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How Cardinals can clinch a playoff berth in Week 17

The Cardinals lost a tough one in Week 16 and now need to win in Week 17 to get into the playoffs. We break down what they need to do and where they can land in the 2021 NFL playoffs.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals talks to Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals during a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals find themselves on the wrong side of the NFL playoff picture. The 49ers upset them in Arizona in Week 16, and the Bears getting a win over the Jaguars moved the Cardinals to the outside looking in. They can still get into the playoffs, and the tiebreakers actually give them control over their chances heading into Week 17.

Arizona most likely needs a win to earn a playoff berth. If they beat the Rams in LA in Week 17, they will claim either the No. 7 or No. 6 seed. If they win and the Bears win, Chicago will claim the No. 6 seed, the Cardinals will claim the No. 7 seed, and the Rams will be eliminated due to losing the divisional record tiebreaker to Arizona. If the Cardinals win and the Bears lose, Arizona will claim the No. 6 seed. If the Cardinals tie the Rams, they would get into the playoffs with a Bears loss.

The Cardinals came into the 2020 season expected to compete for a playoff berth, but likely to fall short. DraftKings Sportsbook installed them at +260 to claim any kind of playoff berth with only seven teams having longer odds.