The Cardinals' 28-21 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night dropped them from atop the NFC West and into the final wild card position in the conference. With six games remaining, the team sits one game ahead of the Bears for a postseason berth.
Here is a look at the NFC playoff picture heading into Week 12:
1. New Orleans Saints (8-2): Even with Taysom Hill starting for an injured Drew Brees at quarterback, New Orleans rattled off its seventh straight win on Sunday against the Falcons. The Saints moved into the top seed with the victory and the Packers' loss.
2. Los Angeles Rams (7-3): The NFC West has a new leader for the third time in three weeks, as Los Angeles used a win over the Bucs and to take over the top spot. The Rams hold a tiebreaker over Green Bay for the No. 2 seed by virtue of a better record in conference games.
3. Green Bay Packers (7-3): Green Bay dropped a pair of spots after an overtime loss to the Colts. The Packers face the Bears in Week 12 in a key NFC North showdown.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (3-6-1): The NFC East race is getting tight, as every team is within a half-game of one another. The Eagles hold the lead for now, but the Giants, Cowboys and Washington are all alive.
5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3): The Seahawks moved up after knocking off the Cardinals, but still sit behind Los Angeles in the division by virtue of a head-to-head loss. Seattle has an easy schedule over the next month.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4): Tampa Bay has lost two of its past three games, as the collection of big names on offense has not resulted in great offensive efficiency. The Buccaneers host the Chiefs in Week 12.
7. Arizona Cardinals (6-4): The top of the NFC is so tight that one loss dropped the Cardinals four spots in the seedings. They are still within striking distance of the teams above them, so Sunday's road clash against the Patriots is a critical showdown.
In the hunt: Chicago Bears (5-5); Minnesota Vikings (4-6); Detroit Lions (4-6); San Francisco 49ers (4-6); Carolina Panthers (4-7); New York Giants (3-7); Washington Football Team (3-7); Dallas Cowboys (3-7); Atlanta Falcons (3-7).
What's on the line for the Cardinals in Week 12: This is a huge game in New England. With a win, the Cardinals would keep the NFC West race tight and bolster their playoff odds considerably. A loss would make it tough to win the division, and it would breathe life into the teams chasing the Cardinals for a wild card spot.
