The big news is this weekend for Tampa Bay is that the Bucs didn’t lose any ground in the NFC playoff picture during the bye week. While the Saints clinched a playoff spot by beating the Falcons and moving to 10-2, the Rams and Vikings also scored key wins to help their playoff hopes, while several other NFC teams lost on Sunday and cost themselves some valuable ground in the race to the postseason.

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs still have the No. 6 seed in the NFC, which will welcome the top seven teams into the playoffs. The Packers assumed the No. 2 seed again with a win over the Eagles, while the Rams moved ahead of the Seahawks due to their win over the Cardinals. Seattle, which previously had the No. 2 seed as the NFC West leader, lost to the New York, which hurt its chances and helped the Giants’ chances of winning the NFC East where they are the current leader. Washington beat Pittsburgh on Monday night, but the Giants swept the series and have the tie-breaker.

The Seahawks are now the No. 5 seed, and are a game ahead of the Bucs at 8-4. Speaking of the Bucs, their opponent this Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings, beat the Jaguars in overtime to move to 6-6 on the season and help their playoff odds.

Here’s what is at stake this Sunday in Tampa Bay. If the Bucs win they’ll move to 8-5 on the year and keep their playoff hopes alive by at the very least clinging to the No. 6 playoff spot, while the Vikings would fall to 6-7. If Minnesota prevails on Sunday, both the Bucs and the Vikings would be 7-6 and Tampa Bay wouldn’t have the head-to-head tiebreaker, which could come into play later in December depending on how the wins and losses shake out for both teams. The Vikings have won two games in a row and have a record of 4-1 in the last five games.

Here is a current look at the NFC playoff picture entering Week 13.

CURRENT NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS

1. Saints (NFC South leader) – 10-2 overall / 5-0 division / 8-1 conference

Remaining games: at Eagles (3-8-1), vs. Chiefs (11-1), vs. Vikings (6-6), at Panthers (4-8)

2. Packers (NFC North leader) – 9-3 overall / 3-1 division / 7-2 conference
Remaining games: at Lions (5-7), vs. Panthers (4-8), vs. Titans (8-4), at Bears (5-7)

3. Rams (NFC West leader) 8-4 overall / 2-2 division / 8-2 conference
Remaining games: vs. Patriots (6-6), vs. Jets (0-12), at Seahawks (8-4), vs. Cardinals (6-6)

4. NY Giants (NFC East leader) 5-7 overall / 3-2 division / 4-6 conference
Remaining games: vs. Cardinals (6-6), vs. Browns (9-3), at Ravens (6-5), vs. Cowboys (3-8)

5. Seahawks (First wild card) 8-4 overall / 2-2 division / 6-3 conference
Remaining games: vs. Jets (0-12), at Washington (5-7), vs. Rams (8-4), at 49ers (5-7)

6. Buccaneers (Second wild card) – 7-5 overall / 2-2 division / 4-4 conference

Remaining games: vs. Vikings (5-6), at Falcons (4-8), at Lions (5-7), vs. Falcons (4-8)

7. Vikings (Third wild card) – 6-6 overall / 3-1 division / 4-4 conference
Remaining games: at Bucs (7-5), vs. Bears (5-7), at Saints (10-2), vs. Lions (5-7)

IN CONTENTION

8. Cardinals – 6-6 overall / 2-2 division / 4-4 conference
Remaining games: at Giants (5-7), vs. Eagles (3-8-1), vs. 49ers (5-6), at Rams (8-4)

9. 49ers – 5-7 overall / 2-2 division / 3-5 conference
Remaining games: vs. Washington (5-7), at Cowboys (3-8), at Cardinals (6-6), vs. Seahawks (8-4)

10. Bears – 5-7 overall / 1-3 division / 5-5 conference
Remaining games: vs. Texans (4-8), at Vikings (6-6), at Jaguars (1-11), vs. Packers (9-3)

11. Lions – 5-7 overall / 1-3 division / 4-5 conference

Remaining games: vs. Packers (9-3), at Titans (8-4), vs. Bucs (7-5), vs. Vikings (6-6)

12. Washington – 5-7 overall / 3-2 division / 3-5 conference

Remaining games: at 49ers (5-7), vs. Seahawks (8-4), vs. Panthers (4-8), at Eagles (3-8-1)

13. Falcons – 4-8 overall / 1-3 division / 2-8 conference
Remaining games: at Chargers (3-9), vs. Bucs (7-5), at Chiefs (11-1), at Bucs (7-5)

14. Eagles – 3-8-1 overall / 2-2 division / 3-5 conference

Remaining games: vs. Saints (10-2), at Cardinals (6-6), at Cowboys (3-8), vs. Washington (5-7)

15. Cowboys – 3-8 overall / 1-3 division / 3-6 conference
Remaining games: at Ravens (6-5), at Bengals (2-9-1), vs. 49ers (5-7), vs. Eagles (3-8-1), at Giants (5-7)