NFL playoff picture: Breaking down Saints seeding scenarios for NFC bracket

Vinnie Iyer

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NFL playoff picture: Breaking down Saints seeding scenarios for NFC bracket image

The Saints (13-3) are going to the NFC playoffs for a third consecutive NFL season as NFC South champions. Their seed for the conference tournament, however, is very much in flux going into the final games of 2019.

Here's breaking down where they could end up after they beat the Panthers in Week 17

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE:
All clinching scenarios for Week 17

How Saints get No. 2 seed in NFC

The Saints can't finish higher than the No. 2 seed because the Packers, who also finished 13-3, hold the conference-record tiebreaker over them.

If the Seahawks beat the 49ers to win the NFC West, then the Saints would be behind the Packers but a full game ahead of the Seahawks, whom they also beat. Then they would get a first-round bye and face the highest remaining seed in the divisiional playoffs.

How Saints get No. 3 seed in NFC

If the 49ers beat the Seahawks to win the NFC West to also get to 13-3, they would be the No. 1 seed over the Packers and Saints because they beat both teams.

The Saints would still lose the tiebreaker to the Packers and remain where they were after the 1 p.m. ET games Sunday. The Saints would host the Vikings in the wild-card round next weekend.

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.