NFC Playoffs Outlook

[fish7718]

With 5 Game Leads the Packers and 49ers have both secured their division. Which leaves 4 spots left in the NFC. NFC East Division Winner, NFC South Division Winner, NFC Wildcard, NFC Wildcard. For these 4 spots we have 6 teams who have realistic chances at these spots. New Orleans, Dallas, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta.

 

The Division Leaders in the NFC

 

NFC North: Green Bay Packers (12-0) - The Packers can clinch a first round bye with a win or a Saints loss this week. Green Bay is looking to lock up homefield in the NFC and an undefeated record over these next 4 weeks. Looking at the Packers schedule this is possible but will be tough, as they will face 4 teams who need wins to get into the playoffs.

Packers Remaining Schedule:

Vs Oakland (7-5)

@ Kansas City (5-7)

Vs Chicago (7-5)

Vs Detroit (7-5)

 

NFC West: San Francisco 49ers (10-2) - The 49ers have shocked the football world and with a cupcake schedule ahead the 9ers will look to not just lock up homefield but perhaps overtake Green Bay for the 1 seed. Remember that 1 seed could be huge considering the differences between Lambeau Field and Candlestick park and how historically tough each field is. The 9ers will probably need to win the next 4 games and hope Green Bay drops 1 or both of their confrence games in order to get 1 seed. If not San Francisco can go 3-1 and cruise to a 2 seed.

49ers Remaining Schedule:

@ Arizona (5-7)

Vs Pittsburgh (8-4)

@ Seattle (5-7)

@ St. Louis (2-10)

 

NFC South: New Orleans Saints (9-3) - The Saints currently hold a 2 game lead over the Falcons and are almost a sure bet to capture a playoff spot after beating Detroit on Sunday. Their remaining schedule boast a mediocre set of talent which makes the Saints a team that really is looking past just making the playoffs, they will instead look to catch the 49ers for a first round bye in the playoffs.

Saints Remaining Schedule

@ Tennessee Titans (7-5)

@ Minnesota Vikings (2-10)

Vs Atlanta Falcons (7-5)

Vs Carolina Panthers (4-8)

 

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys (7-5) - The Cowboys blew a huge opportunity to go 2 up on the Giants this Sunday. Facing a bad Cardinals team on 10 days rest the Cowboys could be in a similar position to the Saints. However with the loss the Cowboys could potentially be in 2nd place in just 5 days when they play the Giants. The Cowboys have an interesting schedule remaining. They play no top teams but every team they play is dangerous. Not to mention they play the team threatening them for their division lead, the Giants -- twice. Aside from that the Cowboys lost the Lions earlier in the year which gives them a huge disadvantage when talking tie breakers in the Wild Card. The Cowboys can clinch the division with wins in the next 2 weeks, but they can just as well put themselves in a scary position if they lose the next 2 weeks. We expect Dallas to win at least 2 of the next 4 and probably 3 which should get them at least a wildcard if not the division.

Cowboys Remaining Schedule:

Vs New York Giants (6-6)

Vs Philadelphia (4-8)

@ Tampa Bay (4-8)

@ New York Giants (6-6)

 

 

The Wildcards in the NFC

 

Atlanta Falcons (7-5) - Like Dallas, Atlanta blew a huge opportunity Sunday. Facing rookie QB TJ Yates Atlanta had a chance to secure first place in the NFC Wildcard race and separate themselves from the pack. Instead Atlanta lost and looked bad doing it. Luckily for Atlanta, they have a favorable schedule ahead as they will face what is probably the easiest schedule of all NFC contenders. However it is packed with 3 division games, which are never easy. Atlanta lost a key tiebreaker game to Chicago earlier in the season, however their mediocre schedule should get them to a 10-6 record with a 7-5 conference record which should be enough to get them a wildcard spot.

Falcons Remaining Schedule:

@ Carolina (4-8)

Vs Jacksonville (3-9)

@ New Orleans (9-3)

Vs Tampa Bay (4-8)

 

 

Chicago Bears (7-5) - 2 Weeks ago after beating the Chargers to get to 7-3 the Bears were pretty much a lock to grab a wildcard. They held tiebreakers over everyone, 2 game lead and had an easy schedule. The Bears have now dropped the past 2 games and even more importantly lost their starting QB and starting HB. The Bears are in such an interesting position because with this schedule and with the tiebreakers they hold over the Lions, Giants, Cowboys, and Falcons they could limp into the playoffs, however they have to find a way to pull out 2 wins out of their last 4 games, which is so tough despite their schedule. Right now we just can see Hanie and the Bears doing it because all they really have to do is knock off Seattle and Minnesota to get themselves a playoff spot. Hopefully for the Bears they get Forte back sooner then expected.

@ Denver (7-5)

Vs Seattle (5-7)

@ Green Bay (12-0)

Vs Minnesota (2-10)

 

Detroit Lions (7-5) - After starting out 6-0 the Lions were a threat to knock off the Packers in the NFC North and were on their way to the playoffs. 1-5 record later the Lions seem to have fallen prey to their schedule. The Broncos started out 6-0 a couple seasons ago under Josh McDaniels and even upset the Patriots during that run. They lost 8 of their next 10 and missed the playoffs at 8-8. Unfortunately for the Lions unless they can get past the Bears and end up tied with Cowboys they seem like they are headed for the same fate. The Lions have looked extremely undisciplined as well just getting dumb unnecessary fouls. At the end of the day the Lions just appear a team that as inexperienced as their head coach and are a year off. We can't see them overcoming this difficult schedule to pull out that last wild card spot.

Lions Remaining Schedule:

Vs Minnesota (2-10)

@ Oakland (7-5)

Vs Chargers (5-7)

@ Green Bay (12-0)

 

 

New York Giants (6-6) - This leads us to the 6-6 Giants who are by far the craziest team in the NFL this year. The Giants are as unpredictable as just about anything. Despite injuries they have worked a 6-6. However their wins are against bad teams. 5 of their 6 wins are against teams with 5-7 or worse records. The other win is IN NEW ENGLAND. Snapping one of the longest regular season home winning streak EVER. Not only did they win in New England they traveled out to SF and took the 9ers down the last minute. Not only did they play the 9ers to the last minute, they did the same against Green Bay on Sunday. The Giants are just so unpredictable, you don't know if the Giants who play like this will show up or if the team that got destroyed by the Saints and beaten by Seattle in NY will show up. It is because of this we cannot tell you the Giants will make the playoffs, but we can't tell you they won't. They play Dallas twice meaning they control their own fate. However the Giants need to go at least 3-1 to even give themselves a shot to make the playoffs and if they lose 1 to Dallas it makes their chances so much worse. Next week is make or break week for NY. Their schedule is also difficult as they have to face 3 teams over .500 and a division rival that has beat them once. If the Giants don't make the playoffs their losses to Seattle, @ Washington and Vs Philadelphia can be the direct culprits.

Giants Remaining Schedule

@ Dallas (7-5)

Vs Washington (4-8)

@ New York Jets (7-5)

Vs Dallas (7-5)

Edited December 6, 2011 by Z True Long Island Story

[Cleveland's Finest]

Seattle and Arizona actually have outside shots if they can win out. If only Seattle beat Washington at home, they should be right in this.

 

I think Atlanta will definitely be a wild card. As much as I want to see Seattle or Arizona make the other Wild Card, I see New York or Dallas (whichever team loses the division) being the other WC.

 

Detroit has too tough a schedule, and Chicago cannot win with all the injuries.

 

That's what I believe will happen, but I'm rooting for Atl, Sea, and Ariz. Hate the Cowboys...

[Warren2ThaG]

Seattle and Arizona actually have outside shots if they can win out. If only Seattle beat Washington at home, they should be right in this.

 

I think Atlanta will definitely be a wild card. As much as I want to see Seattle or Arizona make the other Wild Card, I see New York or Dallas (whichever team loses the division) being the other WC.

 

Detroit has too tough a schedule, and Chicago cannot win with all the injuries.

 

That's what I believe will happen, but I'm rooting for Atl, Sea, and Ariz. Hate the Cowboys...

 

we could have beat ATL-CLE-WSH

[Cleveland's Finest]

Haha I keep forgetting we beat the Seahawks. Only reason is because Lynch got injured right before the game. The NFC West really isn't that bad. The Cardinals have a lot of young talent, and the Rams have just had too many injuries.