Replace (Monday Evening Soccer): With their win over the Colts, the 49ers improved to 11-4 and jumped as much as the No. 5 spot within the NFC, because of a greater division file.
Indianapolis dropped to 8-7, and are actually on the verge of elimination.
Week 16 noticed a number of groups clinch playoff spots, and adjusted the pecking order in each the NFC and the AFC.
Within the NFC, now we have a brand new crew within the No. 1 spot, and simply two playoff spots left up for grabs as 5 groups have now clinched.
Within the AFC, the race for the No. 1 spot stays tight, as six groups stay alive within the chase for the bye week.
Let’s break all of it down.
Right here is the total state of play within the NFC forward of Monday Evening Soccer:
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3) – x
- Chicago Bears (11-4) – x
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) – xy
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4) – x
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4) – x
- Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-5-1)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8) – e
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) – e
- Atlanta Falcons (5-9) – e
- New Orleans Saints (5-10) – e
- Washington Commanders (4-11) – e
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11) – e
- New York Giants (2-13) – e
x – Crew has clinched a playoff spot
y – Crew has clinched their division
e – Crew has been eradicated from playoff competition
Due to Sunday’s motion, solely two playoff spots are left up for grabs within the NFC.
Let’s begin on the high of the convention. Seattle’s large extra time win over the Los Angeles Rams not solely punched the Seahawks’ ticket for the playoffs, but it surely put them within the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed within the convention. Seattle now controls their future within the chase for the highest spot, as wins of their ultimate two video games (over Carolina and San Francisco) would give them the No. 1 seed.
The Philadelphia Eagles grew to become the primary crew to clinch their division, as they wrapped up the NFC East with their win over the Washington Commanders on Saturday night time. Philadelphia additionally grew to become the primary crew to win the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since … the Eagles achieved that feat again in 2004.
Talking of the Panthers, Carolina moved right into a playoff spot with their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If the postseason started immediately the Panthers could be in because the No. 4 seed. Tampa Bay’s loss dropped them out of the playoffs, and behind the Minnesota Vikings within the standings. The 2 groups have matching 7-8 data, however the Vikings have a greater convention file.
Tampa Bay can nonetheless win the division, nonetheless, as they play Carolina in Week 18.
Chicago’s win over the Packers moved the Bears one step nearer to an NFC North title, whereas placing Inexperienced Bay’s playoff possibilities onto shakier floor. Nonetheless, with the Lions shedding to the Steelers on Sunday afternoon, the Packers nonetheless have some respiratory room.
Chicago additionally clinched a playoff spot with the Lions’ loss, as did the 49ers.
Here’s what the NFC Wild Card matchups woulkd appear to be if the playoffs began immediately:
- No. 7 Inexperienced Bay at No. 2 Chicago
- No 6 San Francisco at No. 3 Philadelphia
- No. 5 Los Angeles at No. 4 Carolina
Seattle would have the No. 1 seed and the bye week.
Right here is the state of play within the AFC:
- Denver Broncos (12-3) – x
- New England Patriots (12-3) – x
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- Buffalo Payments (11-4)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (6-9) – e
- Miami Dolphins (6-9) – e
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10) – e
- New York Jets (3-12) – e
- Tennessee (3-12) – e
- Cleveland Browns (3-12) – e
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13) – e
Let’s begin on the backside of the playoff groups. Houston’s win over the Raiders offers the Texans a two-game lead over Indianapolis within the win column, forward of the Colts’ sport tonight towards the San Francisco 49ers.
The Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Payments have matching 11-4 data, however the Chargers have a greater AFC file (8-2 vs. 8-3) than the Payments, so the Chargers slot into the No. 5 slot whereas the Payments accept No. 6. Los Angeles has two extra AFC video games remaining (Houston and Denver) whereas the Payments simply have the Jets remaining on their record of AFC opponents.
Denver’s loss to Jacksonville, coupled with New England’s win over the Baltimore Ravens, tightened issues on the high of the AFC as each groups have matching 12-3 data. The Broncos stay within the high spot as a consequence of a greater file in frequent video games (6-0 versus 4-1), and Denver has clinched that tiebreaker. Nevertheless, along with the Patriots and Broncos, the Jaguars, Chargers, Payments, and Texans are all alive within the chase for the No. 1 choose.
Here’s what the AFC playoffs would appear to be in the event that they started immediately, with Denver having the bye week:
- No. 7 Houston at No. 2 New England
- No. 6 Buffalo at No. 3 Jacksonville
- No. 5 Los Angeles at No. 4 Pittsburgh
There are going to be some new followers across the league rooting for the 49ers tonight.
First, let’s begin with what this sport means for the groups enjoying on Monday Evening Soccer. The 49ers clinched a playoff spot when the Lions misplaced to the Steelers, and are actually jockeying for place within the NFC pecking order. If the 49ers defeat the Colts, they may enhance to 11-4, tying them with the Los Angeles Rams. However the 49ers would transfer into the No. 5 spot and drop the Rams all the way down to the No. 6 spot, because of San Francisco’s higher division file. San Francisco is 4-1 in NFC West video games, whereas the Rams are 3-2.
It’s value noting that the Seahawks are 3-2 in NFC West video games as effectively, and so they play San Francisco in Week 18 having already misplaced to the 49ers again in Week 1.
If the 49ers lose, they may stay within the No. 6 slot.
As for the Colts, they enter Monday Evening Soccer on the skin trying in. A win wouldn’t transfer Indianapolis right into a playoff spot, however they’d near inside one sport of the Texans for the No. 7 spot.
But when the Colts lose, they are going to be eradicated from AFC South title competition, and they might drop two video games behind the Texans within the race for a playoff spot with two video games remaining.
As well as, if the Colts lose, the Chargers, Payments, and Jaguars all clinch playoff spots.
