The NFC Playoff Picture: A Team-by-Team Look
With just two weeks left in the season, several teams are pushing to make a late playoff run. Other teams are trying to keep it together long enough to fend off the teams on the outside looking in. A few more scenarios have developed as a result of this past weekend's action, so it should make for some exciting football down the stretch.
Here's a look at the current playoff scenarios:
1. Green Bay Packers (schedule): The dream of an undefeated season is over, as the Packers are coming off their first loss of the season at Kansas City. Still, at 13-1, they hold a two-game lead over the rest of the NFC. They will clinch home field throughout this weekend with a win at home against the Bears or a 49er loss to the Seahawks.
2. San Francisco 49ers (schedule): The Niners are coming off a big win over the Steelers Monday night, holding Pittsburgh to just three points. For anyone still wondering, this team is for real. They have already clinched the NFC West, and can clinch the number two seed overall with a win at Seattle and a Saints loss to the Falcons. They currently hold the tie breaker over the Saints with a better conference record (9-2 vs. 7-4).
3. New Orleans Saints (schedule): The Saints have clinched a playoff berth, but have yet to lock up the division with the Falcons breathing down their necks. New Orleans will get a chance to clinch this weekend at home against Atlanta. The Saints could also beat the Panthers in Week 17 to win the division. They are in good shape to get the three seed and can displace the 49ers as the two seed if San Francisco stumbles against either Seattle or St. Louis.
4. Dallas Cowboys (schedule): The NFC East is up for grabs, as no one seems to want to win it. The Cowboys looked good in a big win on Saturday night over Tampa Bay, but that's not really all that impressive. Dallas has a one-game lead in the division, but have tough games against the Eagles and Giants coming up. We all know how Dallas has been finishing the last few years, so the NFC East could certainly get interesting. With two weeks to go, it's too early to tell if Dallas will be hosting a playoff game.
5. Atlanta Falcons (schedule): The Falcons are pretty likely to be one of the two NFC wild card teams. If they win out and the Saints lose out, they could still win the division and become the three seed. They could also get dislodged by Detroit and fall to the six seed. However, they have a two-game lead over all of the teams on the outside looking in, and Atlanta hosts Tampa Bay Week 17. It's likely that the Falcons will clinch a wild card spot.
6. Detroit Lions (schedule): The Lions staged a huge comeback against the Raiders this past weekend, squeaking by with a 28-27 victory. This was a very important game for them, as the Lions have to finish against a suddenly hot San Diego Charger team, and then a road game at the Packers. If they're lucky, Green Bay will rest most of their starters. But if not, those are two very losable games for the Lions, and they may need every bit of the two-game lead they currently hold for the six spot. The Lions do not hold every tie breaker, so if they were to lose out, it is possible that they could lose their spot.
7. Seattle Seahawks (schedule): Seattle is coming off a game in which they destroyed the Bears. After being down 14-7, they went on to win it 38-14. Seattle has won five of their last six games and have been playing great lately. Unfortunately for them, it may be too late. San Francisco is too far ahead for them to win the division, so they would need to earn a wild card spot. They need to win out and get help in order to get in.
8. Chicago Bears (schedule): At 7-7, the Bears are in a similar boat as the Seahawks, except the Bears have a few more obstacles. One, they have to go into Green Bay this week and get a win to even stay alive. And two, they need to find a way to get a win without Jay Cutler. Chicago is 0-4 since Cutler went down, and it doesn't look good for them to get back into the thick of it. They also need to win out and get help to get in.
9. New York Giants (schedule): The Giants are still alive in the race to win the NFC East, even after their atrocious efforts against the Redskins this past weekend. They are one game behind Dallas, and they will host the Cowboys Week 17. The Giants do have one other concern, though. The Dream Team Philadelphia Eagles have come out of nowhere. If the Giants lose to the Jets this weekend and the Eagles beat the Cowboys, they no longer control their own destiny. Long story short, if the Giants win out, they will win the division and lock up the four seed.
10. Arizona Cardinals (schedule): As bad as the NFC West is, they still have three teams alive for a playoff spot. The Cardinals know what they need to get in, and that is to win out and get lots of help. They need to beat the Bengals and Seahawks in the final two weeks AND the Falcons and/or Lions to lose out, and they will clinch a playoff berth.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (schedule): The Eagles looked great this past weekend against the Jets. The offense is clicking, and it is certainly possible that they could win out with games against the Cowboys, who they beat 34-7 earlier in the year, and Redskins. They also need the Giants to lose to the Jets in Week 16, but then beat the Cowboys in Week 17. This is the only scenario in which Philadelphia can make the playoffs, and if it happens, the Eagles will win the NFC East at 8-8.
Eliminated: Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.
