NFL Week 16 of 18: Vikings, Saints, and Eagles Fight for Playoff Spot

It was a wild Week 15 in the NFL and the playoff race is now crazier than ever. The Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and the New Orleans Saints are all in search of the final playoff spot, currently in a 3-way tie with a record of 7-7. The Vikings successfully beat the Bears, albeit with a weak performance from Kirk Cousins, that Saints surprised the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 9-0 shutout victory, and the Eagles beat the Washington Football Team. 

There is also a tie for first place in the NFC West between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals, the latter on the verge of securing their playoff berth, with only the Green Bay Packers the sole team in the league to do so as of now. 

There is a total of 13 teams that are .500 or better in the AFC playoff race, with the No. 2 and the No. 13 seeds separated by only two games in the standings. There will be a very dramatic finish to the AFC regular season with Christmas and the New Year on the horizon. 

AFC Projected Winners

In the AFC, we've taken a look at the projected winners in each division. 

AFC West - The Kansas City Chiefs are projected to finish with the top seed in the AFC and they are the top-contender to make it to the Super Bowl. They have improved drastically since a relatively slow start and Patrick Mahomes is playing at the caliber we remember from past seasons. 

AFC East - New England Patriots were on a 7-game winning streak and then lost a tough game to the Indianapolis Colts. No matter, the 9-5 Patriots are playing great football and should make the playoffs in the top spot in the AFC North.

AFC South - The Tennessee Titans are the projected winner of the AFC South, but, it is a very tough division to pick. The Titans' advantage is that they successfully swept the Colts in the regular season so if it comes down to a tie, the Titans will win. 

AFC North - If the AFC South was a tough decision, the North is totally up for grabs. After the Ravens have lost 3-straight games, the Cincinnati Bengals seem like the best choice to win the division. 

NFC Projected Winners 

NFC North - The Packers are the only team to secure their place in the offseason and it looks like teams in the NFC should get ready for a cold winter at Lambeau field. 

NFC East - The Cowboys are still in a four-way tie for the second-best record in the NFC, but, they haven't clinched their spot yet. It seems like they will win their division though. 

NFC South - In the NFC, only the Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are projected to win the Super Bowl. The Bucs are strong, with Brady nearing the end of his illustrious career. One more ring would be a perfect end. 

NFC West - After the Cardinals lost to the Lions last week, the Rams are now the projected winners of the NFC West. The Rams are on a 3-game winning streak and look like the team that will do the best in the NFC West.