Post by Mr. Backlund on Dec 15, 2008 18:16:05 GMT -5
NFC Playoff Scenarios
NFC East Champion : NY Giants
NFC West Champion : Arizona Cardinals
NFC North Champion: N/A
- Minnesota Vikings (9-5): ATL, NYG
- Chicago Bears (8-6): GB, @hou
Minnesota has the more difficult schedule of the two, with two teams either in the playoffs or fighting for them. Chicago is facing two teams already eliminated from the playoffs that, on paper, seem more "beatable" than what the Vikes are up against, but Green Bay is a division game against a team that handily beat them last time they played. The most likely scenario seems to be both teams splitting their next two games, with the Vikes representing the North in the playoffs and the Bears watching from home.
NFC South Champion : N/A
- Carolina Panthers (11-3): @nyg, no
- Tampa Bay Buccanears (9-5): SD, OAK
- Atlanta Falcons (9-5): @min, STL
The Panthers are all but guaranteed the division and this may only change if they end up in a tie for it, which is unlikely to happen. Still, because they haven't clinched, I'll stick to protocol and list it out this way.
Wild Card :
- Tampa Bay Buccanears (9-5): SD, OAK
- Atlanta Falcons (9-5): @min, STL
- Dallas Cowboys (9-5): BAL, @phi
- Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1): CLE, @was, DAL
- Chicago Bears (8-6): GB, @hou
Current Wild Card Standings :
- #5 Dallas Cowboys - Head to Head win over TB
- #6 Tampa Bay Bucs - Better conference record than Atlanta
Handicapping the teams :
- Dallas - The most brutal remaining schedule of the Wild Card teams. If they lose to Baltimore, I guarantee Philly beats them.
- Tampa - Although the team hasn't been playing consistent, they have two cupcakes left. Good shot at finishing 2-0.
- Atlanta - One winnable game, one cupcake. Playing well right now, good shot at finishing 2-0.
- Philly - Three games left, one against a beatable team, one against a beaten team and a showdown against a bitter rival at home. If they go into the final week with two consecutive wins, I don't want to be Dallas.
- Chicago Bears - Two winnable games, but Green Bay absolutely undressed them last time they played and Houston isn't a slouch.
Other thoughts :
- Dallas is the #5 seed or out of the playoffs, for all intents and purposes. Too much has to play out for them to be the #6 seed (not that they're less likely to go to the playoffs because of it). Even after beating the Giants last night, I don't think any Cowboys fan would say they're happy to see Baltimore's defense followed by Philly's defense in the next two weeks. Especially Philly, who will go above and beyond to either make the playoffs or ensure Dallas isn't going.
- Atlanta is surging and I really think they're going to make the playoffs. They're in if they beat Minnesota and show up to the field against the Rams.
- Philly is shaping up to play the spoiler and may even crash the party. I'd feel better about them if they beat the Bengals and didn't have that ugly tie at the end of their record, but its better than losing to them (I guess).
- I personally don't really like what the Bucs are doing and found them to be an incredibly inconsistent team throughout this season. That said, they're in prime position to limp into the playoffs, as their remaining schedule is the easiest of any Wild Card teams.
NFC East Champion : NY Giants
NFC West Champion : Arizona Cardinals
NFC North Champion: N/A
- Minnesota Vikings (9-5): ATL, NYG
- Chicago Bears (8-6): GB, @hou
Minnesota has the more difficult schedule of the two, with two teams either in the playoffs or fighting for them. Chicago is facing two teams already eliminated from the playoffs that, on paper, seem more "beatable" than what the Vikes are up against, but Green Bay is a division game against a team that handily beat them last time they played. The most likely scenario seems to be both teams splitting their next two games, with the Vikes representing the North in the playoffs and the Bears watching from home.
NFC South Champion : N/A
- Carolina Panthers (11-3): @nyg, no
- Tampa Bay Buccanears (9-5): SD, OAK
- Atlanta Falcons (9-5): @min, STL
The Panthers are all but guaranteed the division and this may only change if they end up in a tie for it, which is unlikely to happen. Still, because they haven't clinched, I'll stick to protocol and list it out this way.
Wild Card :
- Tampa Bay Buccanears (9-5): SD, OAK
- Atlanta Falcons (9-5): @min, STL
- Dallas Cowboys (9-5): BAL, @phi
- Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1): CLE, @was, DAL
- Chicago Bears (8-6): GB, @hou
Current Wild Card Standings :
- #5 Dallas Cowboys - Head to Head win over TB
- #6 Tampa Bay Bucs - Better conference record than Atlanta
Handicapping the teams :
- Dallas - The most brutal remaining schedule of the Wild Card teams. If they lose to Baltimore, I guarantee Philly beats them.
- Tampa - Although the team hasn't been playing consistent, they have two cupcakes left. Good shot at finishing 2-0.
- Atlanta - One winnable game, one cupcake. Playing well right now, good shot at finishing 2-0.
- Philly - Three games left, one against a beatable team, one against a beaten team and a showdown against a bitter rival at home. If they go into the final week with two consecutive wins, I don't want to be Dallas.
- Chicago Bears - Two winnable games, but Green Bay absolutely undressed them last time they played and Houston isn't a slouch.
Other thoughts :
- Dallas is the #5 seed or out of the playoffs, for all intents and purposes. Too much has to play out for them to be the #6 seed (not that they're less likely to go to the playoffs because of it). Even after beating the Giants last night, I don't think any Cowboys fan would say they're happy to see Baltimore's defense followed by Philly's defense in the next two weeks. Especially Philly, who will go above and beyond to either make the playoffs or ensure Dallas isn't going.
- Atlanta is surging and I really think they're going to make the playoffs. They're in if they beat Minnesota and show up to the field against the Rams.
- Philly is shaping up to play the spoiler and may even crash the party. I'd feel better about them if they beat the Bengals and didn't have that ugly tie at the end of their record, but its better than losing to them (I guess).
- I personally don't really like what the Bucs are doing and found them to be an incredibly inconsistent team throughout this season. That said, they're in prime position to limp into the playoffs, as their remaining schedule is the easiest of any Wild Card teams.