Time for a look at the updated NFL Playoff photo now that all the NFC teams have finished playing in Week 12.

Sunday was a good day for the Philadelphia Eagles in two important ways.

1) The Eagles beat the Los Angeles Rams.

Winning this game was vital to Philly’s hopes of catching the Detroit Lions for the No. 1 seed.

If the Eagles had lost in LA, they probably should have won and let the Lions lose at least three times.

Instead, with a win, the Eagles keep the pressure on Detroit not to make a mistake. And the Lions’ schedule is tougher than the Eagles’.

Eagles remaining schedule

Remaining strength of schedule: .463, 10th easiest in the NFL

Week 13 — at Baltimore Ravens
Week 14 — vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 15 — vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 16 – at Washington Commanders
Week 17 — vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 18 — vs. New York Giants

The Lions remaining schedule

Remaining strength of schedule: .591, 6th hardest in the NFL

Week 13 — vs. Chicago Bears
Week 14 – vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 15 — vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 16 — at Chicago Bears
Week 17 — at San Francisco 49ers
Week 18 — vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Lions’ loss to the Packers would be especially nice for the Eagles’ sake.

2) The Eagles got more cushion atop the NFC East.

We have already outlined it how the Eagles got help from the Dallas Cowboys in beating the Washington Commanders. As a refresher:

The Commanders’ loss is especially damaging to their chances of competing for the NFC East crown, as it drops them to 2-2 in division play while the Eagles are 3-0. Even if the Commanders win the rest of their division games (against Eagles, at Cowboys), the Birds only need to beat the Cowboys and Giants (both games in Philly) to secure the division record tiebreaker (5-1 over 4 -2). ).

The Eagles should set their goals higher than just winning the division. But that is of course an important step.

1) Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2
2) Washington Commanders: 7-5
3)Dallas Cowboys: 4-7
4) New York Giants: 2-9

Here’s the full NFC Playoff photo leaving Week 12.

SCHEDULED PLAYOFF TEAMS

DIVISION LEADERS

1) Detroit Lions: 10-1
2) Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2
3) Seattle Seahawks: 6-5
4) Atlanta Falcons: 6-5

WILD CARD TEAMS

5) Minnesota Vikings: 9-2
6) Green Bay Packers: 8-3
7) Washington Commanders: 7-5

…

ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN

IN THE HUNT

8) Arizona Cardinals: 6-5
9)Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6
10) Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
11) San Francisco 49ers: 5-6
12) New Orleans Saints: 4-7 (still alive in weak NFC South)

DEEPLY UNSERIOUS TEAMS

13) Chicago Bears: 4-7
14)Dallas Cowboys: 4-7
15) Carolina Panthers: 3-8
16) New York Giants: 2-9