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Explaining the NFC Playoff Picture

hepcat

By hepcat,
in Carolina Panthers

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hepcat Grand Master

hepcat

Posted
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In this post I hope to detail the potential NFC playoff match-ups.  The picture has started to clear and going into Week 17, there are only three games of any importance to the NFC.

1) Minnesota (10-5) @ Green Bay (10-5).  This game will decide the winner of the NFC North.  The winner will be the #3 seed.  The loser will fall to either the #5 or #6 seed.  

2) Seattle (9-6) @ Arizona (13-2).  Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth and will either be the #5 or #6 seed.  Arizona has already won the NFC West and clinched a first round bye, the only thing yet to be determined is if they will be the #1 or #2 seed.  If Arizona wins and Carolina loses, Arizona is the #1 seed.  If Arizona wins and Carolina wins, this game changes nothing for Arizona.

3) Tampa Bay (6-9) @ Carolina (14-1). Plain and simple, Carolina needs to win this game to assure they lock up home field advantage and the #1 seed in the playoffs.  A loss opens the door for Arizona to steal it.  

 

There are only 3 combinations for the 1st round of the playoffs.

1) #3 Green Bay vs #6 Minnesota | #4 Washington vs #5 Seattle = Green Bay and Seattle win.  Seattle owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Minnesota if both teams finish 10-6.

2) #3 Green Bay vs #6 Seattle | #4 Washington vs #5 Minnesota = Green Bay wins and Seattle loses.  Seattle would finish 9-7 with a loss, one win below 10-6 Minnesota.

3) #3 Minnesota vs #6 Seattle | #4 Washington vs #5 Green Bay = Minnesota wins.  In this scenario, it does not matter if Seattle wins or loses, they will be the #6 seed, because Green Bay owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle should both teams finish 10-6.

 

In the 2nd round of the playoffs, the 1st seed plays the lowest remaining seed.  The 2nd seed plays the highest remaining seed.  So for example, if The #3 and #5 seed win, the top seed plays the #5 team while the #2 seed plays the #3 seed.  The #6 seed automatically plays the #1 seed in the second round.  Interestingly enough, we could see a complete rematch of the 2012 first round of the playoffs.  Washington vs Seattle and Green Bay vs Minnesota would be a mirror image, including the Week 17 matchup and rematch of Green Bay and Minnesota two weeks in a row.

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RelaxImaPro Enthusiast

RelaxImaPro

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AZ wouldn't have rested anyone anyways.  Even if they didn't flex our game to 4:25 and we lost they still have to win to get the #1 seed.  If we both lose then we remain the #1 seed.  So yeah, lol good luck resting your starters against Seattle and hoping to come out with a win.

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