NFC Playoff picture heading into Week 12

(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 6-4

It still feels like Dallas should be better than it is. The Cowboys have a talented defense but give up too many points. They have a stud running back but go to Ezekiel Elliott too often on early downs. Dak Prescott is an MVP candidate. Dallas almost needs to win this game against the Patriots because the Eagles have an extremely easy schedule after Week 12. It’s a weird situation.

Remaining Games: @Patriots, Bills, @Bears, Rams, @Eagles, Redskins

Philadelphia Eagles 5-5

The Eagles are the new Falcons. Everyone expects them to win but they do something every other game that makes us question whether they are actually good. Their defensive injuries have now transitioned to the offense. If Philadelphia can beat the Seahawks this week, they could end up 10-6 or 11-5. It’s all very odd. The NFC East could come down to the Week 16 game against Dallas.

Remaining Games: Seahawks, @Dolphins, Giants, @Redskins, Cowboys, @Giants

NFC North

Green Bay Packers 8-2

If the Packers want the top seed in the NFC their next game is their most important game. They might need to run the table to just win the NFC North. The top of the NFC is tight. The good news is that outside of the Niners and Vikings, the Packers should be heavily favored in the rest of their games.

Remaining Schedule: @Niners, @Giants, Redskins, Bears, @Vikings, Lions

Minnesota Vikings 8-3

The Vikings enter their bye and get Seattle coming out of their week of rest. That’s probably the best situation for a team having to travel to the Pacific Northwest. Minnesota feels like it could slip up somewhere else on the schedule. They had to come back at home against the Broncos. If they fall behind against a team with an actual quarterback and an actual offense, they might not come back. Good thing those types of teams aren’t on their schedule outside of Seattle and Green Bay.

Remaining Schedule: @Seahawks, Lions, @Chargers, Packers, Bears

NFC South

New Orleans Saints 8-2

This division is officially over. Now the Saints need to focus on getting a bye in the playoffs. The game against the Niners could decide whether the Saints play in the first round or the second round. New Orleans has its tough games at home so that’s nice.

Remaining Games: Panthers, @Falcons, Niners, Colts, @Titans, @Panthers

Carolina Panthers 5-5

The Panthers will officially be off the playoff list after their loss to the Saints in Week 12.

Remaining Games: @Saints, Redskins, @Falcons, Seahawks, @Colts, Saints

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers 9-1

What a brutal end of season schedule for the Niners. They play the Packers and at the Ravens which are two of the best teams in the NFL. There’s no rest of the weary as they then travel to New Orleans. They end the season with two teams in their division that will be fighting for a playoff spot. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Niners end the season at 11-5.

Remaining Games: Packers, @Ravens, @Saints, Falcons, Rams, @Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks 8-2

Seattle’s schedule isn’t much easier than the Niners. The NFC West could come down to Week 17. The Seahawks could lose their next three games or win their next three games and neither result would be much of a surprise.

Remaining Games: @Eagles, Vikings, @Rams, @Panthers, Cardinals, Niners

Los Angeles Rams 6-4

Los Angeles might have put itself in too big of a hole to make it back to the playoffs. If they lose to the Ravens in Week 12, they have to run the table. The Seahawks and Cowboys games are at least in Los Angeles, but the Rams don’t exactly have home-field advantage. The Cardinals are frisky. It doesn’t look good.

Remaining Games: Ravens, @Cardinals, Seahawks, Cowboys, @Niners, Cardinals

Projected Finishes and Seeding next . . .