When week 16 of the 2023-24 NFL season ended, the Detroit Lions became the NFC North Champions & joined the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, & (NFC West Champions) San Francisco 49ers in the NFC playoffs. The New York Giants joined the Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, & Washington Commanders as teams eliminated from playoff contention. As 2023 prepares to become 2024, let’s look at the NFC playoff picture for week 17.
This week, the 49ers have another chance to clinch home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a chance to win the NFC South. The Eagles have a chance to win the NFC East. The Los Angeles Rams & Seattle Seahawks have the potential to clinch playoff berths. The Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, & Atlanta Falcons are all up for elimination.
The 49ers can earn home-field advantage, if they win on the road against the Washington Commanders, the Eagles lose at home to the Arizona Cardinals, & the Lions lose on the road to the Cowboys.
The Buccaneers can become the NFC South Champions, if they win at home against the Saints, or if they tie the Saints & the Falcons lose on the road to the Bears.
The Eagles can become the NFC East Champions, if they win at home against the Cardinals & the Cowboys lose or tie against the Lions, or if they tie & the Cowboys lose.
The Rams can clinch a NFC playoff berth, but a win on the road against the Giants by itself won’t be enough. They will also need either the Seahawks to lose or the Packers @ Vikings game to end in a tie.
The Seahawks can clinch a NFC playoff berth, if they win at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers & the Packers @ Vikings game ends in a tie.
The Vikings can be eliminated, if they tie and the Rams & Seahawks win. They can also be eliminated if they lose and…
-the Seahawks & Rams win or tie.
-the Falcons win, the Buccaneers tie, & the Rams or Seahawks win or tie.
The Packers can be eliminated, if they tie and the Seahawks & Rams win. They can also be eliminated if they lose and…
-the Rams or Seahawks win or tie.
-the Buccaneers tie & the Falcons win.
-the Saints, Falcons, & Cardinals win and at least 6 1/2 wins come from the Cowboys, Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, & Denver Broncos.
The Bears can be eliminated in any of the following manners:
-They lose at home to the Falcons.
-The Seahawks win or tie and…the Rams win or tie; the Vikings or Packers win.
-The Rams win or tie and…the Vikings or Packers win.
The Saints can be eliminated if they lose on the road to the Buccaneers, or if they tie and the Rams & Seahawks win or tie.
The Falcons can be eliminated in any of the following manners:
-They lose & the Buccaneers win or tie.
-The Seahawks, Buccaneers, & Rams win.
-They & the Rams tie, the Seahawks win or tie, and the Buccaneers win.
-They & the Seahawks tie and the Rams & Buccaneers win.
