The NFC playoff picture is messy heading into Week 9’s Sunday games. The 49ers maintained their spot atop the NFC with a narrow victory over the Cardinals on Thursday night, but the race below them has a chance for a shakeup Sunday.
Here’s what the NFC playoff picture looks like going into Sunday:
Playoff teams
1. San Francisco 49ers (8-0)
2. New Orleans Saints (7-1)
3. Green Bay Packers (7-1)
4. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
5. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
In the hunt
7. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
8. Carolina Panthers (4-3)
9. Detroit Lions (3-3-1)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)
There’s a chance we see a minor change at the top of the standings. The Saints are off, so the Packers can jump over New Orleans by a half game with a victory against the Chargers in Los Angeles. The Saints are ahead of the Packers based on record in conference contests. Green Bay is 4-1 vs. the NFC, while the Saints sit at 5-1.
A flip at the bottom is also in play. Seattle and Minnesota would swap the No. 5 and No. 6 seed if the Vikings knock off the Chiefs in Kansas City, and the Seahawks fall at home to the Buccaneers.
We could also see a completely new playoff team enter the fold. If the Eagles handle business against the reeling Bears at home, and the Cowboys falter on Monday Night Football in a divisional game vs. the Giants, Dallas would fall out of the playoffs and the Eagles would take their spot.
