2021 NFL Playoff Picture Week 16 - 5 NFC teams who can finish as the top seed

The NFL Playoff picture continues to take shape entering Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season. The NFC has remained top-heavy for the majority of the year, with five teams battling for the top spot. Here's how they stack up with just three games remaining until the start of the NFL playoffs.

NFC teams battling for the top seed in the NFL Playoffs

#5 - Los Angeles Rams (10-4)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray

The Los Angeles Rams are currently the top Wild Card team in the NFC Playoffs. They have the same record as the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West but trail the division leaders due to tie breakers based on division records. If the Rams want the top spot in the NFC playoffs, they will first have to pass the Cardinals in the division race. They are surging right now, having won three games in a row.

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#4 - Arizona Cardinals (10-4)

Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Kyler Murrary

The Arizona Cardinals are the only team in the top five of the NFC Playoff standings who have lost consecutive games. After losing to the Los Angeles Rams, they followed it with a disappointing loss to the Detroit Lions in one of the biggest upsets of the season. The Cardinals no longer control their own destiny for the top seed in the NFC Playoffs after leading the way for much of the year.

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Also check out: Complete Monday Night Football Schedule 2021

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Teams battling for the top seed in the NFC Playoffs

Here are the NFC teams who can finish the 2021 NFL season with the top seed in the playoffs.

#3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could not get anything going against the New Orleans Saints in Sunday Night Football this week. They were held to zero points in a frustrating upset against their division rivals. More concerning than the loss itself was the series of injuries they suffered. Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette all left the game early.

#2 - Dallas Cowboys (10-4)

Dallas Cowboys defensive rookie Micah Parsons

The Dallas Cowboys' path to the top seed in the NFC Playoffs is fairly simple at this point. If they were to win their remaining games, they would just need the Green Bay Packers to lose one more game. The Cowboys have the best conference record in the NFC, which is an important tie breaker when determining the top seed in the playoff standings.

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#1 - Green Bay Packers (11-3)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers control their own destiny for the top seed in the NFC Playoffs. If they win all of their remaining games, nobody can catch them because they already stand alone with the best record in the NFL. The Packers are the only team in the NFL who is undefeated at home this season, so being able to play all of their NFC playoff games at Lambeau Field would be a huge advantage.