Playoffs!
The Washington Commanders entered Week 17 with one mission, beat the Atlanta Falcons, They did their job and secured a spot in the playoffs. Now the question is which spot will they end up with, and who will they play on Super Wildcard Weekend.
Washington got some help from the Minnesota Vikings in the late afternoon block. They defeated their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, and moved into the #1 seed in the NFC. That could change tonight with the Detroit Lions visiting the already eliminated San Francisco 49ers. The #1 seed in the NFC, and the NFC North crown, will likely come down to the Lions vs Vikings Week 18 matchup.
The Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East yesterday by demolishing the Dallas Cowboys with their 2nd- and 3rd-string QBs. They are locked into the #2 seed thanks to their loss to the Commanders last week. The NFC South is still up for grabs after the Falcons loss.
The Washington Commanders are currently the 6th seed in the NFC, but there are still a lot of things that could change before the playoffs start. If the season ended today, they would be traveling to the west coast to play the Los Angeles Rams. Washington holds the tie-breaker over the Packers(record vs the NFC), but they need to have the same record, or better for that to matter.
6th/7th seed in the NFC
Washington win, Green Bay loss
Nothing changes and Washington is the 6th seed
Washington win, Green Bay win
Nothing changes and Washington is the 6th seed
Washington loss, Green Bay win
Packers are the 6th seed, Commanders are the 7th seed
Washington loss, Green Bay loss
Nothing changes and Washington is the 6th seed
3rd/4th seed in the NFC
Los Angeles win, Tampa Bay loss
Rams are the 3rd seed, Bucs are the 4th seed
Los Angeles win, Tampa Bay win
Rams are the 3rd seed, Bucs are the 4th seed
Los Angeles loss, Tampa Bay win
Rams are the 4th seed, Bucs are the 3rd seed
The most likely outcome is that the Washington Commanders take care of business in Arlington and hold onto the 6th seed. If that happens, a trip to Los Angeles could be in their future. If not, they’ll get a rematch against their Week 1 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If they get swept by the Cowboys…that’ll be a rematch against the Eagles in Philadelphia — unless the Packers lose again in Week 18.
Super Bowl odds: +3200
Washington Commanders remaining schedule
Week 18 – @ Dallas Cowboys (January 5, 1 pm FOX)
NFC standings during Week 16
1. x-Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
2. y-Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
3. x-Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
5. x-Detroit Lions (13-2)
6. x-Washington Commanders (11-5)
7. x-Green Bay Packers (11-5)
8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7) — eliminated
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-9) — eliminated
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-9) — eliminated
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9) — eliminated
13. New Orleans Saints (5-11) — eliminated
14. Chicago Bears (4-12) — eliminated
15. Carolina Panthers (4-12) — eliminated
16. New York Giants (3-13) — eliminated
AFC standings after Week 16
1. y-Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (13-3)
3. x-Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-7)
5. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
6. x-Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
7. Denver Broncos (9-7)
8. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
10. Indianapolis Colts (7-9) — eliminated
11. New York Jets (4-11) — eliminated
12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) — eliminated
14. Cleveland Browns (4-12) — eliminated
15.Tennessee Titans (3-13) — eliminated
16. New England Patriots (3-13) — eliminated
Teams with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Teams with a (y) have clinched their division
NFL Division Standings
AFC East standings
- Buffalo Bills, 13-3 — division clinched
- Miami Dolphins, 8-8
- New York Jets, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
- New England Patriots, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention
AFC North standings
- Baltimore Ravens, 11-5 — playoffs clinched
- Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6 — playoffs clinched
- Cincinnati Bengals, 8-8
- Cleveland Browns, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention
AFC South standings
- Houston Texans, 9-7 — division clinched
- Indianapolis Colts, 7-9 — eliminated from playoff contention
- Jacksonville Jaguars, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
- Tennessee Titans, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention
AFC West standings
- Kansas City Chiefs, 15-1 — division clinched
- Los Angeles Chargers, 10-6 — playoffs clinched
- Denver Broncos, 9-7
- Las Vegas Raiders, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
NFC East standings
- Philadelphia Eagles, 13-3 — division clinched
- Washington Commanders, 11-5 — playoffs clinched
- Dallas Cowboys, 7-9 — eliminated from playoff contention
- New York Giants, 3-13 — eliminated from playoff contention
NFC North standings
- Minnesota Vikings, 14-2 — playoffs clinched
- Detroit Lions, 13-2 — playoffs clinched
- Green Bay Packers, 11-5 — playoffs clinched
- Chicago Bears, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
NFC South standings
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-7
- Atlanta Falcons, 8-8
- New Orleans Saints, 5-11 — eliminated from playoff contention
- Carolina Panthers, 4-12 — eliminated from playoff contention
NFC West standings
- Los Angeles Rams, 10-6 — division clinched
- Seattle Seahawks, 9-7 — eliminated from playoff contention
- Arizona Cardinals, 7-9 — eliminated from playoff contention
- San Francisco 49ers, 6-9 — eliminated from playoff contention
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