Entering Week 18, six of the seven NFC playoff spots were accounted for. However, apart from the Philadelphia Eagles, no team has been locked into a specific seed.
The loser of Sunday night’s Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings showdown will have the misfortune of being a 14-win Wild Card team. Let’s examine where things stand with the NFC’s Wild Card picture.
What Is the NFC Wild Card Picture?
Here are the teams that occupy the NFC Wild Card spots as of Sunday’s early slate in Week 18:
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
6. Washington Commanders (12-5)
7. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
As mentioned above, the No. 5 seed will simply be the loser of the Lions-Vikings game on Sunday Night Football. Minnesota occupies that spot for now but will win the division with a road win at Detroit in Week 18.
With their Week 18 win, the Commanders have secured the No. 6 seed, while the Packers lost to the Chicago Bears and hold the No. 7 seed.
What Are NFC Playoff Matchups?
With Week 18 action still underway, this is what the seeding currently looks like:
1. Detroit Lions, 14-2
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 13-3
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-7
4. Los Angeles Rams, 10-7
5. Minnesota Vikings, 14-2
6. Washington Commanders, 12-5
7. Green Bay Packers, 11-6
The Eagles are already locked into the No. 2 seed, so the Packers will have to visit Philadelphia on Wild Card weekend.
Since the Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks, the Buccaneers secured the No. 3 seed and Los Angeles dropped to the No. 4 seed. Tampa Bay will not host the Commanders, while the Rams will face the loser of tonight’s clash between the Lions and Vikings.