The NFC playoff race remains tight at the top even with the Packers’ recent loss to the Chargers. The Cowboys and Eagles will be battling it out in the NFC East, while it’s the Packers and Vikings in the North. The South is essentially finished but has a team that has wildcard hopes. The west is absolutely wild.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys 5-3
There’s only one team that really beat the Cowboys this year and it’s been the Cowboys when they make mistakes great teams shouldn’t make. Now they enter a pretty rough stretch of their schedule where they face the Vikings, Patriots, Bills, Eagles and Rams. All four of those games could end in losses. This should make the Cowboys feel even worse about blowing a game to the Jets earlier in the season. The Week 16 game against the Eagles could be a battle for the NFC East.
Remaining Games: Vikings, @Lions, @Patriots, Bills, @Bears, Rams, @Eagles, Redskins
Philadelphia Eagles 5-4
Unfortunately for the Eagles they play the Patriots coming off a loss — and a bye — which is not when a team should want to play the Patriots. They follow that game up against the Seahawks. They need to split those two games. After that, it’s clear sailing for the Eagles. They face the dregs of the NFL outside of the Cowboys.
Remaining Games: Patriots, Seahawks, @Dolphins, Giants, @Redskins, Cowboys, @Giants
NFC North
Green Bay Packers 7-2
The Packers had dreams of a bye and a one-seed in the NFC but those dreams could have gone up in smoke in Los Angeles. The Packers simply didn’t move the ball. It won’t get easier against the Panthers and the Niners. The rest of the schedule is pretty easy but the Vikings are on their heels.
Remaining Schedule: Panthers, @Niners, @Giants, Redskins, Bears, @Vikings, Lions
Minnesota Vikings 6-3
Kirk Cousins in a primetime game against a good team. That should send shivers down any Vikings fan’s spine. The games are Seattle and Los Angeles aren’t looking great for Minnesota. The Vikings could miss the playoffs unless they win one of those away games left on their schedule. It’s possible.
Remaining Schedule: @Cowboys, Broncos, @Seahawks, Lions, @Chargers, Packers, Bears
NFC South
New Orleans Saints 7-1
The Saints are coming off their bye and face NFC South only opponents in their next four games. That’s good for them because the NFC South is the opposite of good. This schedule screams 14-2 for the Saints and maybe a one-seed if the Niners slip up.
Remaining Games: Falcons, @Bucs, Panthers, @Falcons, Niners, Colts, @Titans, @Panthers
Carolina Panthers 5-3
The Panthers get the Packers coming off a loss and that’s not how they wanted to see Green Bay. It would have been much easier if the Packers won and the Panthers could surprise them. Christian McCaffrey and company will have to steal a win against the Saints and Seahawks if they want to be in contention at the end of the year.
Remaining Games: @Packers, Falcons, @Saints, Redskins, @Falcons, Seahawks, @Colts, Saints
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers 8-0
At some point, the Niners are going to lose a game, but it might not be until their matchup against the Ravens or Saints. It’s unlikely they lose a home game against Seattle since the Niners had extra time to prepare. San Francisco has the inside track to the top seed in the NFC. The Saints may have something to say about that in Week 14.
Remaining Games: Seahawks, Cardinals, Packers, @Ravens, @Saints, Falcons, Rams, @Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks 7-2
It’s honestly tough to figure out how Seattle keeps winning. They have the MVP front-runner but nothing else about this team screams dominant. They just know how to win close games. It’s like Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll get better when things get more stressful. Tyler Lockett deserves more props for his mind-meld with Wilson.
Remaining Games: @Niners, @Eagles, Vikings, @Rams, @Panthers, Cardinals, Niners
Los Angeles Rams 5-3
The Rams had to hope that the Seahawks or Niners lost during L.A.’s bye week. Those things did not happen. Now the pressure is on Los Angeles. They should end up with a wildcard but they have to deal with Carolina, and Minnesota. There is absolutely no room for error.
Remaining Games: @Steelers, Bears, Ravens, @Cardinals, Seahawks, Cowboys, @Niners, Cardinals
