Week 17 Arizona Playoff Scenarios

[TheCardinal]

So of course, the Cardinals have clinched the NFC West and now the first-round bye. The Vikings are winning 32-10 heading into the fourth quarter, so I'm going to assume they hang on. For Arizona to clinch the 1-seed, we need:

ARI over SEA + TB over CRL

If the Cardinals get the 1-seed, that forces SEA into the 6-seed and the standings would look as follows:

1-ARI
2-CRL
3-GB/MIN winner
4-WSH
5-GB/MIN loser
6-SEA

We would face SEA (if they win) or the 4/5 winner otherwise.

If Minnesota was to beat GB next weekend to win the NFC North, that would also automatically dump SEA into the 6-seed regardless of the outcome of our game:

1-CRL/ARI
2-ARI/CRL
3-MIN
4-WSH
5-GB
6-SEA

If Green Bay was to beat MIN next weekend to win the NFC North, there are still a lot of variables remaining to give a clear picture:

1-CRL/ARI
2-ARI/CRL
3-GB
4-WSH
5-MIN/SEA
6-SEA/MIN

Basically, Washington is locked into the 4-seed. The winner of GB/MIN gets the 3-seed (GB if it ends in a draw). CRL gets the 1-seed with a win/tie, otherwise ARI has a shot at it. SEA can only move up to the 5-seed if they win and MIN loses, otherwise they are the 6-seed.