NFL 2024-2025 NFC Playoff Permutations and Combinations
The first 17 weeks of the 2023 NFL regular season are in the history books. Week 18 is here.
This week football jargon not used for 51 weeks is said over and over. We learn who controls their own destiny and who needs help making the playoffs. Some years it seems almost everybody has a shot at the playoffs. This year the NFC playoff picture has very few possibilities. Only one playoff spot remains for two teams. Everything else is a fight for seeding among teams that have already clinched playoff berths.
This brings my assessment of the 2024-2025 NFC playoff permutations and combinations.
Only the top seed with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs gets the first-round bye.
The AFC Playoff picture is also fairly straightforward.
Six of the eight NFC Week 18 games have playoff implications. Only two of the four NFC Divisions have been clinched.
Now for the NFC Playoff picture.
1.) Detroit Lions (14-2): The Lions have clinched a playoff spot but nothing more. Right now they are the top seed. Next week they have a winner take all showdown at home against Minnesota. If they win against Minnesota, the Lions win the NFC North and retain the top seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the first round bye. If they lose, the Lions drop to the five seed and play a road game on Wildcard Weekend.
2.) Philadelphia Eagles (13-3): The Eagles have clinched the NFC East and are locked into the two seed. They will host a game on Wildcard Weekend.
3.) Los Angeles Rams (10-6): The Rams have clinched the NFC West. They are currently the three seed and will host a playoff game on Wildcard weekend. They cannot move higher than the three seed. However, if they lose their finale and Tampa Bay wins, the Rams fall to the four seed.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): The Buccaneers are one game up in the NFC South, but they do not hold the tie-breaker and have not have clinched anything. They control their own destiny. If the Buccaneers win their Week 18 finale at home against New Orleans, the Buccaneers win the NFC South and the four seed. They would host a Wildcard playoff game. If the Buccaneers lose, they can still win the division and the four seed if Atlanta also loses. If the Buccaneers lose and Atlanta wins, the Buccaneers are out. Conversely, if the Buccaneers win and the Rams lose, the Buccaneers move up to the three seed.
5.) Minnesota Vikings (14-2): The Vikings are tied atop the NFC North but they do not hold the tie-breaker. They are currently the five seed Wildcard. Nevertheless, they still control their own destiny. They have a winner take all showdown at Detroit next week in their regular season finale. If the Vikings lose, they stay at the five seed and play a road playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. If the Vikings win, they win the NFC North and vault to the top seed with home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the first round bye.
6.) Washington Commanders (11-5): The Commanders are currently the six seed. They have clinched a Wildcard and will be play road playoff games. Yet if they lose next week and Green Bay wins, the Commanders fall to the seven seed.
7.) Green Bay Packers (11-5): The Packers are currently the seven seed. They have clinched a Wildcard and will be play road playoff games. Yet if they win next week and Washington loses, the Packers move up to the six seed.
On the outside looking in:
8.) Atlanta Falcons (8-8): The Falcons are on the outside looking in. They only have one path to the playoffs. If they win their finale and Tampa Bay loses, both teams would be 9-8. The Falcons would win the tie-breaker and win the NFC South. They would be the four seed and host a Wildcard playoff game. The Falcons cannot make the playoffs as a Wildcard. If the Falcons lose or Tampa Bay wins, the Falcons are out.
Here are all eight NFC games with playoff implications:
Carolina Panthers (4-12) at Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
New Orleans Saints (5-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Washington Commanders (11-5) at Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7) at Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Minnesota Vikings (14-2) at Detroit Lions (14-2)
Chicago Bears (4-12) at Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Predictions:
1.) Lions 15-2
2.) Eagles 14-3 (They may rest their starters)
3.) Rams 11-6
4.) Buccaneers 10-7
5.) Vikings 14-3
6.) Commanders 12-5
7.) Packers 11-6
Out: Falcons 9-8
Wildcard Round:
7.) Packers at 2.) Eagles
6.) Commanders at 3.) Rams
5.) Vikings at 4.) Buccaneers
Divisional Round:
5.) Vikings at 1.) Lions
3.) Rams at 2.) Eagles
NFC Title Game: 2.) Eagles at 1.) Lions
The Lions are a team of destiny. They came up one game short last year on the road. This year they will be at home. The Lions have some injuries on defense, but their pinball offense can score at will. This team has heart. The Vikings and Eagles are both great teams, but this is the year the Lions roar.
The Lions will hoist the George Halas NFC Championship Trophy and reach the Super Bowl. Bringing home the Vince Lombardi Trophy will be very tough. Baltimore and Kansas City are playing well, and Buffalo beat the Lions this year in Buffalo. Nevertheless, the Lions have the firepower to win it all. The Super Bowl in New Orleans will be played indoors in a dome, which favors the Detroit track meet pinball offense. The Lions will finally eliminate the curse of Bobby Layne and win their first Super Bowl.
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