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NFL Playoffs 2016: NFC Wild Card race Week 16

By Adam Stocker

Nov 29, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) catches a touchdown pass as Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) defends in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) catches a touchdown pass as Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon (41) defends in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 20-14. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFC Wild Card race is wide open entering Week 16.

Entering Week 16, four teams remain alive in the race for the NFC’s final playoff spot. But the NFC Wild Card will ultimately be decided on the last Sunday of the NFL regular season.

New York Giants can clinch playoff spot with win

The New York Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a Thursday Night Football win over division rival Philadelphia. At 10-4, the Giants could lose out and still have a chance of qualifying as a playoff team, but Coach Ben McAdoo will want to secure a playoff berth before Christmas. The Giants have missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons following the team’s Super Bowl victory.

NFC North to be decided in Week 17

The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions seem to be destined to play for the division crown in Week 17. The Packers have won four straight going into a Week 16 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. A Packers win would eliminate the Vikings from playoff contention. After starting 5-0, the Vikings have gone 2-7 in their last nine games. At 8-6, the Packers can win the division or qualify as a second Wild Card if the cards break right.

The Detroit Lions are 9-5 but travel to Dallas in Week 16 before hosting the Packers in Week 17. The Lions could lose both games. If they do, they are going to need a lot of luck and hope that Atlanta, Tampa and Washington lose one of their remaining games.

Atlanta and Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes will be decided in games against Carolina and New Orleans

The Atlanta Falcons (9-5) lead the NFC South by a game over Tampa Bay (8-6). Both teams remain alive for the division title and in the Wild Card race. What makes their races interesting is that both teams play the same opponents over the last two weeks of the season. In Week 16, Atlanta is at Carolina while Tampa Bay travels to New Orleans. In Week 17, New Orleans travels to Atlanta and Tampa hosts Carolina.

The Falcons and Bucs split the two games they played against each other and are both 3-1 within the division. Since the Bucs are one game behind, if Atlanta and Tampa finish tied at 10-6 or 9-7, Tampa will win the division because they will finish with a better division record.

If both teams win out, they will both likely claim playoff spots. But it could be possible for Green Bay, New York, Detroit, Atlanta and Tampa to all finish the season with 10 wins. In that scenario, two will claim division titles and host the two who claim wild card spots. Meanwhile, one team will be watching those teams play from the comforts of their own home.

Technically, Carolina and New Orleans are both alive, but they both need to win out and have the Redskins and Packers lose out and the Vikings lose in Week 17. Then Carolina and New Orleans would be entered into a tiebreaker at 8-8 with the Packers, Vikings and Buccaneers as part of a five-way tiebreaker for the sixth seed.

Related Story: Week 16 NFC playoff picture

Redskins could win out and use “tie” breaker

The Washington Redskins could overcome their latest Monday Night Football loss if they win out and finish 9-6-1. Ultimately, it could be their tie in London against Cincinnati that would be the tiebreaker that sends them to the playoffs in a scenario where multiple teams finish with nine wins.  If Washington misses the playoffs, they will only have themselves to blame after losing in week 15 to Carolina.

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