Kansas City, New England and Indianapolis barely edged struggling opponents by three points, and Tennessee had to overcome a 21-0 deficit with a backup quarterback.

Still, the victories Sunday by the four best teams in the AFC — probably in all the NFL — just about identifies four of the six playoff participants from that conference.

The NFC races also are pretty clear at the top. Pencil in Philadelphia, Dallas, Carolina and probably St. Louis.

“One more win and you have to call us winners,” Bill Parcells said after his Cowboys beat Carolina to improve to 8-3.

The Cowboys, 5-11 in each of the past three seasons, are a pretty good bet to make the playoffs, perhaps not as the NFC East champion, but as a wild card. They need only two wins in five games to reach 10 victories, a lock for a wild-card spot in a mediocre conference.

There are a few races left, such the AFC North, which could come down to the final week.

A look at each conference:

AFC

The Chiefs (10-1) can clinch the West if they beat San Diego Sunday and the Broncos lose to Oakland. Knocking off a disliked rival undoubtedly would give the Raiders at least a modicum of pleasure from an otherwise dismal season.

Kansas City also can clinch at least a wild-card spot with a win, if Miami loses Thursday in Dallas.

New England (9-2) is in good shape in the East, two games ahead of the Dolphins, who the Patriots already beat on the road. The Patriots also can clinch a wild-card spot next week by winning in Indianapolis if a few other games break their way.

The other two divisions are closer, although Tennessee and Indianapolis (both 9-2) almost surely will make the postseason, one as the South champion and the other as a wild card. They have a showdown in Nashville Dec. 7, a Sunday likely to be the most definitive in the NFL this season.

Both teams are thinking about achieving more.

The Titans got good news Monday when the strained calf muscle that caused Steve McNair to leave Sunday’s win in Atlanta seemed much improved.

The Colts got a major boost from their comeback win in Buffalo.

“We really think we have a good shot at being home for the playoffs,” Peyton Manning said after engineering two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to lead the Colts past the Bills, 17-14.

First, however, they have two straight tough games, New England at home Sunday and then at the Titans.

In the North, Baltimore and surprising Cincinnati are tied at 6-5, although they probably wouldn’t be if the officiating crew in the Ravens’ 44-41 overtime win over Seattle Sunday hadn’t blundered by not restarting the clock late in the fourth quarter.

The mistake led to the Ravens getting a chance to kick the tying field goal.

Neither the Ravens nor Bengals likely will get a wild-card spot, although a lot of strange things have happened this season. Right now, either the Colts or Titans and the Dolphins would get the two berths. Denver (6-5) remains in the mix.

NFC

Carolina, 1-15 two seasons ago, could clinch the South next week. That would happen if the Panthers (8-3) beat Philadelphia in Charlotte and the Saints and Bucs both lose.

The Eagles and Cowboys (both 8-3), are tied for the lead in the East and meet Dec. 7 in Philadelphia.

In the West, St. Louis (8-3) leads Seattle (7-4).

The Seahawks won the first meeting at home, where they are 6-0, but are 1-4 on the road, including the loss the zebras inflicted on them in Baltimore. They play the Rams Dec. 14 in St. Louis.

The North also is in doubt.

Minnesota started 6-0, lost four straight, then beat Detroit at home Sunday to stay a game ahead of Green Bay (6-5). But the Vikings traditionally are bad closers, and the way they’re playing now, every game looks perilous: next week at St. Louis; at home for Seattle and Kansas City; and even at Chicago and Arizona, losing teams that play pretty well at home.

Daunte Culpepper conceded as much after the win over Detroit, which has lost 22 straight games on the road, one short of the NFL record.

“I think it keeps us humble,” the Vikings’ quarterback said. “We could have been more effective.”

Right now, give the wild cards to the Eagles or Cowboys; the Rams or Seahawks; perhaps the Packers or Vikings. That race is too early to call.