Somehow, the NFC East in 2022 could be the first to have all four teams representing the division in the NFL playoffs. After an offseason thinking the Dallas Cowboys would lose steam by letting players walk and thinking the NFC and AFC West were the juggernauts, it is the East Coast that reigned supreme this season.
But what are the NFC East playoff chances scenarios as it relates to the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cowboys? Let’s find out!
Update: The Giants defeated the Colts 38-10, and the Commanders lost to the Browns 24-10. Meanwhile, the Eagles lost to the Saints, 20-10, and the Cowboys defeated the Titans on Thursday Night, 27-13. The Giants are in the NFL playoffs, but the Commanders have been eliminated.
New York Giants Playoff Chances and Scenarios
Are you ready for a CVS receipt full of clinching scenarios for the Giants? Because there are seven different ways that New York can clinch a playoff berth in Week 17.
- Giants win OR
- Giants tie, and Seahawks and Commanders both lose or tie OR
- Giants tie, and Seahawks and Lions lose or tie OR
- Giants tie, and Commanders, Lions, and Packers lose or tie OR
- Seahawks and Commanders lose OR
- Seahawks and Lions lose and Packers lose or tie OR
- Commanders, Lions, and Packers all lose
That short novel full of scenarios is why the Giants have a 92% chance of making the playoffs.
Washington Commanders Playoff Chances and Scenarios
On to simpler times. There is only one scenario giving the Commanders a playoff birth in Week 17, and that is they win, the Seahawks and Lions lose, and the Packers lose or tie.
- Washington controls their own destiny. If they win their final two games, they’ll make the playoffs.
Philadelphia Eagles Playoff Chances and Scenarios
The Eagles have already secured their playoff bid. For the Eagles to clinch the #1 seed and a first-round bye, here are the following clinching scenarios:
- Eagles win OR
- Eagles tie + Vikings lose
It would take quite a fall from grace over the next two weeks for Philadelphia to miss out on home-field advantage and a bye in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. They’d need to lose out and Minnesota would have to win out because the Eagles hold that tiebreaker.
The 49ers would hold the tiebreaker because of their conference record, but the Eagles still must lose out for San Francisco to have any hope.
Dallas Cowboys Playoff Chances and Scenarios
Like the Eagles, the Cowboys have already secured their playoff bid. Dallas can’t clinch anything in Week 17 and are most likely relegated to the fifth seed in the NFC to face either the Buccaneers or Panthers.
However, if the Vikings and 49ers each lose one of their final two games and the Eagles lose both, Dallas would overtake the top see in the NFC. If Philadelphia somehow loses three straight games to end the season, it opens up the two and three seed for Dallas as well.