As we head into the month of December within the NFL, it’s time to begin piecing collectively the potential playoff footage. There’s loads of parity within the league this season, and there are a handful of groups at or simply above the .500 mark which can be firmly in postseason place with 5 video games left to play. Due to this, there can be some groups which have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot as early as this weekend, and so they all come from the NFC.
Three NFL Groups Can Clinch Playoff Spots This Week
The #49ers can clinch a playoff spot with the next situations this weekend:
SF Win + GB loss OR
SF Win + MIN loss OR
SF Win + GB tie + MIN tie pic.twitter.com/ryibypAblc— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) December 5, 2023
The NFC has been the weaker convention total in terms of the potential wild card race. As a substitute of the three wild card spots being occupied by groups with 7–5 data, as is the case within the AFC, the NFC’s are all at the moment 6-6. With simply one other loss or two, these groups will start to get rid of themselves from rivalry, which can trigger the groups on the prime of the standings to safe their spots.
Listed below are the three NFL groups that might lock down a spot this weekend and their (abbreviated) situations:
Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
The group with the most effective document within the NFL had a protracted shot probability of qualifying a few weeks in the past, however the situation by no means performed out. Their loss to the 49ers final week delayed issues once more, however there’s a good probability that Week 14 would be the week that it lastly occurs.
The simplest situation is an Eagles win plus a loss by both the Rams or Seahawks, however there are different ways in which Philadelphia can get on this weekend. There are after all the “tie” potentialities, too, and there are a plethora of choices and situations in case the Eagles end time beyond regulation with the identical rating because the Cowboys on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
Although they’re the fifth seed within the convention and on par with others with a 9-3 document, the Cowboys can clinch this week by way of a convoluted and complicated situation. It might after all require them to beat the Eagles, with the remainder of the next needing to fall into place as nicely:
Vikings loss/tie + Packers loss/tie + Seahawks loss + Buccaneers loss or tie + Lions win or tie + Rams loss or tie
At this level it’s in all probability greatest to only look to subsequent week’s situation for the Cowboys.
San Francisco 49ers (9-3)
They could be the most effective group within the NFL after final Sunday’s exhibiting, and so they have a easy situation so as to clinch a playoff berth this weekend. A win by the 49ers over the Seahawks mixed with a loss by both the Vikings or the Packers will give San Francisco a assured spot within the dance.