Arizona Cardinals Playoff Scenarios

The Arizona Cardinals, 11-4, still have a shot at winning the NFC West and being the top seed in the NFC. Unfortunately, it’s not likely.

What’s most likely to happen is the Cardinals will go in as a Wild Card as the fifth seed and face either the Atlanta Falcons or the Carolina Panthers on the road.

Confused on playoff scenarios for the Arizona Cardinals? I’ll help fill you in!

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Cardinals Winning Division and Gaining Top Seed

The Cardinals would have to defeat the 49ers and have the Rams upset the Seahawks. This would give the Cardinals the NFC West crown. For them to receive the first seed in the NFC, the same situation above would have to happen, plus a Packers loss to Detroit.

This would give Cardinals the #1 seed because they have defeated the Lions and the Cowboys during the season. However, if the Lions lose to the Packers, but the Cardinals win and Seahawks lose, the Cardinals would go in as a second seed.

Cardinals Going in as Fifth Seed

The Cardinals losing Sunday to the Niners would give the Cardinals the same record as the loser of the Packers/Lions game. With the fifth seed, the Cardinals would face the winner of the NFC South, which would be either the Panthers or the Falcons.

Cardinals Going in as Sixth Seed 

This is the least likely to happen. However, if it were to happen, it would require the Packers/Lions game ending in a tie, which would give both teams a record of 11-4-1, better than the Cardinals.

Although the Cardinals have a better record than the Panthers and the Falcons, they’d go in as a wild card team, having to play a road game.

The Cardinals are praying for a miraculous Rams victory over Seattle. Though it is unlikely, the Rams did defeat the Seahawks earlier this season, and the Rams have been one of those teams that will upset the “best” teams this season.

No matter the outcome, the Cardinals are in the playoffs, and that’s a huge accomplishment considering their handful of players getting injured this season, including their first and second-string quarterbacks.