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NFC Playoff Picture: Saints enter Week 14 behind Rams

With the Saints losing to the Cowboys on Thursday, it let the Rams move in to first place with their win over the Lions.

By John J. Hendrix

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NFL: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

We’re in Week 14, and the New Orleans Saints are sitting high and mighty in the playoff race. After a disappointing loss to the Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, the latest playoff picture has the Saints as the NFC’s No. 2 seed after the Rams beat the Lions. If the playoffs were to start today, they would still have a first-round bye, but not home field advantage throughout. You can find the full NFL playoff picture here.

NFC Playoffs - At a Glance

  1. Rams (11-1)
  2. Saints (10-2)
  3. Bears (8-4)
  4. Cowboys (7-5)
  5. Seahawks (7-5)
  6. Vikings (6-5-1)
  7. Panthers (6-6)
  8. Eagles (6-6)
  9. Redskins (6-6)
  10. Buccaneers (5-7)
  11. Packers (4-7-1)
  12. Falcons (4-8)
  13. Giants (4-8)
  14. Lions (4-8)
  15. Cardinals (3-9)
  16. 49ers (2-10)

Around the NFC South: The Saints and Bucs meet in an early kickoff on Sunday, while the Falcons travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers and the Panthers go to Cleveland to meet the Browns.

Scenarios: A Saints win would give them the NFC South, and they could also win the division with a Panthers loss. The Saints could also clinch a postseason berth with a trifecta of a Vikings, Eagles, and Redskins losses. Of course, the powers that be would also get New Orleans into the postseason with a Vikings loss, Eagles tie, and Redskins tie.

Matchups to watch: A lot of eyes will shift to Chicago on Sunday Night Football, as the Rams and Bears are in for an interesting game. The Seahawks, who have been somewhat hot lately, host the Vikings on Monday Night Football. You can bet the Panthers, Eagles (who play Dallas late Sunday), and Redskins (home against Giants) will be paying attention.

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