How do the New Orleans Saints fit into the NFL playoff picture after Week 9’s games? They’re suddenly in control of the NFC South with the only winning record in the division, and a very winnable schedule is laid out ahead of them. All Dennis Allen’s team needs to do is win the games they ought to and compete hard against the few challenging matchups remaining. But we’ve seen before that’s easier said than done.
Things could change in a hurry, but if the postseason started today, these would be the seedings and matchups in the NFC and AFC:
NFC first seed: Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 8-1
Division standings: First in NFC East
NFC second seed: Detroit Lions
Record: 6-2
Division standings: First in NFC North
Wild Card Round opponent: vs. Minnesota Vikings (seventh seed)
NFC third seed: San Francisco 49ers
Record: 5-3
Division standings: First in NFC West
Wild Card Round opponent: vs. Dallas Cowboys (sixth seed)
NFC fourth seed: New Orleans Saints
Record: 5-4
Division standings: First in NFC South
Wild Card Round opponent: vs. Seattle Seahawks (fifth seed)
NFC fifth seed: Seattle Seahawks
Record: 5-3
Division standings: Second in NFC West
Wild Card Round opponent: at New Orleans Saints (fourth seed)
NFC sixth seed: Dallas Cowboys
Record: 5-3
Division standings: Second in NFC East
Wild Card Round opponent: at San Francisco 49ers (third seed)
NFC seventh seed: Minnesota Vikings
Record: 5-4
Division standings: Second in NFC North
Wild Card Round opponent: at Detroit Lions (second seed)
NFC teams in the hunt
- Washington Commanders (4-5)
- Atlanta Falcons (4-5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
- Green Bay Packers (3-5)
AFC playoff standings
- Kansas City Chiefs (7-2)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)
- Miami Dolphins (6-3)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
- Cleveland Browns (5-3)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)
AFC teams in the hunt for a wild card spot include the New York Jets (4-3), Buffalo Bills (5-4), Houston Texans (4-4), Indianapolis Colts (4-5), and Las Vegas Raiders (4-5).
