NFC playoff picture, Week 16: Cowboys, Eagles fight for East

The NFC playoff picture is wild. Insanely wild.

Yes, we know four teams are in, and a fifth feels like a mere formality. Still, the seeding could finish in almost any imaginable way. The only thing we know for certain? The winner of the NFC East will be the fourth seed.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, here’s how the NFC playoff picture looks:

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
2. Green Bay Packers (11-3)
3. New Orleans Saints (11-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-7)
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-3)
6. Minnesota Vikings (10-4)
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7. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)

Want $250 to bet on the NFC?

For starters, the Cowboys and Eagles finally meet for their rematch.

Dallas can clinch the NFC East with a win in Philadelphia. The Eagles would move ahead in the race with a victory, and would only need to beat the New York Giants in Week 17 to get into the playoffs.

As for the Seahawks, they can clinch the NFC West this week, but they need help. Seattle would have to beat the Arizona Cardinals at home, and then have the Rams pull a mild upset and beat the 49ers in San Francisco. The Seahawks would still need to play for home-field advantage in Week 17 under that scenario, but it. would be best-case for Russell Wilson and Co.

However, the 49ers still control their own destiny. If they win their final two games, they are the NFC’s top seed regardless of any other results. The loser of the NFC West race will almost certainly be the fifth seed. The only way that wouldn’t happen is if Seattle or San Francisco lost out, the Vikings won both their final two games and the Packers lost both of theirs. Unlikely.

Read: AFC Playoff Picture, Week 16 – Bills, Patriots Headline Weekend

Speaking of the Vikings and Packers, the NFC North foes play on Monday night. If Minnesota wins, it clinches a playoff spot and eliminates the Rams. Additionally, the Vikings would force the NFC North title to go undecided until the NFL’s final regular season Sunday. As for the Packers, they would be the No. 2 seed by winning out, earning a first-round bye.

Lastly, the Saints take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. New Orleans can’t go any lower than the third seed, having already won the NFC South. However, with two wins the rest of the way and a loss from the Packers, the Saints would clinch a first-round bye. New Orleans remains in play for the top seed as well, but would need a Green Bay loss and the Seahawks to win the NFC West.