On Week 18, the Saints need to beat the Panthers, and the Buccaneers need to lose to the Falcons. If those things happen, then the Saints would clinch the NFC South at 8-9 and would be playoff-bound. This scenario is unlikely, but not impossible. The Saints play the Eagles in Philadelphia on January 1, 2023.
The answer is yes and here is how the Saints can make the 2022 playoffs. First off, the New Orleans Saints will need to win their final two games no matter what. If they lose just one game, they are out. The Tampa Bay Bucs will also need to lose their two remaining games.
If they lose to the Eagles, they are eliminated from playoff contention. However, the Saints need help to stay alive in the playoff chase even if they upset the Eagles. They can be eliminated by two non-tie scenarios: 1) wins by the Bucs and Commanders, or 2) wins by the Bucs, Lions, and Packers.
The Saints still have a road to a wild card berth, but they can no longer win the division. If the Buccaneers lose out and the Saints win out, New Orleans will get a playoff berth as the NFC South title holders. Tampa is a 3.5-point home favorite against the Panthers this week at DraftKings Sportsbook.