Two NFC teams -- the New Orleans Saints (11-0) and Minnesota Vikings (10-1) -- can clinch a playoff berth this weekend.
The Saints, who are 11-0 for the first time in franchise history, can lock up the NFC South this Sunday when they visit the Washington Redskins. The Vikings, who sit atop the NFC North, will head to Arizona to face the defending NFC champion Cardinals in a showdown between two division leaders (NBC, 8:20 PM ET).
Those are just a couple of the important games in Week 13, with many packing intriguing matchups of teams with playoff aspirations.
Nine teams in the NFC are within one game of .500 or better entering the final five weeks of the season. The Dallas Cowboys, who lead the NFC East, have the toughest remaining schedule of the contenders, facing opponents with a combined 35-20 (.636) mark.
Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the nine NFC teams within one game of .500 or better:
| NFC East | |||
| Cowboys (8-3) | Eagles (7-4) | Giants (6-5) | |
| Opponent Record | 35-20 (.636) | 32-23 (.582) | 32-23 (.582) |
| Week 13 | at NY Giants (6-5) | at Atlanta (6-5) | Dallas (8-3) |
| Week 14 | San Diego (8-3) | at NY Giants (6-5) | Philadelphia (7-4) |
| Week 15 | at New Orleans (11-0) | San Francisco (5-6) | at Washington (3-8) |
| Week 16 | at Washington (3-8) | Denver (7-4) | Carolina (4-7) |
| Week 17 | Philadelphia (7-4) | at Dallas (8-3) | at Minnesota (10-1) |
| NFC North | ||
| Vikings (10-1) | Packers (7-4) | |
| Opponent Record | 29-26 (.527) | 27-28 (.491) |
| Week 13 | at Arizona (7-4) | Baltimore (6-5) |
| Week 14 | Cincinnati (8-3) | at Chicago (4-7) |
| Week 15 | at Carolina (4-7) | at Pittsburgh (6-5) |
| Week 16 | at Chicago (4-7) | Seattle (4-7) |
| Week 17 | NY Giants (6-5) | at Arizona (7-4) |
| NFC South | ||
| Saint (11-0) | Falcons (6-5) | |
| Opponent Record | 22-33 (.400) | 28-27 (.509) |
| Week 13 | at Washington (3-8) | Philadelphia (7-4) |
| Week 14 | at Atlanta (6-5) | New Orleans (11-0) |
| Week 15 | Dallas (8-3) | at NY Jets (5-6) |
| Week 16 | Tampa Bay (1-10) | Buffalo (4-7) |
| Week 17 | at Carolina (4-7) | at Tampa Bay (1-10) |
| NFC West | ||
| Cardinals (7-4) | 49ers (5-6) | |
| Opponent Record | 25-30 (.455) | 21-34 (.382) |
| Week 13 | Minnesota (10-1) | at Seattle (4-7) |
| Week 14 | at San Francisco (5-6) | Arizona (7-4) |
| Week 15 | at Detroit (2-9) | at Philadelphia (7-4) |
| Week 16 | St. Louis (1-10) | Detroit (2-9) |
| Week 17 | Green Bay (7-4) | at St. Louis (1-10) |
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