NFC playoff picture, Week 15: Bears-Vikings play for hope
With three weeks to go in the 2020 NFL regular season, the NFC playoff picture is still a muddled mess. A few games in Week 15 should clear it up some.
We’re into the Holliday season, and in the NFC, there is still much up for debate. In fact, only Green Bay and New Orleans are assured of a 17th game, with the Packers winning their division and the Saints clinching a playoff berth.
Going into Week 15 action, here’s how the NFC playoff picture looks:
1. Green Bay Packers (10-3)
2. New Orleans Saints (10-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
4. Washington Football Team (6-7)
5. Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
7. Arizona Cardinals (7-6)
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8. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
9. Chicago Bears (6-7)
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For starters, the Bears and Vikings are virtually playing an elimination game in Minneapolis this Sunday. Whoever loses is all but officially done, while the winner is back in the playoff hunt. Should the Cardinals fall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the desert, Minnesota or Chicago would vault into the seventh and final seed with a win.
As for teams which can clinch a playoff berth, the Saints top the list. New Orleans needs to beat the Kansas City Chiefs at the Superdome, or have the Atlanta Falcons rise up at home and handle the Buccaneers. Either result would give the Saints a division title, guaranteeing them at least one home game.
In Washington, the Football Team and Seahawks link up for an important affair. Assuming the Rams beating the winless New York Jets in Los Angeles, a Seattle victory would set up a crucial Week 16 tilt between the two NFC West heavyweights where the teams entered tied. Also, wins for each team means clinching a playoff berth, with seeding to be determined.
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For Ron Rivera’s club, a win puts pressure on the New York Giants, who are a game behind Washington in the NFC East but with a season sweep in hand. New York hosts the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night, and a Giants win coupled with a Football Team loss would place New York in the No. 4 seed line.
Finally, the top-seeded Packers are playing on Saturday night against the four-win Carolina Panthers. Green Bay can’t clinch the No. 1 seed this week, but could move close to doing so with a victory coupled with a New Orleans loss to the Chiefs.
