NFL playoff picture: What does Falcons-Commanders mean for NFC standings?

Game update (Sunday afternoon): The dominant win by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Carolina Panthers impacts both the Washington Commanders and the Atlanta Falcons.

With Tampa Bay winning, the Commanders have yet to clinch a playoff spot. Washington would have wrapped up a playoff spot with a Buccaneers loss or tie, but Tampa Bay’s win means they are still not officially in the playoffs. Furthermore, with the Philadelphia Eagles blowing out the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders have been eliminated from NFC East title contention.

But with a win or tie tonight against Atlanta, the Commanders will clinch a playoff spot.

For Atlanta, Tampa Bay’s win means the Falcons cannot clinch the NFC South with a win tonight. However, thanks to their season sweep of the Buccaneers Atlanta cannot be eliminated from playoff contention, even with a loss tonight. Should Atlanta lose tonight that would drop them to 8-8 on the year, one game behind Tampa Bay at 9-7. But if Atlanta and Tampa Bay both finish 9-8, the Falcons would win the division thanks to their season sweep of Tampa Bay.

Sunday’s slate of NFL action draws to a close with a thrilling NFC matchup between the Washington Commanders and the Atlanta Falcons.

In addition to featuring a matchup between a pair of rookie first-round quarterbacks in Michael Penix Jr. and Jayden Daniels, both the Commanders and the Falcons can clinch playoff spots on Sunday. While Washington can theoretically clinch a spot before this game kicks off, and the Falcons might have to wait until Week 18 depending on how the early games go, there are still ways both teams can punch their postseason ticket tonight.

Let’s break them down.

Falcons playoff picture

Atlanta remains in the driver’s seat to the NFC South thanks to their season sweep of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both teams enter play Sunday with an 8-7 record, but the Falcons have that critical tiebreaker advantage with the season sweep in their two meetings.

With a Buccaneers loss to the Carolina Panthers in the 1:00 p.m. Eastern window, the Falcons can clinch the NFC South title with a win over the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.

However, a Buccaneers win or tie against Carolina in the early window means that the Falcons cannot clinch the division — and a playoff spot — in Week 17.

A silver lining for the Falcons heading into Sunday’s games? They cannot be eliminated from playoff contention this week. Should the Buccaneers win and the Falcons lose, Atlanta can still win the division in Week 18 if they win, and Tampa Bay loses. Again, that season sweep of the Buccaneers looms large.

Commanders playoff picture

For the Commanders, they too will be watching that game against the Buccaneers with interest.

If Tampa Bay loses or ties against the Panthers, then the Commanders are in the playoffs, regardless of how they fare against Atlanta on Sunday Night Football.

But if the Buccaneers defeat the Panthers, Washington can still clinch a playoff spot in Week 17, provided they win or tie against the Falcons later tonight.

The Commanders are still alive in the NFC East title race. However, they would need to win their final two games (against Atlanta in Week 17 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18), and need the Eagles to lose their final two games. Philadelphia takes on the Cowboys in the early window on Sunday, and then the Eagles close out their season against the New York Giants.

But if the Eagles beat the Cowboys in the early window, the Commanders are eliminated from contention for the NFC East title race.

Tiebreaker implications

This game does not have significant tiebreaker implications.