Updated NFC Playoff Picture after Cowboys lose to Jaguars in Week 15

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 18: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws the ball during the fourth quarter in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 18, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Dallas losing does a few things to the NFC Playoff Picture. Both New York and Washington are happy campers right now and their Sunday Night Football showdown means even more than it already did.

The Commanders and Giants are jostling for Wild Card positioning, but Washington has a golden opportunity on a silver platter. If Ron Rivera’s crew comes away with a win on Sunday night, it can win out and set up a potentially massive showdown in Week 18 that could be for the No. 5 seed in the conference.

Dallas needs to lose one more time to make such a thing possible, but no one thought the Cowboys would go into Duval and lose so anything can happen.

Meanwhile, the Wild Card picture is getting clogged up in ways we couldn’t have predicted before the season. Hot on the heels of New York and Washington is Detroit and Seattle. The Lions secured a huge win on Sunday over the Jets and now sit at 7-7 and a game out of the playoff picture. Detroit will need help, though as even though the Seahawks lost on Thursday night to San Francisco they hold a tiebreaker over the Lions at the moment.

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

Philadelphia Eagles (13-1) – Clinched Playoff Berth
Minnesota Vikings (11-3) – Clinched NFC North
San Francisco 49ers (10-4) – Clinched NFC West
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)
Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
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) San Francisco 49ers vs. (6) Washington Commanders
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys

Each higher-seeded team would host its Wild Card Weekend matchup. Right now, 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:

Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
New York Giants (7-5-1)

On The Bubble

Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
Detroit Lions (7-7)

Still In the Hunt

Green Bay Packers (5-8)
Carolina Panthers (5-8)
Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
Arizona Cardinals (4-8)

On Life Support

New Orleans Saints (4-9)
Los Angeles Rams (4-9)

Eliminated

Chicago Bears (3-10) – Eliminated