NFC: Breaking down the playoff races (11/25)

[MHS831]

The way I see it...

NFC NORTH

 

Da Bears (8-3) look set to take the division with an 8-3 record.  Green Bay (4-5-1) and Minnesota (5-4-1) are basically three games back in the win column with five/six to play.  Minnesota and Green Bay play today in Minnesota in what could be the elimination (from playoffs) game for the loser. It is this simple--if Green Bay loses, Seattle will (prediction) earn a wildcard--if Green Bay wins, odds favor the Pack.  The Vikings will still face long odds to make the playoffs even if a win today puts them at 6-4-1—with games @New England, @Seattle, and vs. Chicago on the horizon.   The Packers, after today, have home games against the Cardinals, Falcons, and Lions, they play the Jets and Bears on the road.  If Chicago has the division wrapped up when they meet December 16, a Packer sweep is not out of the question.  Since I think Green Bay pulls a W out of Minnesota today, I see a clean path to the playoffs ahead for Cheese heads.

I am calling this race—Chicago is the division winner at 10-6.

 

• ·         Green Bay 9-6-1
• ·         Minnesota 8-7-1

NFC EAST

 

The division-leading Cowboys (6-5) can probably scratch Philly (4-6) off the “Threats to win the Division” list.  Philly has home games vs. the Giants and Skins over the next two weeks, but even if they emerge from those games at 6-6, they play @Dallas, @the Rams, Houston, and @Washington.  In short, the Eagles are done.  Washington (6-5) has 2 games vs. Philly, road games in Jax and Tenn, and the Giants at home.  I see a final record of 9-7 or 8-8.  Dallas, meanwhile, hosts the Saints and the Eagles over the next two weeks.  They end the season @Indy, vs. Bucs, and @Giants. I see the potential for a 10-win season in Dallas, but I will give them 9-7. Can Washington win 10 games? I think they can, but with Colt McCoy?  The division nobody wants to win goes to Dallas.

I am predicting that Dallas wins the division with a 9-7 record.

 

• ·         Washington 8-8 (no wild card either)
• ·         Philly 7-9  (The best team in the division comes in third place)

NFC WEST

 

The 10-1 Rams may not lose again this season, but I will predict 14-2.  That only leaves Seattle (5-5) with any hope of emerging as a wild card team.  They play @the Panthers, and the only other games of concern are in Seattle vs. the Vikings and Chiefs.  I see the Seahawks finishing the season at 9-7, with losses to the Panthers and Chiefs and wins vs. Minnesota, SF, and Arizona.

Easy to Call:  Crown Rams NFC West Champs

 

• ·         Seattle 9-7

NFC SOUTH

 

The Saints (10-1) are in cruise control, but that could benefit the Panthers (6-4) since they decided to pursue the less-stressful wildcard birth.  Atlanta (4-7) still has games @Carolina and @Green Bay, so they are probably not practicing much in January.  I see them finishing 7-9, so they are probably done.  Carolina, however, has a home game today against a team competing with them for a wild card spot (Seahawks) and could pave their way with a win.  After that, they go on the road to Cleveland (scary at times) and Tampa Bay (could not put them away at home).  Yet I see 9-4 at that time with two games vs. a New Orleans team that has likely wrapped up the division, but will be competing with the Rams for home field advantage. Atlanta in Charlotte is a winnable game. 

Easy to call:  Saints win the NFC South

 

• ·         Panthers 10-6
• ·         Falcons 7-9

 

 Wildcard Race:  Green Bay or Minnesota, Washington or Dallas, Seattle,  Carolina

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

 

1.       South: Saints (14-2)

 

2.       West: Rams (14-2)

 

3.       North: Bears (10-6)

 

4.       East: Cowboys (9-7)

 

5.       Wildcard:  Panthers (10-6)

 

6.       Wildcard: Green Bay (9-6-1)

 

Prediction:  The Panthers will play the Cowboys in Dallas. 

 

 

[Ace_Aladdin]

2 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

The way I see it...

NFC NORTH

 

Da Bears (8-3) look set to take the division with an 8-3 record.  Green Bay (4-5-1) and Minnesota (5-4-1) are basically three games back in the win column with five/six to play.  Minnesota and Green Bay play today in Minnesota in what could be the elimination (from playoffs) game for the loser. It is this simple--if Green Bay loses, Seattle will (prediction) earn a wildcard--if Green Bay wins, odds favor the Pack.  The Vikings will still face long odds to make the playoffs even if a win today puts them at 6-4-1—with games @New England, @Seattle, and vs. Chicago on the horizon.   The Packers, after today, have home games against the Cardinals, Falcons, and Lions, they play the Jets and Bears on the road.  If Chicago has the division wrapped up when they meet December 16, a Packer sweep is not out of the question.  Since I think Green Bay pulls a W out of Minnesota today, I see a clean path to the playoffs ahead for Cheese heads.

 

I am calling this race—Chicago is the division winner at 10-6.

 

• ·         Green Bay 9-6-1

   

• ·         Minnesota 8-7-1

   

NFC EAST

 

The division-leading Cowboys (6-5) can probably scratch Philly (4-6) off the “Threats to win the Division” list.  Philly has home games vs. the Giants and Skins over the next two weeks, but even if they emerge from those games at 6-6, they play @Dallas, @the Rams, Houston, and @Washington.  In short, the Eagles are done.  Washington (6-5) has 2 games vs. Philly, road games in Jax and Tenn, and the Giants at home.  I see a final record of 9-7.  Dallas, meanwhile, hosts the Saints and the Eagles over the next two weeks.  They end the season @Indy, vs. Bucs, and @Giants. I see the potential for a 10-win season in Dallas, but I will give them 9-7. Can Washington win 10 games? I think they can, but with Colt McCoy?  The division nobody wants to win goes to Dallas.

 

I am predicting that Dallas wins the division with a 9-7 record.

 

• ·         Washington 8-8 (no wild card either)

   

• ·         Philly 7-9  (The best team in the division comes in third place)

   

NFC WEST

 

The 10-1 Rams may not lose again this season, but I will predict 14-2.  That only leaves Seattle (5-5) with any hope of emerging as a wild card team.  They play @the Panthers, and the only other games of concern are in Seattle vs. the Vikings and Chiefs.  I see the Seahawks finishing the season at 9-7, with losses to the Panthers and Chiefs and wins vs. Minnesota, SF, and Arizona.

 

Easy to Call:  Crown Rams NFC West Champs

 

• ·         Seattle 9-7

   

NFC SOUTH

 

The Saints (10-1) are in cruise control, but that could benefit the Panthers (6-4) since they decided to pursue the less-stressful wildcard birth.  Atlanta (4-7) still has games @Carolina and @Green Bay, so they are probably not practicing much in January.  I see them finishing 7-9, so they are probably done.  Carolina, however, has a home game today against a team competing with them for a wild card spot (Seahawks) and could pave their way with a win.  After that, they go on the road to Cleveland (scary at times) and Tampa Bay (could not put them away at home).  Yet I see 9-4 at that time with two games vs. a New Orleans team that has likely wrapped up the division, but will be competing with the Rams for home field advantage. Atlanta in Charlotte is a winnable game. 

 

Easy to call:  Saints win the NFC South

 

• ·         Panthers 10-6

   

• ·         Falcons 7-9

 

 

 

 Wildcard Race:  Green Bay or Minnesota, Washington or Dallas, Seattle,  Carolina

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

 

1.       South: Saints (14-2)

 

2.       West: Rams (14-2)

 

3.       North: Bears (10-6)

 

4.       East: Cowboys (9-7)

 

5.       Wildcard:  Panthers (10-6)

 

6.       Wildcard: Green Bay (9-6-1)

 

Prediction:  The Panthers will play the Cowboys in Dallas. 

 

 

 

I agree with most of it but I believe Saints hit a snag at Dallas. Panthers will win both matchups remaining against saints for the South.

[jfra78]

I really do hope dallas doesnt win the east, because fug dallas. but, I guess it would be nice to end their season jn the playoffs

[MHS831]

Just now, jfra78 said:

I really do hope dallas doesnt win the east, because fug dallas. but, I guess it would be nice to end their season jn the playoffs

I hate Dallas too.  However, we will destroy them in Jerry Jone's house.

[TheCasillas]

I dont think we are watching the same packers team......

[Hun_Panthers]

Pretty realistic assessment if we win today 10-6 is really realistic.

Don't know about the Packers, but never count out Rodgers. 

[MHS831]

11 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

I dont think we are watching the same packers team......

Not sure what this means, but I will take a stab---They sure are hard to predict---however, in Green Bay in December, they usually do well.  Still, they are hard to understand.  If they win today, they will be in the playoffs--bold, but that is how I roll.

[TheCasillas]

2 hours ago, MHS831 said:

Not sure what this means, but I will take a stab---They sure are hard to predict---however, in Green Bay in December, they usually do well.  Still, they are hard to understand.  If they win today, they will be in the playoffs--bold, but that is how I roll.

Mike McCarthy is a horrible coach, that alone ends their season. The guy looked lost and out played every week for the last three weeks. Burning timeouts like an amateur, challenging foolish plays, and consistently cant figure out how to produce a good defense. 

Winner of the game tonight gets the 8 seed.