Cardinals remain atop NFC after bye; Packers draw closer with win

A look at the NFC playoff picture as we enter Week 13. The Cardinals remain atop the conference but hold a half-game lead over the Packers.

All but one game of the Week 12 schedule have been played and we know what the NFC playoff picture looks like. The Monday night game between the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Football Team has minimal impact on the NFC playoff race.

The Arizona Cardinals remain atop the conference and the Packers got a little closer.

Here is the playoff picture in the NFC at the start of Week 13.

  1. Arizona Cardinals 9-2
  2. Green Bay Packers 9-3
  3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-3
  4. Dallas Cowboys 7-4
  5. Los Angeles Rams 7-4
  6. San Francisco 49ers 6-5
  7. Minnesota Vikings 5-6

The Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are both 5-6 and clearly in the mix still. Washington is 4-6 and, with a win over Seattle Monday night, will also have the same record as the Vikings.

What happened in Week 12?

  • The Cardinals did not play. They had their bye week.
  • The Packers defeated the Rams 36-28.
  • The Bucs won for the second straight week, defeating the Colts 38-31.
  • The Cowboys lost on Thanksgiving 36-33 in overtime to the Raiders.
  • The Rams lost their third game in a row in the 36-28 defeat to the Packers.
  • The 49ers beat the Vikings 34-26.
  • The Saints were blown out 31-6 by the Bills on Thanksgiving night, while the Falcons beat the Jaguars 21-14.

Coming up in Week 13

  • The Cardinals are on the road against the 4-7 Bears and could have Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins back in the lineup.
  • The Packers will have their bye.
  • The Bucs will travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons.
  • The Cowboys play the Saints Thursday night on the road.
  • The Rams return home to face the 2-9 Jaguars.
  • The 49ers have a divisional battle on the road against the 3-7 Seahawks, who play Monday night in Week 12.
  • The Vikings are on the road to face the winless Lions.

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