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With the top seeds pretty much locked up in the NFC, the wild card spots are where the action is at. For example, we know that it is highly likely that one of the Arizona Cardinals or the Los Angeles Rams will make it to the wild card spots, because they both are at a 10-4 record and only one can win the NFC West. We are not considering them among wild card spots contenders because their battle is for the divisional championship.
Also read: NFL Playoff Picture 2021 Week 16
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Tied with the Cardinal and the Rams on a 10-4 record are the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they appear as if they will book their direct playoff berths shortly. The Green Bay Packers have already qualified as NFC North divisional champions.
That leaves very few wild card spots and a lot of teams vying for them. We list below the five teams most likely to be in contention.
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NFC teams fighting for wild card spots
#1 - San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have an 8-6 record and they have the way to the divisional championship blocked by the Cardinals and the Rams.
The best case scenario for the 49ers is to get to the playoffs using wild card spots. They have now won two straight games going into Week 16.
They will fancy their chances against the Titans in the coming week and will most certainly look to beat the Texans thereafter. The 49ers will be hoping to have these two games in the bank because in their final game they take on the Los Angeles Rams, who might be looking to win the game to win the title.
#2 - Minnesota Vikings
When the Minnesota Vikings became the first team this season to lose to the Detroit Lions, observers may have thought their race was run. But the Vikings have shown true spirit going into Week 16 with a 7-7 record. They have won two games on the bounce to improve to this record.
The thing with the Minnesota Vikings is that the wild card spots are all they have to make it to the playoffs, since the Packers have already wrapped up the division.
Their next couple of games are tough assignments against the Rams and the Packers. But win those and they can clinch a wild card spot in their final game against the Bears.
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NFC teams on the verge of confirming wild card spots
#3 - New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are now firmly back in wild card spot contention after what they managed to pull off in Week 15.
Led by a dominant defense, which is a change from what we have come to expect from Sean Payton, the Saints shut down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Their 7-7 record is identical to that of fellow wild card spot contenders Minnesota Vikings; but they will be looking at an easier fixture list going forward.
The Saints play the Dolphins, the Panthers and the Falcons in their final three games, all of which they will consider winnable, especially now that they are on a two-game winning streak.
#4 - Philadelphia Eagles
After winning two straight games, the Philadelphia Eagles are also making a case for being included among favorites to secure one of the wild card spots. They also have an identical 7-7 record to the two teams above them in wild card spot contention.
They defeated the Washington Football Team this week, pushing them to an 8-6 record and improving in their place. That they face them again in the penultimate game is cause for optimism. The Eagles have every chance of making one of the last remaining wild card spots.
#5 - Atlanta Falcons
Two teams are on a 6-8 losing record but are still in contention for the playoffs. The Washington Football Team were ignored from this list because they have the stronger schedule where they have to face the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, with their last game against the New York Giants looking like the most winnable.
Also read: NFL Power Rankings Week 16: Where does every NFC team stand?
The Atlanta Falcons, meanwhile, have games against the Lions, the Bills and the Saints, which on paper do look like an easier route to the wild card spots. But the Falcons are coming on the back of a losing weekend, and there is no guarantee that they can get this done.
Honestly, as one of the Rams or the Cardinals drops into the wild card spot, the Atlanta Falcons would be the most likely team on this list not to make it. Theirs is the only losing record among all the wild card spot contenders mentioned here, and barring an incredible reversal of fortunes in the last few weeks, they are on the outside looking in.
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