Fansided

Updated NFC Playoff picture, NFC Wild Card standings after Browns stun Buccaneers

By Josh Hill

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is sacked by Jordan Elliott #96 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is sacked by Jordan Elliott #96 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Here’s what the NFC Playoff Picture and NFC Wild Card Standings look like after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost in Week 12. 

As the season enters its post-Thanksgiving home stretch, the NFL Playoff Picture is finally starting to truly come into focus.

Not everything in the picture is pretty, however.

Minnesota was able to notch a win on Thursday night, keeping the Vikings within reach of the No. 1 seed. Philadelphia has some breathing room, however, as they own a tiebreaker over the Vikings thanks to a Week 2 thumping they gave Minnesota on Monday Night Football.

Updated NFC Playoff Picture after Buccaneers get stunned in Week 12

Even with Tampa Bay losing in Cleveland, the Buccaneers still hold a playoff spot by way of their lead in the NFC South. Tampa Bay holds what is essentially a two-game lead over the Atlanta Falcons because of a tiebreaker but doesn’t have an easy road ahead.

Waiting for Tampa Bay in Week 13 is a Monday Night showdown with the New Orleans Saints, and star offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs might have been lost to a significant leg injury. Tom Brady and the Bucs are still in the playoff picture, despite the loss, but that’s where the positives end and chips begin to stack against Tampa Bay.

Here’s a look at what the NFC Playoff bracket would look like if the postseason started today:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)
  2. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
  3. San Francisco 49ers (6-4)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
  5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
  6. New York Giants (7-4)
  7. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)

Based on those standings, here’s what the playoff matchups would look like for the first weekend of action:

  • (2) Minnesota Vikings vs. (7) San Francisco 49ers
  • (3) Seattle Seahawks vs. (6) New York Giants
  • (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys

Each higher-seeded team would host its Wild Card Weekend matchup. The Philadelphia Eagles would have a first-round bye with the No. 1 seed and host any playoff game they play in.

NFC Wild Card standings after Week 12

Here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 12:

  1. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
  2. New York Giants (7-4)
  3. Washington Commanders (7-5)
  4. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)
  5. Detroit Lions (4-7)
  6. Green Bay Packers (4-7)
  7. Arizona Cardinals (4-6)
  8. New Orleans Saints (4-7)
  9. Carolina Panthers (4-8)
  10. Los Angeles Rams (3-7)
  11. Chicago Bears (3-9)

A major development here in terms of NFC North pride is the fact that the Detroit Lions are the second-best team in the division and have officially moved ahead of the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card standings.

Speaking of the NFC North, Bears fans have to be sick. Had Chicago beaten Green Bay in a winnable game earlier this year, the Packers would be in last place and the Bears would be in the thick of the playoff chase. Add in a potential win over the Commanders — another game that Chicago easily could have won — and the Bears are potentially in the playoffs.

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