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1. Detroit Lions (13 wins, 2 losses, 1st place in NFC North, playoff berth confirmed)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3; 1st place in NFC East; playoff berth confirmed)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9 wins, 6 losses, 1st place in the NFC West)
4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7; 1st place in NFC South)
5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2, playoff berth confirmed)
6. Green Bay Packers (11-4, playoff berth confirmed)
7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
14. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
16. New York Giants (2-13)
There’s a good chance the Vikings will be playing for the NFC North crown and the conference’s top seed when they visit the Lions next week. To secure a spot in Week 18, Minnesota must first get past a Green Bay team that has won five of its last six games.
However, the Vikings are on an eight-game winning streak and will be even more excited going into this game. Sam Darnold is on fire (15 passing touchdowns, one interception in the last six games) and their defense continues to cause havoc.
Green Bay remains a tricky matchup, but if Minnesota loses, Detroit could clinch the division and conference with a win at San Francisco on Monday night.
Elsewhere, the Eagles can clinch the NFC East title with a home win against the Cowboys on Sunday night or a loss for the Commanders to the Falcons. However, Dallas is without star wideout CeeDee Lamb, so Philadelphia shouldn’t need help.
The Rams are on track to qualify if they continue to win, as a win over the Cardinals on Saturday and a win over the Seahawks next week will give LA the NFC West title. The Falcons could clinch the NFC South title with a win over the Commanders this weekend and a loss to the Panthers if the Buccaneers lose.
If either conference’s playoff picture were to change, Tampa Bay would likely chase Atlanta. How the final playoff bracket will be settled still seems likely.
