2024 NFC Playoff picture after Week 16

A Commanders win or draw against Falcons

Commanders win and Eagles lose

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

Status: The Buccaneers tried to rally from a 12-point deficit the Cowboys built midway through the fourth quarter and scored the final 10 points of the game. Tampa Bay’s comeback attempt was lost at sea, however, when Rachaad White lost a fumble to start its final drive. Now the Bucs need help to win the NFC South or a Wild Card spot.

Will wait all day for Sunday evening …

The Buccaneers will be stuck with the outcome of the game between the Commanders and the Falcons. A Washington win would knock Tampa Bay out of the Wild Card race, but boost the Bucs’ chances (as long as they start Sunday by defeating the Panthers) to claim the NFC South.

Must win division to make playoffs

9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Status: Seattle lost consecutive home games to the Packers and Vikings and finished its home stretch 3-6. The Seahawks will try to keep their faint postseason hopes alive in Chicago on Thursday.

Seattle needs to win its last two games and the LA Rams need to lose both of their last two contests.

Eliminated and looking for January travel deals

Status: Dallas was knocked out before their Week 16 kickoff against Tampa Bay (when Washington topped Philadelphia). The Cowboys may now have a significant role in how things pan out for two bitter division rivals. Brandon Aubrey made multiple field goals from 58-plus yards for the second time in his career. He is the first in NFL history to accomplish that feat and has set a single-season record with 14 made field goals from 50-plus.

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

Status: Rushing for 206 yards, as the Cardinals did last week at Carolina, is almost a surefire path to victory — unless that same team allows 243 on the ground. Arizona lost for the fourth time in five games since their Week 11 bye.

12. San Francisco 49ers (7-8)

Status: The 49ers have lost five of their last six games, including by 3 to the Seahawks, 28 to the Packers, 25 to the Bills, 6 to the Rams and 12 to the Dolphins. Talk about a Super Bowl hangover. If the Vikings don’t take care of business against the Packers on Sunday Night Football, they’ll need help from the Niners against the Lions to set up a Week 18 matchup in Detroit for the NFC North. If the Vikings defeat the Packers, the game between San Francisco and Detroit will not affect Minnesota in the standings.

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

1/5/25 @ Buccaneers (8-7)

Status: The Saints reportedly tried to prepare for Lambeau Field by spending time in a walk-in cooler, but the result was New Orleans becoming the first team shutout in 2024.

Status: The Bears’ nine-game losing streak is the second-longest in franchise history. If Chicago wants to match the franchise record of 14 from Week 8 in 2022 to Week 4 in 2023, the slump will have to continue into the 2025 season.

15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

Status: Maybe the Panthers should try to take every game to overtime. Carolina is 2-1 in such games this season.

16. New York Giants (2-13)

Status: The Giants only need to outscore the Colts and Eagles by 147 points to avoid their eighth straight season with a negative point differential. Big Blue has lost 10 straight games, including four by more than 20 points.