By Peter Gleason
After Thursday night’s Cardinals 12-6 snoozer over the Bills, here is how the NFC’s playoff contenders stack up entering the rest of the Week 15.
1. Arizona Cardinals (11-3, .786). NFC West leader.
Can clinch a playoff berth if:
a) Cowboys-Eagles does not end in a tie . . .
OR
b) the Lions lose to the Vikings and the Cardinals notch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Packers . . .
OR
c) the Lions lose to the Vikings and the Packers defeat or tie the Bills.
2. Green Bay Packers (10-3, .769). NFC North leader.
Can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Bills and a Cowboys loss to the Eagles and the Packers notching the strength of victory tiebreaker over Dallas.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-4, .692). NFC East leader.
4. Atlanta Falcons (5-8, .385). NFC South leader. NFC South’s top-seeded team on basis of head-to-head win vs. New Orleans.
5. Seattle Seahawks (9-4, .692). Wild card No. 1. Seeded ahead of Detroit on basis of better record in common games.
6. Detroit Lions (9-4, .692). Wild card No. 2. Seeded ahead of Dallas on basis of better NFC record (7-2 vs. 6-4).
7. Dallas Cowboys (9-4, .692).
8. San Francisco 49ers (7-6, .538).
OTHER NFC SOUTH CONTENDERS
11. New Orleans Saints (5-8, .385).
13. Carolina Panthers (4-8-1, .346).
