Commanders: Updated look at NFC playoff picture after Week 12

The Washington Commanders have arrived, folks. Regardless whether the national media gives them attention on Monday’s debate shows, the Commanders are in the driver’s seat to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

To put some perspective on Washington’s season, Sunday marked their second three-game winning streak of the year. They haven’t done that since 2005. The team’s also rattled off six wins in seven games, which they haven’t done since 2012, when they won the division and and lost in the Wild Card round.

At this juncture, it’d be a disappointment if Washington didn’t make the postseason. With five games left on the schedule — and a bye coming in Week 14 — everything is shaping up for the Commanders to make the tournament.

But here does Ron Rivera’s side stand in the NFC playoff race? With the standings getting shuffled every week — and two huge games against the Giants on deck — let’s take a look at where Washington sits after Week 12.

Commanders: Updated look at NFC playoff race after Week 12

Here’s how the NFC playoff picture looks after Week 12

1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)
2. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)
3. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)
6. New York Giants (7-4)
7. Washington Commanders (7-5)
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)
9. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-7)

Would you look at that? If the season ended today, Washington would travel to Minnesota for a chance at revenge against the 9-2 Vikings. Given the Commanders outplayed old friend Kirk Cousins (until the fourth quarter) just a few weeks ago, you’d have to like their chances to pull off a first-round upset.

With that said, we wouldn’t go penciling in a Commanders-Vikings showdown on Wild Card Weekend. With two games against the Giants in a three-week span, the standings could undergo another round of shuffling in the weeks to come.

By Week 16, Washington could be as high as the No. 6 seed (if they take care of business vs New York) or as low as No. 8. The fifth seed can’t be ruled out, either, but the Cowboys play the Colts, Texans, and Jaguars in the next three weeks, so it’s hard to envision Dallas relinquishing the No. 5 seed.

The Raiders notched a walk-off victory vs the Seahawks on Sunday, allowing Washington to leapfrog Seattle in the standings.

With a bounce-back game against the free-falling Rams in Week 13, the Seahawks could easily get back to 7-5 by this time next week. Pete Carroll’s side is without question the biggest threat to Washington’s playoff hopes.

It’s all to play for over the final five games, but even the most pessimistic of Washington fans can admit the playoffs are a real possibility.

You’re in denial if you think otherwise.