2021 NFL Playoff Picture Week 14: 5 NFC teams who can finish as the top seed

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, and Arizona Cardinals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, and Arizona Cardinals

The NFL Playoffs are just five weeks away as Week 14 of the 2021 NFL season approaches. The NFC playoff picture is starting to work itself while teams battle for position. The top seed in the NFC conference is still up for grabs. These are the five teams with the best chance of taking it.

2021 NFL Playoff Picture: NFC teams battling for the top seed

#5 - Los Angeles Rams (8-4)

Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald

The Los Angeles Rams' biggest obstacle in their pursuit of the top seed in the NFC Playoffs is first winning their division. They currently trail the Arizona Cardinals by two games in the NFC West division. The Rams have a big opportunity to close the gap in Week 14 when they face off against the Cardinals in Monday Night Football.

If the Rams were to lose in Week 14, they would be nearly eliminated from contention in the NFC West division race. They will be three games back with just four games remaining, while the Cardinals own a head-to-head tiebreaker.

#4 - Dallas Cowboys (8-4)

Dallas Cowboys Dak Precott and CeeDee Lamb
Dallas Cowboys Dak Precott and CeeDee Lamb

The Dallas Cowboys are just two games out of the top seed in the NFC entering Week 14. They have a favorable schedule down the stretch, as only one of their final five opponents currently has a winning record. The only team they face with a winning record for the remainder of this season is the Arizona Cardinals, who are currently in first place in the NFC.


Also check out: Complete Thursday Night Football Schedule 2021


NFC Playoff Picture: The top seed is still up for grabs

The NFC teams who are most likely to earn the top seed in the playoffs.

#3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently tied for the second-best record in the NFC. They have a huge lead in the NFC South, with their closest competitor trailing the Bucs by four games entering Week 14. They feature the highest scoring offense in the NFL, while quarterback Tom Brady has established himself as the favorite to win the NFL MVP award this year.

#2 - Green Bay Packers (9-3)

Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers and A.J. Dillon
Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers and A.J. Dillon

The Green Bay Packers are just one game out of first place in the NFC. The advantage they have is that they already beat the top seed in a head-to-head game, so they own the direct tiebreaker against them. Like the Buccaneers, the Packers have a massive four-game lead in their division, the NFC North. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has lost just one game since Week 1.

#1 - Arizona Cardinals (10-2)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray

The Arizona Cardinals have the best record in the entire NFL. They currently own the top seed in the NFC conference playoffs entering Week 14 of the 2021 NFL season. This means that they are the only NFC team that controls their own destiny for the top spot. If they win the remainder of their games, the crown is theirs. It won't be easy, as three of their final five opponents have winning records.

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