Updated NFC playoff picture: Saints, 49ers remain the teams to beat
Although the San Francisco 49ers suffered another late scare from the rival Arizona Cardinals, they are still the kings of the NFC with a 9-1 record.
Both of their Week 11 games came down to the wire, but the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots bounced back from losses to conference rivals – and fellow Super Bowl contenders – by winning close ones on Sunday.
With a 9-1 record, the 49ers are the best team in the NFC when looking at winning percentage, but they may not be the actual best team in terms of overall quality. This statement is more about the excellence of the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, who recently beat the Niners in overtime.
If the playoffs were to start today, here’s how the seeds would look in the NFC.
- San Francisco 49ers
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings
Bubble: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers
Technically the Panthers are in the bubble with a 5-5 record, but Kyle Allen played so poorly this week against the Atlanta Falcons that they have almost no hope. The Los Angeles Rams somehow have a winning record at 6-4 despite Jared Goff’s best efforts, while the Philadelphia Eagles are only one game behind the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys.
As talented as the Cowboys are with MVP sleeper Dak Prescott, they are only 6-4. Dallas is the only team without eight wins to be in the NFC playoff picture right now.
Next. The Saints are the best team in the NFC. dark
Everyone else in the conference is basically neck and neck, as the NFC has much more quality than the AFC this season. The Seahawks, 49ers, Saints, and Packers are all legitimately good enough to win the Super Bowl this year, and while the Vikings have a quarterback who is too streaky to trust, they have the defense and skill position talent to go far. And if Kirk Cousins maintain the hot hand, then, yes, they are on par with their peers in the playoff race.