Randy Inman
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James Rickard
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Winless In Seattle
Robin PottratzNFL Playoff Picture: NFC
November 20th 2008 22:17
Going in to week 12 of the NFL season the standings tell us that the playoffs are far from determined. Sure, there are locks to the post-season party (read: New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals), but what about the rest of the brackets? Let's take a closer look.
If the playoffs started today:
NFC
1. New York Giants NFC East Division Champs (9-1)
2. Carolina Panthers NFC South Division Champs (8-2)
3. Arizona Cardinals NFC West Division Champs (7-3)
4. Green Bay Packers NFC North Division Champs (5-5)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South Wildcard (7-3)
6. Washington Redskins NFC East Wildcard (6-4)
You will notice that from these lists, several big name contenders and/or pre-season favorites are missing (read: Dallas, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Minnesota). Now, if we take a look just a bit deeper we can find that aside from the two teams mentioned in the beginning (New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals) the playoff are wide open. Let's break down each division more in-depth.
NFC East: Status "Still the Champs"
1. New York Giants (9-1)
2. Washington Redskins (6-4)
3. Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4-1)
Out to prove to the world that 2007 was no fluke - the Giants have a firm grip on this division and after running up 210 yards on the ground against a run-stingy Baltimore last week, they seem to be in no danger of losing ground. At least one wildcard spot is shaping up to come out of this division, and Philadelphia's tie only complicates the matter. If a wildcard does come out of this division - it will go down to the wire. Washington may have the upper hand at this point - but a Week 16 showdown with the Eagles could make or break the postseason for either team.
NFC North: Status "Anyone Home?"
1. Green Bay Packers (5-5)
2. Chicago Bears (5-5)
3. Minnesota Vikings (5-5)
4. Detroit Lions (0-10)
About the only sure thing for this division is that the Lions will not come out on top. As far as the Packers, Bears and Vikings are concerned - it's anybody's for the taking. One of the biggest disappointments in this NFL season has to be the Minnesota Vikings, as they were a very hot pre-season pick to make a deep playoff run - if not win the whole thing. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers currently have the edge in the division, but this one comes down to the wire and it could be determined by which defense decides to show up each week for each team.
NFC South: "As Close As It Gets"
1. Carolina Panthers (8-2)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
4. New Orleans Saints (5-5)
The competitiveness of this division is always high, and this year is no different. The only real difference is to see New Orleans at the bottom. Carolina is close to taking this division and with Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammad taking care of business in the air and a successful running game duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart - it could happen sooner then later. Rookie QB, Matt Ryan, has done a ton in helping the city of Atlanta - and the franchise - forget about Michael Vick.
NFC West: "A Different Kind of Bird"
1. Arizona Cardinals (7-3)
2. San Francisco 49ers (3-7)
3. Seattle Seahawks (2-8)
4. St. Louis Rams (2-8)
With six games to go the Cardinals are sitting pretty. This division is always in the debate of 'worst division in the league' and this year is no different. Seahawks coach, Mike Holmgren, is set to "retire" after this year. Chances are very high that going out on a season like this will bring the competitiveness out in the old ball coach and we should expect to see him roaming the sidelines sooner then we would had his team gone out on a high note.
As you can see, the playoff picture is as cloudy at this point in the season as it has ever been, and there are still several teams with legitimate shots to make a push to the post-season. It should be an exciting last few weeks, and every game should count.
If the playoffs started today:
NFC
1. New York Giants NFC East Division Champs (9-1)
2. Carolina Panthers NFC South Division Champs (8-2)
3. Arizona Cardinals NFC West Division Champs (7-3)
4. Green Bay Packers NFC North Division Champs (5-5)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South Wildcard (7-3)
6. Washington Redskins NFC East Wildcard (6-4)
You will notice that from these lists, several big name contenders and/or pre-season favorites are missing (read: Dallas, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Minnesota). Now, if we take a look just a bit deeper we can find that aside from the two teams mentioned in the beginning (New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals) the playoff are wide open. Let's break down each division more in-depth.
NFC East: Status "Still the Champs"
1. New York Giants (9-1)
2. Washington Redskins (6-4)
3. Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4-1)
Out to prove to the world that 2007 was no fluke - the Giants have a firm grip on this division and after running up 210 yards on the ground against a run-stingy Baltimore last week, they seem to be in no danger of losing ground. At least one wildcard spot is shaping up to come out of this division, and Philadelphia's tie only complicates the matter. If a wildcard does come out of this division - it will go down to the wire. Washington may have the upper hand at this point - but a Week 16 showdown with the Eagles could make or break the postseason for either team.
NFC North: Status "Anyone Home?"
1. Green Bay Packers (5-5)
2. Chicago Bears (5-5)
3. Minnesota Vikings (5-5)
4. Detroit Lions (0-10)
About the only sure thing for this division is that the Lions will not come out on top. As far as the Packers, Bears and Vikings are concerned - it's anybody's for the taking. One of the biggest disappointments in this NFL season has to be the Minnesota Vikings, as they were a very hot pre-season pick to make a deep playoff run - if not win the whole thing. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers currently have the edge in the division, but this one comes down to the wire and it could be determined by which defense decides to show up each week for each team.
NFC South: "As Close As It Gets"
1. Carolina Panthers (8-2)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
4. New Orleans Saints (5-5)
The competitiveness of this division is always high, and this year is no different. The only real difference is to see New Orleans at the bottom. Carolina is close to taking this division and with Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammad taking care of business in the air and a successful running game duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart - it could happen sooner then later. Rookie QB, Matt Ryan, has done a ton in helping the city of Atlanta - and the franchise - forget about Michael Vick.
NFC West: "A Different Kind of Bird"
1. Arizona Cardinals (7-3)
2. San Francisco 49ers (3-7)
3. Seattle Seahawks (2-8)
4. St. Louis Rams (2-8)
With six games to go the Cardinals are sitting pretty. This division is always in the debate of 'worst division in the league' and this year is no different. Seahawks coach, Mike Holmgren, is set to "retire" after this year. Chances are very high that going out on a season like this will bring the competitiveness out in the old ball coach and we should expect to see him roaming the sidelines sooner then we would had his team gone out on a high note.
As you can see, the playoff picture is as cloudy at this point in the season as it has ever been, and there are still several teams with legitimate shots to make a push to the post-season. It should be an exciting last few weeks, and every game should count.
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