NFC Playoff picture heading into Week 13

The races for all of the divisions outside of the NFC South are heating up. The Cowboys and Eagles both have shots at winning the East. The Packers and Vikings have the same record and a game against each other. The Seahawks won’t go away even as the Niners continue to dominate every opponent — outside of Seattle. Of course, the wild card race is kind of finished since the Seahawks and Vikings are probably locked in.

(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 6-5

Dallas is suffering from their coaching and not their talent. Now they enter a pretty tough stretch of their schedule starting with a Thanksgiving matchup against the Bills on short rest. The Week 16 game against the Eagles could end up deciding which team takes the east.

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

Philadelphia Eagles 5-6

Philadelphia has been disappointing up until this point of the season. Now they get a stretch where they face some of the worst teams in the league. The Eagles may be thin at wide receiver and offensive line but they should still win games against the Dolphins, Giants and Redskins.

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

NFC North

Green Bay Packers 8-3

The Packers simply proved that they aren’t an elite team when they got smoked by the Niners on national television. We kind of knew that already. Green Bay had a similar game against the Chargers earlier in the season. The Packers still have four wins remaining on their schedule and shouldn’t finish worse than 12-4.

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

Minnesota Vikings 8-3

Seattle and Green Bay are the toughest teams remaining for the Vikings. Minnesota is coming off a bye but beating the Seahawks in the Pacifci Northwest is still going to be difficult.

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

NFC South

New Orleans Saints 9-2

The Saints simply find ways to win. They could be vulnerable in the playoffs. They can’t stretch the field right now. They had that ugly loss to Atlanta — and play them this week — and the Panthers could have won last week. Still, the Saints are comfortable. They will win the NFC South. There are no other contenders.

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

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers 9-1

If the Niners beat the Ravens in Baltimore there will be no reason doubt the Niners. They could run the table — or lose to the Saints in New Orleans. San Francisco is making the playoffs, it’s just a matter of what their seed will be.

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

Seattle Seahawks 9-2

The Seahawks still have a chance to win the NFC West and get the top seed in the NFC. All they need to do is run the table — or lose one game but not lose to the Niners. The top of the NFC is wide open.

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

Projected Finishes and Seeding next . . .