The NFL’s biggest season ever with the brand new Week 18 slate of games leads to a ton of different playoff seeding scenarios.
After Saturday’s game which had the Cowboys defeat the Eagles 51-26…nothing really changed, but the Cowboys could move up in seeding.
The NFC’s Week 18 is a lot less exciting than the AFC’s as 6 of the 7 teams are decided with only one team on the outside and just one division undecided, so this is much less complicated.
Want to know all the scenarios for seeding? Then you’re in the right place, enjoy!
Green Bay Packers
Sit back, relax, and enjoy your Sunday. Nothing that happens will affect where you are. You clinched the one seed, homefield advantage, and the bye. Just make it past the Lions healthy and you’re golden for the divisional round.
Los Angeles Rams
Rams beat the 49ers, they get the 2 seed and are the NFC West division champions, simple as that. They beat the Buccaneers back in Week 3 so they got them in the tiebreaker.
If the 49ers win (which they need to to stay alive), the Rams could lose the division if the Cardinals win, who are a game back and hold the division tiebreaker. In that case the Rams can’t go lower than a 5 seed, the Eagles and 49ers/Saints will get 6 or 7.
If the Rams lose and the Cardinals lose, a Buccaneers win can push LA to the 4 seed and move the Cowboys up to the 3 seed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers beat the Panthers, they at least get a 3 seed.
- Buccaneers win, Rams lose – 2 seed Bucs
- Buccaneers win, Rams win – 3 seed Bucs
If the Bucs lose to the Panthers…
- Buccaneers lose, Rams lose, Cardinals win – 3 seed (Rams go to wild card)
- Buccaneers lose, Rams lose, Cardinals lose – 4 seed
- Buccaneers lose, Rams win – 3 seed
Dallas Cowboys
After a blowout win over the Eagles, the Cowboys are in good shape to move up in the seeding, but need help, as they’re stuck at the 4 seed if the Rams and Buccaneers win their matchups.
- Rams lose, Bucs lose, Cardinals lose – 2 seed
- Rams lose, Bucs win, Cardinals lose – 3 seed
- Rams lose, Cardinals win – 4 seed
- Rams win – 4 seed
Cowboys already won the division, so they can’t go lower than 4, but their division rival could’ve used that win to help better secure a 6 seed rather than a 7, but you’ll have to read to the Eagles section to get that info.
Arizona Cardinals
After entering Week 18 as the 5 seed, the Cardinals have a chance to be the 2 seed if all goes well. They can’t go lower than the 5 seed as they’re well above the 6- and 7-seed candidates.
- Cardinals win, Rams lose, Buccaneers lose – 2 seed (beat Cowboys in tiebreaker)
- Cardinals win, Rams lose, Buccaneers win – 3 seed
Cardinals cannot be a 4 seed in any scenario, but if the Cardinals win and the Rams win, they’re locked in to the 5 seed. Cardinals lose, locked in to the 5 seed. Even though their fate seems to be with the 5 seed, the Cardinals are well placed to be NFC West champions.
Philadelphia Eagles
You tried your best (well not really you played your backups) and lost to the Cowboys, but honestly you were locked in to the 6 or 7 seed, why risk injury.
The only thing to look out for if you’re an Eagles fan is who you want to face, either the 2 or 3 seed, and that could be anyone at this point.
- 49ers win – 7 seed Eagles
- 49ers lose, Saints lose – 7 seed Eagles
- 49ers lose, Saints win – 6 seed Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
The scenario sounds simple for the 49ers: win and in as the 6 seed. But unlike almost every other matchup of Week 18, the playoff hopeful is not given a layup. Going up against the possible division leader and powerhouse Rams is going to be difficult. You beat them 31-10 in Week 9, but they’re a different team now with Odell Beckham in the fold now. And it’s not like the Rams aren’t playing for something, they have a division title on the line. Normally the Sean McVay-led Rams annually take the final regular season game off, they can’t this year, and are going to battle.
If in the end the Rams defeat the 49ers, there’s still hope. While that game is occurring, the Saints will be facing the Falcons, where if New Orleans wins and the 49ers lose they would end up with the same record. BUT the tiebreaker here is respective division placement, and the Saints are in 2nd place, and the 49ers are in 3rd, so the San Francisco would be eliminated.
But if the 49ers lose, and the Saints lose, the 49ers are in. So 49ers fans…root for the Falcons. I’m not saying there’s no shot of the 49ers beating the Rams, but it’d be wise to have the Falcons winning as a backup plan.
New Orleans Saints
I honestly can’t believe the Saints actually have a chance to make the playoffs. Losing Jameis Winston mid-season, having to go to Trevor Siemien, then to Taysom Hill, then to Ian Book, and now back to Taysom, with no Michael Thomas, a constantly banged up offensive line, and a limited Alvin Kamara, is astounding, but here we are. That defense really carried them to winning three of their last four.
The now have a Week 18 matchup against hated division rival Falcons, who would probably like to end the Saints season, which they can.
- Saints lose – eliminated
- Saints win, 49ers win – eliminated
- Saints win, 49ers lose – 7 seed
Nice and straight forward, win and 49ers lose. Niners got a tough matchup with the Rams, and the Saints can take care of the Falcons, but Atlanta is feisty and would love to end the Saints season.
Football Nerds 