased clarity to the playoff picture across the league. As teams complete the first half of their schedules, division races and wild-card contention are taking shape heading into the stretch run.
With eight weeks of the regular season in the books, separation is emerging in several divisions while the conference wildcard races remain competitive. The midpoint traditionally marks where contenders separate from pretenders, and this season appears to be following that pattern.
USA TODAY's Jack McKessy reports that the playoff landscape is becoming more defined as November progresses, setting up crucial divisional matchups and conference showdowns over the remaining nine weeks.
