Updated NFC Playoff Picture, NFC Wild Card standings after Giants-Commanders tie in Week 13

Here’s what the NFC Playoff Picture and NFC Wild Card Standings look like after the New York Giants and Washington Commanders tied in Week 13. 

Now that we’re past Thanksgiving and into December, the NFL Playoff Picture matters more and more as the race tightens up.

Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend in the NFC was in New Jersey, where the Giants and Commanders played in the most meaningful game in that rivalry in some time. Washington moved into the playoff picture in Week 12 and the once mighty Giants have faltered in recent weeks, creating a collision course on Sunday which rippled across the NFC playoff picture.

Rather than get any actual movement, the potential impact of this first matchup between NFC East rivals will be delayed. That’s because for the third time since 1960 the Giants and Commanders game ended in a tie.

It’s the second tie game of the 2022 season, but unlike the Colts and Texans, the Giants and Commanders are in the thick of the playoff race as we enter the home stretch of the season, which means that half-game will likely end up mattering when putting the final playoff picture together in January.

Updated NFC Playoff Picture after Commanders-Giants tie Week 13

Right now the tie doesn’t do much more than keep things where they already were in the NFC. the big loser is the Seattle Seahawks, who were hoping the outcome of the game opened up a path back into the playoff picture.

The chaos extended beyond the Commanders and Giants tilt, though, as the Minnesota Vikings experienced another scare in which a late surge was needed. This time it was a defensive surge that Minnesota needed to stave off a furious comeback attempt by the Mike White-led New York Jets.

That right there is basically all you need to know about the Vikings and how serious they are as contenders.

Minnesota is capable of pulling off victories as it did on the road in Buffalo but is also capable of needing to hold off Mac Jones and Mike White at home. To be fair, the Jets are a playoff-caliber team, but needing a walk-off interception to slam the door shut isn’t exactly a resounding endorsement. It’s also a pretty stark contrast between how good the Philadelphia Eagles are and where even the best of the rest of the NFC stands.

That being said, the Vikings were in a position to clinch the NFC North this week but a victory by the Lions means that the champagne will have to stay on ice for at least another week.

Here’s a look at what the NFC Playoff bracket would look like if the postseason started today:

1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-1)
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
6. New York Giants (7-4-1)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)

Based on those standings, here’s what the playoff matchups would look like for the first weekend of action:

• (2) Minnesota Vikings vs. (7) Washington Commanders
• (3) San Francisco 49ers vs. (6) New York Giants
• (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (5) Dallas Cowboys

Each higher-seeded team would host its Wild Card Weekend matchup. The Philadelphia Eagles would have a first-round bye with the No. 1 seed and host any playoff game they play in.

NFC Wild Card standings after Week 13

Here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 12:

1. New York Giants (7-4-1)
2. Washington Commanders (7-5-1)
3. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
4. Detroit Lions (5-7)
5. Atlanta Falcons (5-8)
6. Green Bay Packers (5-8)
7. Arizona Cardinals (4-8)
8. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
9. Carolina Panthers (4-8)
10. Los Angeles Rams (3-8)
11. Chicago Bears (3-10)