Before the Ball Drops (NFC Week 17)

The National Football Conference continues to be full of wild and crazy storylines heading into the final countdown to the end of the season. It's been quite a mess for the last three seasons, and I am here for all of it. While the AFC has nearly everything sewn up, the NFC has quite a few things wide open. None of the four divisions are locked up. Yet everything can be settled during Week 17.

Let's take a look at the playoff picture, and the scenarios:

Detroit Lions (13-2)

The Lions are still on top of the conference, but barely. Both Detroit and Minnesota won, giving the Lions the lead via tiebreaker. The NFC North and the #1 seed can be wrapped up this week, and for the Lions, a win and a Vikings loss will get it done. The Lions will be in Santa Clara against the Niners in a rematch of last year's NFC Championship, while the Vikings will host the playoff bound Green Bay Packers. On the final week, however, the two clubs will face each other, and that game could end the regular season.

Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)

The Eagles saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end, as well as their division title hopes put on hold for another week. The Eagles can still get it done with a win or tie, or a Commanders loss or tie, and they are hosting the Cowboys on Sunday's early window. As for the #1 seed, well, they need a bit of help. They'll have to win out and hope that the Lions and Vikings lose this week, and their head to head finale ends tied.

Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

The Los Angeles Rams are doing that thing again: starting late, going on a winning tear, and finding themselves in a prime playoff position. They did this last year; started 3-6, and reached the playoffs. In this case, LA's rebound finds themselves leading the NFC West, and they can lock up the division this week. A win and a Seahawks loss will get it done. If both teams win, the Rams need to clinch the Strength of Victory tiebreaker, which is fifth on the list. Strength of Victory is the combined record of a team's defeated opponents, and they will need 3.5 combined wins from the following teams: Commanders, Bengals, Browns, Bills, Vikings, and Niners. If the Rams tie, the Seahawks have to lose. The Rams host the Cardinals in the last game of a Saturday tripleheader.

Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

It's been tough for the Atlanta Falcons lately. A four game losing streak had many wondering whether Kirk Cousins, their new highly paid quarterback, should still be starting. After a tepid performance in victory, Cousins hit the pine, and it was Michael Penix, Jr.'s time to shine, and he did against the lowly Giants. With the Bucs' SNF loss, we have a tie for first in the NFC South, and the Falcons have the edge due to sweeping that season series. Atlanta controls their own destiny overall, and regarding this week, a win and a Bucs loss gets them the division. The Falcons head to DC to face the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.

Minnesota Vikings (13-2) and Green Bay Packers (11-4)

I am mentioning these two teams together because, as I mentioned earlier, they face each other this week. The Vikings are looking to win the North, or at least force a battle for the division against the Lions. The Packers are playoff bound since Monday, but sadly, we can't win the division. We can do the next best thing, the thing we do best: dampen the Vikings' hopes. The Packers are basically playing to avoid the #7 seed, which is ironic considering what being #7 got us last year.

Washington Commanders (10-5)

The Washington Commanders continue to have a hell of a year, and it included ending Philly's winning streak and putting their division title plans on hold for a bit. Washington had a chance to clinch last week, but while their scenario didn't work out, they still won. Now this week, it's win and in for Washington. Either that, or a Bucs loss or tie will get it done. As mentioned before, the Commanders will host the Falcons on Sunday Night Football. The Commanders still have a chance to win the East, but they'll have to win out and Philly has to lose out. If Washington wins out, they will triple their win total from last year (they won only four games last season).

So that's the top seven so far, but let's get to the two teams behind the playoff line.

The 8-7 Teams

Week 16 saw a massive elimination--four NFC teams were eliminated. When the dust settled, only two teams outside the line were left still standing: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs enjoyed first place during the Falcons' slump, but they picked a bad time to lose on Sunday Night Football to a dead Cowboys team. As for the Seahawks, they are still up and down, and they are currently down in the worst possible time. Both teams are 8-7 and still have a shot at being playoff bound. The Buccaneers do not control their own destiny, but there's a chance. To win the NFC South once again, Tampa Bay needs to do one better than the Falcons in the final two: either win out and Atlanta loses one, or win one and Atlanta loses out. They still have a shot at the #7 seed, but they need to win out and Washington has to lose out. The Bucs face the lowly Panthers this week.

Both 8-7 teams are in dire straits, but at least the Buccaneers have an Option B: the #7 seed. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, they do not have that option. The Commanders have clinched a better conference record than Seattle, so for the Hawks, it's the NFC West or else. Hawks need to win to at least have a chance at the division, and luckily for them, they are facing a Bears team who has lost nine straight. If the NFC West remains open after this week, then it's winner take all next week: Seahawks @ Rams, which will most likely end the season on SNF.

The NFC picture is an interesting one for sure! As 2024 begins to come to a close, we will see who will celebrate 2025 as a playoff team, or end up out of the picture before the ball drops.