Cardinals playoff picture: Arizona’s updated chances to make 2024 NFL playoffs in Week 16 vs. Panthers | Sporting News Australia
The NFC West is the tightest division in the NFL — all four teams are separated by just two games in the standings.
In the middle of the division are the Cardinals, who are 7-7 after going just 4-13 last season. Arizona snapped a three-game winning streak last week by defeating the Patriots at home, allowing it to gain some ground in the division race.
The Cardinals play the 3-11 Panthers next, a game they need to win to keep pace in the playoff race. Meanwhile, the Rams play the Jets, the Seahawks host the Vikings and the 49ers get the Dolphins.
Here’s a look at the Cardinals playoff picture entering Week 16.
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Cardinals playoff picture
Alive for both the division title and a wild-card spot, the Cardinals can still make the playoffs two different ways. However, based on the current playoff picture, it is more likely that Arizona comes back to win the division instead of earning a spot as an at-large team.
NFC West standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Los Angeles Rams | 8-6 |
| 2. | Seattle Seahawks | 8-6 |
| 3. | Arizona Cardinals | 7-7 |
| 4. | San Francisco 49ers | 6-8 |
The Cardinals are still just one game back of the lead in the NFC West, but they do have to jump two teams to win the division. The Rams and Seahawks enter the week tied for the lead in the division, but neither team has a stranglehold on the lead.
Arizona has already lost the tiebreak with Seattle, but it could own the tiebreak over Los Angeles with a win next week.
NFC wild-card standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 5. | Minnesota Vikings | 12-2 |
| 6. | Green Bay Packers | 10-4 |
| 7. | Washington Commanders | 9-5 |
| 8. | Seattle Seahawks | 8-6 |
| 9. | Atlanta Falcons | 7-7 |
| 10. | Arizona Cardinals | 7-7 |
| 11. | San Francisco 49ers | 6-8 |
| 12 | Dallas Cowboys | 6-8 |
The Vikings have already clinched a spot in the playoffs via the wild-card race while the Packers are pretty comfortably in the postseason field and can clinch a spot in the playoffs by winning just one more game.
That means there is only one wild-card spot Arizona can realistically earn, and even that is unlikely.
The Commanders are two games ahead of the Cardinals for the spot. Arizona would also have to jump the Seahawks and Falcons to get in as a wild card.
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Cardinals remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 22 | at Carolina Panthers | 1:00 p.m. |
| Dec. 28 | at Los Angeles Rams | 8:00 p.m. |
| Jan. 5 | vs. San Francisco 49ers | TBD |
After facing the Panthers in Week 16, Arizona will play its most important game of the season against the Rams in Week 17. In all likelihood, that game in Los Angeles will be a must-win contest for the Cardinals, considering they are chasing the Rams in the NFC West standings.
Cardinals updated playoff chances
Entering the Cardinals’ Week 16 game against the Panthers, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Arizona a 12.5 percent chance of making the playoffs and a 12.1 percent chance of winning the division.
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