The Philadelphia Eagles are headed to the NFL playoffs after defeating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 to win the NFC East, but where do the other teams stand in the NFC playoff picture?
Although the NFC playoff picture won’t be completed until the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers face off on Monday Night Football with the fate of the NFC North in the balance, the Philadelphia Eagles have taken control of their own destiny in the NFC East.
By defeating the Dallas Cowboys 17-9 in an ugly Week 16 late game, Doug Pederson will head to the playoffs for a third straight season. Like last year, Philly barely managed to squeeze themselves in, while the Cowboys will rue Jason Garrett’s mistakes as they sit on the sidelines this January.
Here’s how the NFC teams would be seeded before Week 17:
- San Francisco 49ers
- New Orleans Saints
- Green Bay Packers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings
There are no teams in the bubble. These six teams are guaranteed to make the playoffs, since all of them are at double-digit wins. The 8-7 Los Angeles Rams are the only other team in the conference besides these six with a winning record.
However, the exact seeding of these teams will be fought out on Monday and in Week 17. The Vikings could steal the NFC North by beating the Packers, who are leading the division behind their offseason upgrades on defense – not Aaron Rodgers’ play at quarterback.
Meanwhile, the NFC West will be won by either the 49ers or Seahawks in Week 17 in another highly-anticipated matchup between these two teams.
If the 49ers can exact revenge and take advantage of the stumbling Seahawks, who lost to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16, then they can seal the first seed in the NFC. The 49ers have the edge on the New Orleans Saints after upsetting Drew Brees and Co. in a thriller earlier this December.