Welcome to the inaugural NFL NFC playoff picture preview where we’ll start to take a look at teams and their path to the playoffs as the season approaches its climax. Specifically, we’ll list the teams currently in the playoffs and what seed they currently are and if they can move up or out of a playoff berth.
Click here for the AFC Playoff Picture Preview
NFL Playoff Picture: NFC Week 12
NFC Seeded Teams Week 12
- San Francisco 49ers (9-1)
- Green Bay Packers (8-2)
- New Orleans Saints (8-2)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-2)
- Minnesota Vikings (8-3)
How They Got There
San Francisco 49ers
Much like the New England Patriots over in the AFC, the Niners got off to an impressive 8-0 start to their season before suffering their first defeat in an epic game against the Seattle Seahawks. The Niners have been the No.1 seed for all of the season, but with their loss, it opens the door to a number of NFC teams moving forward.
Still, the Niners have proven to be one of the elite teams in a crowded NFC that is now entering the toughest part of their schedule against playoff opponents. That No. 1 seed is coveted and with be fought for until Week 17.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are in something of a rebirth after missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Am active free agency has propelled the Packers to an 8-2 record to grab the No. 2 seed in the NFC. They’ve gotten contributions from a mainly unknown core outside of Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones. And so far, it’s worked greatly in their favor.
Currently, Green Bay is the only team with a winning record (4-0) against teams above .500 this season — which is vastly impressive and gave them a clear path to a possible No. 1 seed after this Sunday. They still have some work to do, but a first-round bye isn’t not out of the question for Rodgers and Co.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were well taken care of when Teddy Bridgewater stepped in for the injured Drew Brees. However, a questionable loss against the Atlanta Falcons may have cost them a first-round bye come Week 17. They’ll need Brees to play at an elite level that he’s capable of and get some players back to full strength — notably Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore.
There’s no secret that the Saints want to rectify last year’s pass interference debacle more than anyone, but whether it’ll be at home is another question in itself. There’s plenty of meaningful football to be played — including one against the Niners — for the Saints, it’s just much more crowded than in year’s past.
Dallas Cowboys
While the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a two-way fight with the Philadephia Eagles in the NFC East, the Cowboys still have a 1.5 game lead over their rivals. While they might be the No. 4 seed due to their record, the Cowboys have emerged as a scary team on offense led by money-man-to-be Dak Prescott.
However, with just six wins so far, they’ll have to put a run together while getting some help if they’re going to move up the standings. Their explosive-offense makes them a force to be reckoned with — most likely on Wild Card Weekend.
Seattle Seahawks
One of the most dangerous teams in the NFC, unfortunately, resides in the Wild Card slot, as the Seattle Seahawks are currently the No.5 seed. Due to a competitive NFC West, the Seahawks find themselves looking up at the 49ers in the division. Currently, the Seahawks own the tiebreaker over the Niners with one game left between the two.
The Seahawks are a team that no one wants to face at home or on the road. While not perfect by any means, overlapping the Niners would position them for a deep playoff run led by MVP candidate, Russell Wilson.
Minnesota Vikings
The last team to round out the playoffs is the sixth-seeded Minnesota Vikings. Who are also victims of having at least eight wins but find themselves in a Wild Card spot due to their division. However, the Vikings, much like the Seahawks, are playing great football on both sides of the ball and feature one of the best running backs in the NFL in Dalvin Cook.
Kirk Cousins has yet to appear in the playoffs since joining the Vikings a season ago but appears to be on the right track in 2019. With almost every playoff team boasting at least eight wins, the Vikings are right in the thick of things in a heated playoff race not only in the NFC North but the entire NFC.
NFL Playoff Picture: Which Seeds Could Be on the Move?
The joy of watching the NFC is knowing that six teams could move into different spots each week. The Packers have a huge game on Sunday Night Football against the Niners that will give the winner the No. 1 seed — at least for the moment.
Just as interesting is should the Niners lose and Seattle wins on Sunday, then Seattle will take over the division lead dropping San Francisco into the Wild Card spot. How chaotic is that — and how meaningful will their game against the Packers be?
Minnesota is idle this week because of the bye, so they cannot gain a win this week, and even if Green Bay should fall on Sunday, they’ll remain in the Wild Card spot due to Green Bay’s head-to-head victory in Week 2.
A win for Dallas would inch them closer in the overall NFC standings and continue to keep Philadelphia at bay, but dealing with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium could pose a huge challenge, but perhaps a season-defining win.
The Saints can add to the chaos at the top with a win over the Carolina Panthers — which would give them nine wins on the season and cause more teams to move around after Week 12 concludes.
Click here for the AFC Playoff Picture Preview
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
