Saints And The Playoff Picture Entering Week 16

The Saints are still very alive in the postseason race, but so are a lot of other NFC teams. With three games left in the regular season, there's a lot of possibilities.

The race to the playoffs in the NFC is heating up even more after Week 15's slate of games wrapped up. Three teams are in, and five teams are sitting at 7-7 looking to make the Wild Card. As for the Saints, they're out of the top spots right now, but they're keeping pace with the Bucs for the NFC South and could still actually make it as the 6th or 7th seed. Here's the latest conference playoff picture. 

NFC Playoff Picture Going Into Week 16

Dec 17, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood (18) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown catch against the New York Giants during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

1. 49ers (11-3)
2. Cowboys (10-4)
3. Lions (10-4)
4. Bucs (7-7)
5. Eagles (10-4)
6. Vikings (7-7)
7. Rams (7-7)

The Cowboys and Eagles stamped a spot in the postseason, and the 49ers became divisional champs of the NFC West. San Francisco certainly looks like the team to beat right now in the conference.

In The Hunt

• Seahawks (7-7)
• Saints (7-7)
• Falcons (6-8)
• Packers (6-8)

The Rams jumped into the final spot after everything that unfolded during Week 15. The Seahawks picked up some major momentum after upsetting the Eagles. One of the things I pointed out recently was that the team is in a 'Best of Three' series now, and highlighted everyone's final three games. 

• Bucs (7-7): Jaguars, Saints, at Panthers
• Vikings (7-7): Lions, Packers, at Lions
• Rams (7-7): Saints, at Giants, at 49ers
• Saints (7-7): at Rams, at Bucs, Falcons
• Seahawks (7-7): at Titans, Steelers, at Cardinals
• Falcons (6-8): Colts, at Bears, at Saints
• Packers (6-8): at Panthers, at Vikings, Bears

Week 15 Saints Snap Counts and Observations

Needs A Ton of Help

• Giants (5-9)
• Bears (5-9)

Eliminated

• Commanders (4-10)
• Cardinals (3-11)
• Panthers (2-12)

NFC South Focus

Atlanta is hosting Indianapolis for one of the early kicks on Sunday, while Tampa will host Jacksonville in a late kick. The best path for the Saints is to keep winning, and the divisional games are certainly a lot more weighty than the Rams one, but New Orleans can't leave this to chance. Win out.