The situation in the NFL playoffs has simultaneously brightened and clouded as we enter the final week of the 2023 regular season – particularly in the NFC.
We know the 49ers are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have the bye week and home-field advantage that comes with it. We also know that the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams have secured a spot in the playoffs, but their respective placement remains in question.
But we don't know who will win the NFC South – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons all have a chance – nor who will clinch the NFC's final wild card spot with the Bucs, Saints and Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings are in play in various scenarios.
If the season ended today, these would be the NFC Wild Card Round matchups:
- No. 7 Packers at No. 2 Cowboys
- No. 6 Rams at No. 3 Lions
- No. 5 Eagles at No. 4 Bucs
But the season isn't over today, and with important games coming up on Sunday, the 49ers will be interested to see how the seeding pans out. That's because San Francisco, as the No. 1 seed, will host the lowest-seeded wild-card round in the divisional round on either Jan. 20 or Jan. 21.
So, without further ado, here are the Week 18 NFC Playoff scenarios. Yes, they're as complicated as they look…
Week 18 NFC playoff scenarios
Already decided
– San Francisco 49ers (12-4): NFC West title, No. 1 seed, lone first-round bye and home-field advantage
— Detroit Lions (11-5): NFC North title
– Dallas Cowboys (11-5): Playoff spot
– Philadelphia Eagles (11-5): Playoff spot
– Los Angeles Rams (9-7): Playoff spot
Individual clinch scenarios
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Secure the NFC South title with:
– Victory over the New Orleans Saints + defeat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
Secure the NFC East title with:
– Win over the commanders of Washington OR
– Draw against Commanders + draw between Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants OR
– Eagles loss
Green Bay Packers (8-8)
Secure your playoff spot with:
– Victory over the Chicago Bears OR
– Draw against the Bears + Seattle Seahawks loss or draw against the Arizona Cardinals + Saints loss or draw against the Falcons OR
– Draw vs. Bears + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss OR
– Draw against Bears + draw against Seahawks + loss or draw against Buccaneers OR
– Minnesota Vikings loss or draw against Detroit Lions + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss OR
— Vikings loss or draw + Seahawks loss + Saints loss
Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Secure your playoff spot with:
– Lions win + Packers loss + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss OR
– Lions win + Packers loss + Seahawks loss + Saints loss
New Orleans Saints (8-8)
vs. Atlanta (7-9); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Secure the NFC South title with:
— Win over Falcons + Buccaneers with a loss or draw OR
– Draw vs. Falcons + Buccaneers loss
Secure your playoff spot with:
— Win over the Falcons + Seahawks loss or tie + Packers loss or tie OR
– Draw against the Falcons + Seahawks loss + Packers loss
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Secure the NFC East title with:
— Victory over Giants + Cowboys with loss or draw OR
– Draw against Giants + Cowboys loss
Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
at Arizona (4-12); Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Secure your playoff spot with:
— Win over Cardinals + Packers with loss or draw OR
– Draw vs. Cardinals + Lose Packers + Lose or Draw Buccaneers OR
– Draw vs. Cardinals + Lose Packers + Lose or Draw Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
at Carolina (2-14); Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Secure the NFC South title with:
— Overcome the Panthers OR
– Draw against Panthers + loss or draw by Saints
Secure your playoff spot with:
– Panthers draw + Seahawks loss + Packers loss or draw
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
