NFL Playoff Picture: Can the Washington Commanders still make the playoffs this season?

Washington Commanders v New York Giants
Percy Butler of the Washington Commanders reacts after the New York Giants missed a field goal

Even though the Washington Commanders drew the New York Giants in Week 13, it still seems uncertain if they will advance to the postseason games. In terms of postseason tiebreakers, the Commanders' situation was made easier by the tie on Sunday.

They only have to equal any of the other NFC wildcard contenders' victory totals to go into the postseason ahead of them (except for the New York Giants). The Washington Commanders will also have an advantage over New York if they defeat them in their upcoming game. Washington's prospects of making the playoffs would suffer if they lost to the Giants in their next game after their bye.

The Commanders' chances of playing in the playoffs will significantly increase if they can get a Week 15 victory over the New York Giants. Washington will be banking on a December and January breakdown by either the San Francisco 49ers or Seattle Seahawks if the Giants need to get one over them in Week 15.

Washington must keep winning if they want to make the playoffs. They don't have much room for mistakes left, considering they suffered too many defeats earlier in the season.

The Commanders have positioned themselves well for the playoffs by having just one loss in their previous eight games.

The only thing Washington supporters can do with a bye week in Week 14 is to wait, observe, and pray for the outcomes they desire to see.


Washington Commanders' schedule for the rest of the regular season

A few teams in front of the Washington Commanders (7-5-1) in the NFC playoff standings are on their future schedule. That's advantageous since the Commanders can adjust their position as a result. The fact that their potential rivals are expected to pose a more demanding challenge also raises a slight worry.

Remember that the Giants (7-4-1), the San Francisco 49ers (7-4), the Cleveland Browns (4-7), and the Dallas Cowboys (8-3) are on their remaining schedule.

Commanders are still mathematically eligible for all seven NFC seeds, including the top seed. No team has yet been ruled out of the playoff picture.

The Commanders have gone undefeated in four games and have only suffered one defeat in their past eight games, while the Giants snapped a two-game losing run, though their winless run continues. As the rankings stood at the end of regulation, the two franchises were in the last two NFC postseason positions.

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