With the NFL post-season race heating up, we break down this week’s slate of games in the NFC. Which of Week 15’s matchups will affect the playoff picture?
*Updated after Thursday night’s result.*
If the season ended today…
1) Arizona Cardinals (11-3)
2) Green Bay Packers (10-3)
3) Philadelphia Eagles (9-4)
4) Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
5) Seattle Seahawks (9-4)
6) Detroit Lions (9-4)
Which teams have clinched? None.
Which teams have been eliminated? Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11), Washington Redskins (3-10),New York Giants (4-9), Chicago Bears (5-8), Minnesota Vikings (6-7), St. Louis Rams (6-8).
Who can clinch in Week 15?
Arizona Cardinals:The Cardinals beat St. Louis Thursday night, so a playoff berth is all but secure. Here is what they need:
1)Eagles/Cowboys game doesn’t end in a tie
If a tie does occur, Arizona can still clinch via the following two scenarios:
2) Lions loss = Arizona edges out Green Bay in tiebreaker
3) Lions loss + GB win or tie
Green Bay Packers: Green Bay appears destined for a first-round bye. They can secure a playoff spot with a win combined with a Dallas loss.
Week 15’s NFC game to watch:
Cowboys (9-4) at Eagles (9-4): This game has big playoff implications for both teams. Dallas currently is on the outside looking in — sitting in seventh place — but can jump to the third seed with a victory. The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL who has not lost a road game this season (6-0 record), but haven’t had great success with Philadelphia lately. The Eagles embarrassed the Cowboys in Dallas on American Thanksgiving and would all but secure the NFC East with a win Sunday night. That would give the Eagles a season sweep, which would secure the tiebreaker and give them a one-game advantage with just two to play.
The rest of the relevant Week 15 games:
49ers (7-6) at Seahawks (9-4): For the first time in Jim Harbaugh’s four-year tenure, the 49ers are double-digit underdogs. San Francisco is coming off two straight losses, including a pitiful performance last week in Oakland which put a big dent in their playoff hopes. Seattle, on the other hand, holds the tiebreaker over Arizona so they need to win to keep pace with them in the standings. Arizona hosts the Seahawks in Week 16.
Vikings (6-7) at Lions (9-4): Even with all the national attention the Packers have been getting, Detroit is just one game behind Green Bay in the division standings. So in order to keep pace in the NFC North, the Lions require another divisional victory this week. They’ll be going up against a Vikings squad coming off two straight wins. However, Minnesota has yet to win a division game this season. The Vikings were eliminated from the post-season Thursday night.
Steelers (8-5) at Falcons (5-8): Despite a road loss to Green Bay and just five wins on the season, Atlanta still has the upper hand in the abysmal NFC South. The big question for the Falcons this week, however, surrounds the health of receiver Julio Jones, who was unable to finish Monday’s game after suffering a hip injury.
Packers (10-3) at Bills (7-6): Green Bay has never won a game in Orchard Park. Dating back to the ’70s, the Packers have an 0-5 record in Buffalo. The Bills also have not lost a non-conference game this season — beating Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota — but none of those teams have Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay has won three of their last four road games.
Buccaneers (2-11) at Panthers (4-8-1): Cam Newton suffered two fractures to his lower back in a car accident Tuesday afternoon, so he won’t be suiting up this week for Carolina. The Panthers will instead turn to veteran Derek Anderson, who beat the Bucs 20-14 in Carolina’s season-opening victory. At 4-8-1, Carolina is very much alive in the NFC South division race.
Saints (5-8) at Bears (5-8), Monday: Chicago was eliminated after a ugly showing last Thursday so they can only play the role of spoiler. New Orleans, despite their lacklustre record, is still alive — especially with a Week 16 matchup with Atlanta at the Superdome. The Saints are coming off a horrific home loss.
