A Commander wins or draws against the Falcons

The Commanders win and the Eagles lose

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

Status: Trying to erase a 12-point deficit that the Cowboys had built midway through the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers scored the final 10 points of the game. However, Tampa Bay’s comeback attempt was lost at sea when Rachaad White lost a fumble to start its final drive. Now the Bucs need help to win the NFC South or a Wild Card spot.

I’ll wait all day for it Sunday evening …

The Buccaneers will be curious to see the outcome of the game between the Commanders and the Falcons. A Washington win would knock Tampa Bay out of the Wild Card race but increase the Bucs’ chances (as long as they start Sunday with a win over the Panthers) of winning the NFC South.

To get into the playoffs you have to win the division

9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)

Status: Seattle lost consecutive home games to the Packers and Vikings and finished with a home record of 3-6. The Seahawks will try to keep their slim postseason hopes alive Thursday in Chicago.

Seattle must win their last two games and the LA Rams must lose their last two games.

Eliminated and searched travel deals for January

Status: Dallas was eliminated before its Week 16 opener against Tampa Bay (when Washington beat Philadelphia). The Cowboys can now play a major role in how things shake out for two bitter division rivals. Brandon Aubrey made multiple 58-yard field goals for the second time in his career. He is the first in NFL history to achieve this feat and set a single-season record with 14 field goals made out of over 50 players.

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

Status: Rushing for 206 yards, like the Cardinals did last week in Carolina, is almost a surefire path to victory — unless that same team allows 243 yards on the ground. Arizona lost for the fourth time in five games since its Week 11 bye.

12. San Francisco 49ers (7-8)

Status: The 49ers have lost five of their last six games, including 3 against the Seahawks, 28 against the Packers, 25 against the Bills, 6 against the Rams and 12 against the Dolphins. Talk about a Super Bowl hangover. If the Vikings don’t take care of business on Sunday Night Football against the Packers, they’ll need the help of the Niners against the Lions to set up a Week 18 NFC North battle in Detroit. If the Vikings beat the Packers, the San Francisco-Detroit game will have no impact on Minnesota in the standings.

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

01/05/25 @ Buccaneers (8-7)

Status: The Saints reportedly tried to prepare for Lambeau Field by spending time in a walk-in cooler, but the result was that New Orleans became the first team to drop out in 2024.

Status: The Bears’ losing streak is now nine games, the second longest in franchise history. If Chicago wants to reach the franchise record of 14 from Week 8 in 2022 to Week 4 in 2023, the downturn must continue into the 2025 season.

15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

Status: Maybe the Panthers should try to take every game to overtime. Carolina has a 2-1 record in such games this season.

16. New York Giants (2-13)

Status: The Giants only need to outscore the Colts and Eagles by 147 points to avoid having a negative point differential for the eighth straight season. Big Blue has lost 10 straight games, including four by more than 20 points.