Commanders Playoffs Chances: Is Washington out of the playoffs race after loss vs. Giants in Week 15? NFC East qualifying explained
The Washington Commanders suffered a tough loss at home to the New York Giants by a 20-12 scoreline, further complicating their chances of making the playoffs.
The two NFC East foes are directly fighting for a postseason berth and this loss will weigh heavily on the tiebreaker criteria.
The Commanders are now set with a 7-6-1 record following Sunday Night Football and they're just half a game above the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions, the first two teams out of the NFC playoff picture.
Here are the scenarios where the Commanders can book a playoff spot following Sunday's loss.
Interested in betting? Monday Night Football presents an interesting matchup between the Rams and the Packers.
Playoff scenarios for Washington. Are the Commanders out of the playoffs?
With Sunday's loss against the New York Giants, the Commanders still control their own destiny, but the margin for error is slim. They will be guaranteed a postseason appearance if they win their final three games.
Both the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions sit at 7-7, half a game behind the Commanders. If the season were to end today, Washington would be the seventh seed in the playoffs and face the Minnesota Vikings away in the Wild Card Round.
If the aim is a higher seed, they will need to win two more games than the New York Giants, as their rivals now hold a tiebreaker advantage after Sunday's win. The Commanders will have to win all their remaining games and hope that the Dallas Cowboys lose three straight for a shot at the fifth seed, which is a little unlikely.
The Commanders can't win the NFC East anymore, as the Philadelphia Eagles sit at the top with a 13-1 record that can only be matched by the Dallas Cowboys.
Washington Commanders' schedule after Week 15
The Commanders have three games left in their 2022 regular season schedule. They'll travel west for a difficult game against the San Francisco 49ers before returning home for the final two games against the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys.
Winning the final two home games should give the Commanders a shot at making the playoffs, but it will be far from smooth sailing. The Cowboys are one of the best teams in the NFC and the Browns are a different breed with Deshaun Watson under center. But that's the only way they can make the postseason.