The Tampa Florida Bay Buccaneers have a one-game lead in the NFC South with 4 weeks to play. That’s exactly how points stand after a collection of Week 14 results that certainly did not assist Tampa florida Bay’s profits in the NFC playoff search.
While Tampa florida Bay was taking it on the chin in San Francisco, the Atlanta Falcons were lastly appreciating their bye week and also the Carolina Panthers were managing a distress in Seattle. Consequently, as Week 15 starts the 6-7 Rovers are holding on to a limited lead over the Falcons and also Panthers, each of which are showing off 5-8 documents.
Considered That the 10-3 Dallas Cowboys are basically a lock for the leading Wild Card place, at the least, and also there are 3 various other NFC groups with 7 victories currently, it will certainly be extremely tough for an NFC South group to record a Wild Card berth. That produces a four-week free-for-all to get not just a playoff berth however the 4th seed in the NFC and also a house video game to begin the postseason.
On The Other Hand, Philly has actually relocated more detailed to securing the first-overall seed in the seminar and also the 49ers have actually won 6 straight to place themselves in a solid setting with 4 weeks to go. Right here’s exactly how the NFC playoff race stands after 14 weeks:
1. Philly (12-1), NFC East Leader
To the shock of couple of, the Eagles made it clear on Sunday that not just are they the faves in the seminar however that the Giants have an extremely rare hang on a playoff place. The Eagles rolled the Giants when driving, 48-22, and also they will certainly take a crack at to round off New york city in the house in Week 18, if essential. Not just do the Eagles currently hold a two-game lead over the Vikings however they defeat Minnesota in Week 2, so primarily we’re speaking about a three-game lead with 4 to play. Philly’s 2 continuing to be non-division video games protest the Bears and also Saints, which isn’t specifically distressing. Jalen Injures is dipping into an MVP degree and also the Eagles have actually gained what is a frustrating benefit in the NFC.
2. Minnesota (10-3), NFC North Leader
Points aren’t fairly as glowing for the Vikings, that were 2.5-point underdogs entering into Detroit versus a 5-7 Lions group, and also obviously permanently factor. Detroit plainly resembled the far better group in a 34-23 win and also has actually currently won 5 of its last 6 after a 1-6 beginning. The Vikings are unquestionably mosting likely to win the department, offered their four-game lead, however their number-two seed looks a great deal extra rare at this moment, particularly after San Francisco’s big win (whine, whine) over the Buccaneers on Sunday. The Vikings and also 49ers really did not play each various other this period however San Francisco’s 7-2 seminar document is presently a video game far better than Minnesota’s mark.
3. San Francisco (9-4), NFC West Leader
Aside From Philly, which secured a playoff place, the 49ers were the huge victors in the NFC in Week 14. Not just did they discover a prospective substitute for Jimmy Garoppolo in newbie seventh-rounder Brock Purdy, however they retreated from Seattle in the NFC West and also obtained within breathing range of the 2nd seed in the seminar. San Francisco’s last month has plenty of enigma groups– Seattle, Washington, Las Las Vega, Arizona– and also there’s no warranty Purdy will not reverse right into a pumpkin, however the 49ers aim to have a clear course back to the NFC National championship many thanks to a surrounding protection and also Kyle Shanahan’s offending creative thinking. Just how rapidly Deebo Samuel can return from the ankle joint injury he endured Sunday might be a crucial consider their efforts to progress also additionally in 2022.
4. Tampa Florida Bay (6-7), NFC South Leader
Well, Week 14 really did not work out for the Buccaneers, and also their department lead, as kept in mind over, is to one video game. You will certainly listen to on several celebrations that the Carolina Panthers currently “regulate their very own fate” in regards to winning the department, however do not obtain it turned, so do the Buccaneers. All of it possibly boils down to a Week 17 video game at Raymond James Arena in between the Bucs and also the Panthers. Carolina does hold a benefit many thanks to a Week 7 sway Tampa florida Bay in Charlotte, however that side would certainly come to be moot with a Buccaneers success to also the period collection. FiveThirtyEight still has the Buccaneers’ with a 65% possibility to win the department, adhered to by 31% for the Panthers and also 4% for the Falcons. The Buccaneers additionally deal with the Falcons in Atlanta in Week 18, if it were ahead to that.
5. Dallas (10-3), Wild Card # 1
The Cowboys resembled a juggernaut in Week 13 with their blowout sway Minneapolis, in addition to their taking apart of Minnesota 2 weeks prior to that. After that they entered into Week 14 as 17-point faves over the 1-10-1 Houston Texans and also … well, hardly ran away with their lives. Possibilities are their current run of leading triumphes is extra a sign of their real stamina than one sort-of negative mid-day, and also the Cowboys are virtually secured right into the fifth-overall seed as the leading Wild Card group. Dallas certainly still has desires of a department title, however the Eagles aren’t offering any type of ground. The Cowboys and also Eagles reunite in Week 16 (Philly won the initial conference), however Dallas additionally needs to emulate 2 AFC groups that might set up a respectable battle in Jacksonville and also Tennessee.
6. Washington (7-5-1), Wild Card # 2
What a weekend break for the Leaders, that just rested in the house and also saw their lot of money advance from being the first string outside searching in to being the owner of the 2nd Wild Card place. An unsavory 20-20 connection with the Giants the week prior to had actually gone down Washington out of the leading 7, hardly, however losses by New york city and also Seattle in Week 14 made every little thing right once again. The Commanders and also Giants will certainly play once again today, however Washington has the benefit of a bye week research up on their challenger while the Giants were taking in a beatdown by Philly. Washington still needs to play San Francisco and also Dallas however FiveThirtyEight provides the Leaders a 73% possibility to make the playoffs.
7. N.Y. Giants (7-5-1), Wild Card # 3
While the Leaders were still, the Giants were obtaining educated by the Eagles, and also considering that Washington has a somewhat far better in-conference document than New york city (4-4-1 to 3-5-1), it has actually appropriated the Giants in the general standings. New york city has a ruthless stretch-run routine, starting with the Washington rematch this coming weekend break and also consisting of brows through to Minnesota and also Philly.
The Seahawks took a difficult loss in the house in Week 14, shedding to the Carolina Panthers, 30-24, and also hence left of the leading 7 in the seminar seeding. They additionally dropped 2 behind the 49ers in the NFC West race, making their Week 15 residence video game versus San Francisco a must-win if they wish to maintain their division-title hopes to life. FiveThirtyEight still provides the Seahawks a 55% possibility to make the playoffs however they additionally have to deal with the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 16.
The NFL’s beloveds after squashing the Vikings to tape their 5th win the last 5 trips, the Lions currently have a 20% playoff possibility according to FiveThirtyEight. That may appear gloomy, however this group was primarily dead in the water after a 1-6 beginning. The Lions have basically no possibility to win the NFC North title, which indicates they need to draw in a number of various other Wild Card competitors. At this moment, however, they are simply a little over one video game behind the last playoff place. After playing the Jets next weekend break, the Lions have 3 straight video games versus groups with shedding documents (Carolina, Chicago, Environment-friendly Bay).
10-11-12. Environment-friendly Bay (5-8), Carolina (5-8), Atlanta (5-8)
Carolina and also Atlanta get on this checklist since they are certainly in opinion for the NFC South title, regardless of being 3 video games under.500. Environment-friendly Bay gets on the checklist since it has the very same document as the previously mentioned groups, however their playoff probabilities on FiveThirtyEight are to 6%. As kept in mind, both the Panthers and also Falcons are going to obtain a chance at the Buccaneers in the last 2 weeks of the routine period. Carolina and also Atlanta have actually currently divided their two-game collection.
What Exists Ahead for Tampa Florida Bay:
The Buccaneers deal with an additional difficult AFC challenger on Sunday when Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and also the Cincinnati Bengals pertain to community. The Buccaneers will certainly be trying to find their initial win versus an AFC challenger this year, and also while interconference video games aren’t as impactful in sudden death scenarios as in-conference video games, the group is determined for as lots of victories as it can obtain.
