NFC Playoff Picture: Week 13

[Big Red]

The Cardinals are still hanging on to the final playoff spot in the NFC, although a loss to the Patriots on Sunday has tightened the race. The Buccaneers and Rams both lost as well, keeping the wild card chase close, but a Seahawks win on Monday night stretched their NFC West lead.


Here is a look at the NFC playoff picture heading into Week 13:


1. New Orleans Saints (9-2): The Saints caught a break on Sunday, facing a Broncos team without any quarterbacks. Predictably, New Orleans dominated to stay atop the NFC.


2. Seattle Seahawks (8-3): Seattle beat the Eagles on "Monday Night Football" to regain the top spot in the NFC West and move up to the No. 2 seed in the conference.


3. Green Bay Packers (8-3): Green Bay crushed the Bears to all but wrap up the NFC North title. The Packers are behind Seattle because they lose the strength of victory tiebreaker.


4. New York Giants (4-7): The Giants squeaked past the Bengals on Sunday to take over first place in the NFC East via a tiebreaker over Washington. However, quarterback Daniel Jones strained his hamstring in the victory.


5. Los Angeles Rams (7-4): The Rams lost on a last-second field goal to the 49ers on Sunday, dropping them from atop the NFC West and into the first wild card position.


6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5): The Buccaneers had a late rally come up short in Week 12 as the Chiefs beat them, 27-24. Tampa Bay still has the third-best point-differential in the NFC but has lost three of four.


7. Arizona Cardinals (6-5): The Cardinals lost on a last-second field goal in New England, but didn't move from the No. 7 spot because the Bears also lost. However, there are now three teams within a game of them for the last playoff spot.


In the hunt: Minnesota Vikings (5-6); Chicago Bears (5-6); San Francisco 49ers (5-6); Detroit Lions (4-7); Washington Football Team (4-7); Atlanta Falcons (4-7); Carolina Panthers (4-8); Philadelphia Eagles (3-7-1); Dallas Cowboys (3-8).


What's on the line for the Cardinals in Week 13: The Cardinals would move up at least one spot in the playoff pecking order with a win over the Rams, as they would then hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles The Seahawks will be tough to catch for the division title, but a victory would keep that dream alive. If the Cardinals lose, they could be surpassed for the No. 7 seed, depending on other results.

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