NFL Playoff Picture 2021: Packers, Cowboys, Rams, Bucs Lead NFC Standings, Vying For Bye

One game separates four teams at the top of the NFC standings with two weeks left in the 2021 regular season. The Green Bay Packers (12-3), Dallas Cowboys (11-4), Los Angeles Rams (11-4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-4) are all in contention for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture.

Green Bay enters Week 17 sitting alone atop the playoff bracket as the NFC North champions. Dallas is the No. 2 seed with the NFC East title in hand. The No. 3 seed Rams have clinched a playoff berth, but they are still fighting the Arizona Cardinals (10-5) for the NFC West title. Tampa Bay won the NFC South Sunday and remains the No. 4 seed.

The Packers control their own destiny when it comes to the NFC’s top seed. The Packers would clinch the best record in the conference with two straight wins to end the season. The No. 1 seed would give Green Bay a first-round bye and send it to the divisional round of the playoffs for the third straight season.

Green Bay hosts the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) in Week 17 and visits the Detroit Lions (2-12-1) in Week 18. If the Packers slip up, it opens the door for one of the other division leaders to earn a first-round bye.

Dallas would win a two-way tie between the Cowboys and Packers. With a 9-1 record against NFC teams, the Cowboys have the best conference record in the league.

The Cowboys host the Cardinals in Week 16 and visit the Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) in the regular-season finale.

Los Angeles would lose a tiebreaker to Dallas because of the conference record and the Packers own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams because of their Week 12 matchup.

The Rams end the season on the road against the Baltimore Ravens (8-7) and at home against the San Francisco 49ers (8-7).

Tampa Bay has the easiest remaining schedule of the division leaders. The Buccaneers visit the New York Jets (4-11) in Week 17. In Week 18, Tampa Bay hosts the Carolina Panthers (5-10), whom the Bucs just defeated 32-6.

The defending Super Bowl champions would win a two-way tie with Dallas because the Bucs beat the Cowboys in the season opener.