NFC playoff picture: San Francisco 49ers clinch home-field advantage
As the NFL season reaches the stretch run, all of the attention shifts to which teams still in the playoff picture, which will fluctuate week to week.
Here's where the NFC playoff picture stands after Week 17:
yz – 1. San Francisco 49ers (12-4), NFC West champions: They won this weekend, while the Eagles and Lions didn't – meaning the Niners won't be leaving the Bay Area for another football game ... unless they reach Super Bowl 58. Remaining schedule: vs. Rams
x – 2. Dallas Cowboys (11-5), NFC East leaders: They extended their winning streak at AT&T Stadium to 16 games by virtue of a dubious win over Detroit on Saturday night. But "America's Team" reclaimed first place in the division Sunday thanks to Philly's loss and a better record (8-3) in conference games. Beat Washington next week, and the NFC East's run of non-consecutive champions since 2005 will extend another year. Remaining schedule: at Commanders
y – 3. Detroit Lions (11-5), NFC North champions: They went for the win in Dallas, and came up short ... apparently. Looking more like they'll be welcoming Rams QB Matthew Stafford home in a few weeks as Lions can't be worse than third seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings
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4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8), NFC South leaders: They came up short Sunday against New Orleans, Tampa's four-game winning streak halted. but Bucs can still earn third straight division crown by beating Carolina in Week 18. Remaining schedule: at Panthers
x – 5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5), wild card No.1: Shocking loss to Arizona puts exclamation point on reigning NFC champs' late-season meltdown. They need a win next week plus a Dallas loss to retain NFC East throne. Remaining schedule: at Giants
x – 6. Los Angeles Rams (9-7), wild card No. 2: They narrowly escaped the Giants on Sunday afternoon. But they got a gift after the win, the Steelers' defeat of the Seahawks locking LA into a wild-card spot. Remaining schedule: at 49ers
7. Seattle Seahawks (8-8), wild card No. 3: Major loss to Steelers, but they hold onto the final wild-card spot, for now, by virtue of a better record (6-5) in NFC games than New Orleans. But the Packers-Vikings winner will move into the seventh seed Sunday night. Remaining schedule: at Cardinals
8. New Orleans Saints (8-8), out of playoff field: Crucial win at Tampa on Sunday keeps them alive for division title or wild card. Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons
9. Minnesota Vikings (7-8), out of playoff field: Sliding fast, but wins over the Saints and Packers could help. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at Lions
10. Green Bay Packers (7-8), out of playoff field: They need some wins and breaks. Remaining schedule: at Vikings, vs. Bears
11. Chicago Bears (7-9), out of playoff field: Still a faint heartbeat for a wild card after four wins in five weeks. But their hopes die unless the Packers and Vikings die. Remaining schedule: at Packers
12. Atlanta Falcons (7-9), out of playoff field: Still a faint heartbeat for the NFC South championship after three losses in four weeks. Remaining schedule: at Saints
x – clinched playoff berth
y – clinched division title
z – clinched first-round bye and home-field advantage
USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis contributed to this report.
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