With the NFL post-season race heating up, we break down this week’s slate of games in the NFC. Which of Week 16’s matchups will affect the playoff picture?
If the season ended today…
1) Arizona Cardinals (11-3)*
2) Detroit Lions (10-4)
3) Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
4) New Orleans Saints (6-8)
5) Seattle Seahawks (10-4)
6) Green Bay Packers (10-4)
Which teams have clinched? Arizona Cardinals
Which teams have been eliminated? Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12), Washington Redskins (3-11),New York Giants (5-9), Chicago Bears (5-9), Minnesota Vikings (6-8), St. Louis Rams (6-8), San Francisco 49ers (7-7)
Who can clinch in Week 16?
Arizona Cardinals: As noted above, the Cardinals guaranteed a playoff berth last week, but the NFC West is still on the line. Arizona can officially win the division title and secure a first-round bye along with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by defeating the Seahawks this weekend.
Detroit Lions: The Lions jumped into the No. 2 seed after a win over Minnesota in Week 15 combined with a Green Bay loss. Detroit still has a lot to play for in Week 16:
Can clinch NFC North with: Win over Bears + Packers loss
Can clinch first-round bye: Win over Bears + losses from Green Bay, Dallas
Can simply clinch a playoff spot with three scenarios:
1) Win over Chicago
2) Tying Chicago + Eagles loss
3) Philadelphia losing to Washington
Dallas Cowboys: Like the Lions, Dallas jumped to the top of their respective division with a Week 15 win. Here’s what’s on the table for the Cowboys this week:
Can clinch NFC East division with: Win/tie vs. Colts + Eagles loss.
Can clinch playoff spot with: Win over Colts + Packers/Lions both lose
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have won four in a row and trail Arizona by just one game in the NFC West standings. Even with a win, they can’t clinch the division until the final week of the regular season, but can clinch a playoff spot if the following occurs:
1) Win + Eagles loss/tie
2) Win + Lions loss/tie
3) Win + Packers loss/tie
4) Tie + Eagles loss
5) Tie + Packers and Lions lose
6) Eagles loss + Cowboys win or tie
Green Bay Packers: After a shocking road loss in Buffalo, Green Bay heads to Tampa Bay. Here’s how they can parlay that into a playoff berth:
1) Win + Eagles loss/tie
2) Win + Cowboys loss/tie
3) Tie + Eagles loss
4) Tie + Eagles tie + Cowboys win/tie
5) Eagles lose + Cowboys win/tie
New Orleans Saints: Yes, at 6-8, the Saints can wrap up the NFC South on Sunday. Here’s how: Win over Falcons + Carolina loses to Cleveland.
Complicated? I think not.
Week 16’s NFC game to watch:
Seattle Seahawks (10-4) at Arizona Cardinals (11-3): This game has huge implications for both clubs. Arizona can secure the No. 1 seed with a victory while Seattle regain first place with a win. Arizona is 7-0 at home this season, but they’ll be starting their third-string quarterback, Ryan Lindley, against the league’s stingiest defence. Seattle has limited its last four opponents, including Arizona, to a total of just 27 points. Arizona boasts an impressive defensive unit, as well. They sacked Russell Wilson seven times and held running back Marshawn Lynch to 39 yards on 15 carries in their Week 12 matchup.
The rest of the relevant Week 16 games:
Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Redskins (3-11), Saturday: By losing to Dallas last week, the Eagles fell out of the division lead and dropped to the seventh spot in the conference. They’re no longer in control of their own playoff destiny. To win the division, the Eagles will need to win out along with at least one loss from Dallas.
Atlanta Falcons (5-9) at New Orleans Saints (6-9): This is a huge game for the Falcons, who must beat New Orleans and Carolina in Week 17 in order to win the NFC South. That won’t be an easy accomplishment. Atlanta is just 1-7 at the Superdome since 2006 and Saints quarterback Drew Brees has averaged 320.7 passing yards per game during that stretch.
Detroit Lions (10-4) at Chicago Bears (5-9): The Lions caught a bit of a break, as the Bears decided to put starting quarterback Jay Cutler on the bench. In Cutler’s place, Jimmy Clausen will make his first start since 2010. He could have difficulty scoring points, as Detroit hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in three straight games. The Lions tied with Green Bay atop the NFC North, but currently hold the tiebreaker because of an early-season head-to-head win.
Cleveland Browns (7-7) at Carolina Panthers (5-8-1): Cam Newton is expected to start at quarterback after an automobile wreck left him with two fractures in his lower back, causing him to miss last week’s win over Tampa Bay. Carolina requires a win or a Saints loss to stay alive in the division.
Green Bay Packers (10-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12): Green Bay moved into a tie atop the NFC North with a shocking road loss at Buffalo. That ended the Packers’ five-game winning streak and dropped them to the No. 2 wild-card position. However, their next opponent is favourable. Tampa Bay has not won at home this season and have lost seven straight at Raymond James Stadium dating back to last season.
Indianapolis Colts (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (10-4): The Cowboys gained sole possession in the NFC East by beating the Eagles last week, but they only have a one-game lead and the Eagles hold the tiebreaker. This week the key question revolves around the health of star running back DeMarco Murray. His status remains unclear after suffering a broken hand last Sunday and undergoing surgery on Monday.
