Updated NFC Playoff Picture, NFC Wild Card standings after Vikings lose

NFC Playoff Picture after Vikings lose in Week 14 (Updated after late games)

Minnesota losing was bad, but the Cowboys almost fell into an even more embarrassing pit of doom. Dallas was dragged to the wire by the worst team in football and needed a last-minute touchdown drive to beat the Houston Texans — at home.

As stressful as it was in the moment, Dallas escapes Week 14 in an even better position than where it started the day. They have some breathing room between the Giants and remain well within striking distance of the Eagles for the top spot in the NFC East and the conference. In fact, New York isn’t even on the radar for Dallas because the Giants aren’t even in the playoff picture right now.

Washington moved into the No. 7 seed and now has the inside track to controlling its own destiny with a huge matchup against the Giants on the horizon.

Fortunately for the Vikings, it’ll take a lot for them to fall out of the No. 2 seed. Dallas pounded Minnesota into the core of the Earth a few weeks ago in a 40-3 win, the Vikings will likely win the NFC North and secure a top seed. One team that Vikings fans need to keep an eye on is the San Francisco 49ers, who lead the NFC West and are just a game behind Minnesota for the No. 2 seed.

The only team that seemed to have a truly good, stress-free week in the NFC was the Philadelphia Eagles. Amid the chaos elsewhere in the conference, the Eagles quietly clinched a playoff berth — the first team in the NFL to punch their ticket.

It’s a little unfair to call the way the Eagles clinched ‘quiet’ because they stomped the Giants to make it happen. But the sheer insanity of what happened with the Texans nearly upsetting the Cowboys and Lions embarrassing the Vikings drowned out most of the noise coming from Philly doing what we all assumed it would.

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

1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) – Clinched Playoff Berth
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-3)
3. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
5. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)
6. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
7. New York Giants (7-5-1)

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

• (2) Minnesota Vikings vs. (7) New York Giants
• (3) Seattle Seahawks vs. (6) Washington Commanders
• (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 14 (Updated after late games)

Here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 10:

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