As the NFL regular season draws to a close, the NFC playoff picture is poised for a thrilling climax, with multiple teams battling for coveted postseason spots. The Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Green Bay Packers find themselves in control of their own destinies as they determine the final NFC playoff seeds.

For the Dallas Cowboys, a victory over the Washington Commanders will secure the NFC East crown and the No. 2 seed. However, a loss opens the door for the Philadelphia Eagles to claim the division with a win over the New York Giants. If both teams falter, the Cowboys will still emerge as the NFC East champions.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions face a must-win situation against the Minnesota Vikings to keep their hopes of securing the No. 2 seed alive. Their fate, however, hinges on the outcomes of the late afternoon games. Detroit would need both the Cowboys and Eagles to lose in order to leapfrog the NFC East champion and secure the No. 2 seed.

In another crucial matchup, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will lock themselves into the No. 4 seed with a road victory against the Carolina Panthers. A loss for the Buccaneers, however, would provide an opportunity for the winner of the Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints game to claim the NFC South crown, provided the Bucs stumble.

The New Orleans Saints face slim chances of reaching the playoffs. They must win their game and hope for losses from both the Packers and the Seattle Seahawks to qualify as a wild-card team. On the other hand, the Atlanta Falcons' path to the postseason lies in securing the NFC South title.

Interestingly, the Atlanta Falcons, with the 12th-best record in the NFC, still have a shot at the playoffs. However, the 11th-placed Chicago Bears have been eliminated from contention as they lack a path to a divisional title.

Intriguingly, all remaining wild-card contenders will be keeping an eye on the Bears' game against the Packers. A Chicago upset would benefit their playoff hopes, as it would secure the Packers as the third clinched wild-card team. To secure the No. 6 seed, the Packers must win and hope for a loss by the Los Angeles Rams to the San Francisco 49ers.

A loss by the Packers, however, would open the door for other teams to overtake them, starting with the Seattle Seahawks. In order for the Seahawks to make the playoffs, they must defeat the Arizona Cardinals and hope for a Green Bay loss. As for the New Orleans Saints, their postseason aspirations hinge on both the Packers and the Seahawks losing, unless they win the NFC South.

The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a challenging position, needing a win against the Lions and a series of unlikely outcomes involving the Packers, Seahawks, and either the Bucs or Saints losing in order to secure a playoff miracle.

In the final week of the regular season, the NFC playoff race is poised to deliver a mix of excitement, tension, and unpredictable outcomes. Fans across the league eagerly await the results of these crucial matchups, as the NFC playoff picture is set for a dramatic finish.