NFC Playoff Picture Week 17: Can Packers make playoffs?

Going into the penultimate week of the NFL season, the Green Bay Packers are amongst those fighting for NFC playoff spots. Not much has changed since last week in terms of the teams who have clinched a playoff spot. However, that understates how much the ground has shifted beneath our feet in one week.

The Philadelphia Eagles still remain the overall first seed in the NFC but now have a 13-2 record after their loss to the Dallas Cowboys, who improved to 11-4. That also means while both the Eagles and the Cowboys have locked up their spots in the playoffs, both are assured of only a Wild Card spot at the moment.

That's because the Eagles need to win one more game or the Cowboys need to lose one more to help Philadelphia clinch the division. For Dallas to clinch it, they need to win their two remaining games and hope the Eagles lose their remaining games.

While the NFC East is far from settled, the top spots in the NFC West and the NFC North were settled last week. The San Francisco 49ers have taken the West, and the Minnesota Vikings have taken the North. The Vikings lead the 49ers in seedings, as second and third seeds respectively, and there has been no change since last week, as both won their games this week.

The NFC South sees the 7-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints by one game. If they win their next game against the Panthers, they will clinch a playoff spot with one week to go. The Atlanta Falcons were officially eliminated in their last game.

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NFC playoff standings entering NFL Week 17

Here are the full NFC Playoffs standings for all 16 teams entering Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season. The top four teams are the current division leaders, followed by all the teams in the Wild Card race, including tie breakers.

1. Philadelphia Eagles (13-2) - clinched playoff berth
2. Minnesota Vikings (12-3) - clinched NFC North
3. San Francisco 49ers (11-4) - clinched NFC West
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
5. Dallas Cowboys (11-4) - clinched playoff berth
6. New York Giants (8-6-1)
7. Washington Commanders (7-7-1)
8. Seattle Seahawks (7-8)
9. Detroit Lions (7-8)
10. Green Bay Packers (7-8)
11. Carolina Panthers (6-9)
12. New Orleans Saints (6-9)
13. Atlanta Falcons (5-10) - eliminated
14. Los Angeles Rams (5-10) - eliminated
15. Arizona Cardinals (4-11) - eliminated
16. Chicago Bears (3-12) - eliminated

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Will Aaron Rodgers lead Packers to NFC playoff spot?

The Green Bay Packers saw everything fall their way this week. The Giants, Commanders, Seahawks and Lions all lost, making it very likely a possibility that they could still sneak through into the NFC playoffs.

They need the Seahawks and the Commanders to lose at least one more game while they win both. As they will play their last game against the Lions, if they win both their games, they will automatically overtake Detroit.