Here’s what we’re looking at as the early games hit halftime in week 17. The NFC Playoff picture, and scenarios involved, should be all but solved by the time the 10 a.m. games finish. Of note, the NFC South title is up for grabs as the New Orleans Saints battle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons take on the Carolina Panthers early on Sunday. The wildcard is also up for grabs, with Tampa Bay, the New York Giants and Green Bay packers all in the picture.
This is where we stand at the half:
NFC South: Atlanta leads the Carolina Panthers, 21-0. If the Falcons go on to win, they’ll take the NFC South crown and No. 1 seed in the NFC, no matter what else happens. The New Orleans Saints trail the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-7. New Orleans would take the No. 5 seed as the top wildcard with the loss. Should these results somehow reverse themselves, New Orleans would take the NFC South crown and Atlanta would be the top wildcard seed.
NFC Wildcard: The Bucs lead, but need some help to sneak into the wildcard in the NFC. Tampa Bay would need to hold off the New Orleans Saints in the early game, while hoping Green Bay loses to Chicago and the New York Giants lose to Washington in the late games. If Green Bay wins, they’re in. If Green Bay loses and the Giants win, New York is in. If the Tampa Bay result holds and both New York and Green Bay lose, the Bucs will sneak in as the lowest seeded wildcard.