The Arizona Cardinals have almost completely choked away their chances of winning the NFC West. They were 6-4 heading into their bye week and in first place, having won four straight games. Now after three consecutive losses, including two to the Seattle Seahawks, their chances are fading.
They are 6-7, two games behind the 8-5 Seahawks (who also now own a head-to-head tiebreaker over them) and one behind the 7-6 L.A. Rams.
But they still can win the NFC West. They just need some help.
It is possible, though.
The Cardinals have the following teams left on the schedule:
- 3-10 New England Patriots
- 3-10 Carolina Panthers
- 7-6 Rams
- 6-7 San Francisco 49ers
The Seahawks have these opponents:
- 9-4 Green Bay Packers
- 11-2 Minnesota Vikings
- 4-9 Chicago Bears
- 7-6 Rams
The Rams have these opponents:
- 6-7 49ers
- 3-10 New York Jets
- 6-7 Cardinals
- 8-5 Seahawks
How the Cardinals can still win the NFC West
The simplest way for the Cardinals to win the division is to win all four of their remaining games, something that is possible. They would be 10-7.
Because the Rams are on the schedule, if the Cardinals go 10-7, the best the Rams could finish would also be 10-7, but the Cardinals would own a 2-0 head-to-head tiebreaker over them.
However, the Seahawks can only win one more game in that scenario. If the Cardinals and Rams are 10-7 and the Seahawks are 9-8, the Cardinals win the division.
What if there is a three-way tie at 10-7?
According to the ESPN playoff machine, if the Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks all finish 10-7, the Cardinals would win the division.
How? Well, the Rams would hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle and Arizona would hold one over the Rams, while Seattle owns one over the Cardinals. The tiebreaker would move to division records. The Cardinals would be 4-2 in the division, L.A. would be 4-2 and Seattle would be 3-3. Seattle would be out and the Cardinals make it over the Rams thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
What if there is a three-way tie at 9-8?
This is tricky.
The Cardinals will win the division if they beat both the Rams and the 49ers to end the season and the Rams beat the Seahawks in Week 18. It would not matter how the Rams split their games in Weeks 15 and 16 against the 49ers and the Jets.
Any other combination results in the Cardinals not winning the division. At 9-8, they only win the division if they beat the Rams and the Niners and if the Rams beat Seattle to end the season.
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