Saints News Network

Saints and the NFC Playoff Picture: Week 18

The Saints and 49ers are battling things out for the final spot in the NFC Playoff race, and they'll both have their hands full in Week 18.

John Hendrix

It's absolutely crazy to think that the Saints are in a position to be in the playoffs after everything that has transpired this season, but here we are. We're down to one week in the NFL, and Week 18 has plenty of matchups that will be given a lot of attention. The NFC Playoff field is nearly set, while the AFC seeding is a lot more entertaining.

Here's how things look for the NFC Playoffs going into the weekend.

If the NFC Playoffs started today...

  1. Packers (13-3)
  2. Rams (12-4)
  3. Buccaneers (12-4)
  4. Cowboys (11-5)
  5. Cardinals (11-5)
  6. 49ers (9-7)
  7. Eagles (9-7)

In the Hunt

  • Saints (8-8)

Eliminated

  • Vikings (7-9)
  • Falcons (7-9)
  • Washington (6-10)
  • Bears (6-10)
  • Seahawks (6-10)
  • Panthers (5-11)
  • Giants (4-12)
  • Lions (2-13-1)

Relevant Seeding Explained: The Packers have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs and will be the top seed in the NFC, and all the other teams except the 49ers have clinched a playoff spot. The only divisional winner that hasn't been decided is in the NFC West, with both the Rams and Cardinals trying to lock it up.

The Final Spot - What Needs to Happen: It comes down to the 49ers and Saints for the final spot in the postseason, and these two teams play in the same time slot on Sunday. The 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff will see both teams on the road, with the Saints taking on the Falcons while the 49ers take on the Rams.

Quite simply put, the Saints have to win and hope that the 49ers lose. Assuming that happens, then New Orleans would get in as the 7th seed and would travel to play the Rams during Wild Card Weekend. That's the only team they can meet in the postseason.

Panthers-Saints Coverage

Published
John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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