NFC playoff picture: Cardinals retake No. 7 seed with win

The Packers took over the No. 1 seed, Washington takes the lead in the NFC East and Arizona regains the No. 7 seed.

The Arizona Cardinals lost their hold on a wild card berth last week with their third straight loss and fourth in five games. At 6-6, they fell behind the 6-6 Minnesota Viking for the final playoffs seed in the NFC.

In Week 14, though, they regained possession of the No. 7. They defeated the New York Giants 26-7 and the Vikings fell 26-14 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There was also a change in the NFC East. They Giants and Washington Football Team were tied with 5-7 records entering play on Sunday but New York, because of their season sweep over Washington, held the division lead. New York’s loss to Arizona and Washington’s win over the San Francisco 49ers gave the Football team a one-game lead in the East.

Here is how the NFC playoff picture now looks:

  1. Green Bay Packers, 10-3 (clinched NFC North)
  2. New Orleans Saints, 10-3
  3. Los Angeles Rams, 9-4
  4. Washington Football Team, 6-7
  5. Seattle Seahawks, 9-4
  6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-5
  7. Arizona Cardinals, 7-6
  8. Minnesota Vikings, 6-7
  9. Chicago Bears, 6-7

The Cardinals now are once again in control of their own destiny. They must stay ahead of the Vikings because Minnesota holds a common games tiebreaker.

Green Bay clinched its division title and took over the No. 1 seed in the conference with a win over the Detroit Lions, while the Saints lost 24-21 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both with the same record at 10-3, the Packers own a head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Rams and Seahawks both are 9-4. Los Angeles holds a head-to-head win over the Seahawks so they have the NFC West lead. The two teams will face one another in Week 16.

Week 15 matchups to watch

These games will play a role in the NFC playoff picture:

  • Panthers at Packers: Can Green Bay maintain the No. 1 seed?
  • Buccaneers at Falcons: If they lose, the Cardinals could pass them.
  • Bears at Vikings: Both are a game out of the final seed. Whoever loses is almost eliminated from contention.
  • Seahawks at Washington: The Football Team needs to win to stay on top of the NFC East. Seattle needs to win to keep pace with the Rams, who play the winless Jets.
  • Jets at Rams: L.A. will stay atop the NFC West with a win.
  • Chiefs at Saints: The Saints have a playoff berth clinched but a win keeps them in NFC South lead and in contention for the No. 1 seed.
  • Browns at Giants: New York must win and Washington must lose to take over the NFC East again.

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