NFC Playoff Picture

[LUKE23]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings?group=2

First off, go Skins tomorrow night vs. Philly.

Looking at it, it's starting to clear up a bit with the Vikings losing today. The way I see it, you have seven teams for five spots:

Atlanta (7-2)
New York (6-3)
Green Bay (6-3)
Chicago (6-3)
New Orleans (6-3)
Tampa Bay (6-3)
Philly (5-3)

then whoever wins the sorry ass West gets the other spot. I also highly doubt the South gets three teams, so it's like one of those teams gets eliminated. Then the Packers just need to beat out one other team.

[chuckleslove]

Right now we control our own destiny, win out and we get home field advantage, can't ask for much more Obviously that isn't realistic but we just have to play good football.

[Kerb Hohl]

Kudos to Tampa, but as they play their division more and less NFC West opponents, they'll slowly fade away.

EDIT: Their schedule is easier than I had once thought. I guess they'll have a shot.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I like our chances to get a bye. Biggest game on the schedule may end up being @ATL.

[shaolin34]

Tampa could really get to 10 wins with their remaining schedule: @SF, @BAL, ATL, @WAS, DET, SEA, @NO. I really wouldn't be surprised if they went 4-3 during that stretch and finish the season 10-6.

Atlanta gets to play Carolina twice yet, @STL and @SEA. GB and NO at home and @TB are their only real challenges, 11-5 or better seems very possible.

New Orleans gets SEA, STL, and TB at home, winnable road games against CIN and DAL, and tough road games against BAL and ATL. They're not playing as well as last year but I think they finish 11-5.

New York and Philly still have to play each other twice, so that's good news for us, either they neutralize each other or one team pulls away. It looks like New York has the easier schedule, they play WAS twice, JAX, and @ GB/MIN.

Philly plays @WAS (tonight), CHI, and DAL, and home against HOU, MIN, DAL. If Washington wins tonight they're 5-4 and still very much alive. That whole division will continue to beat itself up, so hopefully only 1 team comes out of there with 10+ wins.

And we know the Bears have a killer schedule to end the year, I can't picture them finishing better than 9-7 at best with road games @MIA, DET, MIN, and GB and home against PHI, NE, and NYJ.

So honestly I think Atlanta, Tampa, and New Orleans all have a better shot at making the postseason over the 2nd NFC East team or the Bears.

[Wilford Brimley]

If my math is correct, if we win out (highly unlikely, I'll be honest) but if we do, we get the #1 seed.

Reason being, winning out kicks ATL and NYG out of the picture, and should PHI NO, and TB also win out (thus tying us at 13-3), we own the tiebreaker vs PHI because we beat them, and NO and TB based on common opponents.

[Kerb Hohl]

If my math is correct, if we win out (highly unlikely, I'll be honest) but if we do, we get the #1 seed.

Reason being, winning out kicks ATL and NYG out of the picture, and should PHI NO, and TB also win out (thus tying us at 13-3), we own the tiebreaker vs PHI because we beat them, and NO and TB based on common opponents.

Well NO AND TB cannot both win out anyways...

[Wilford Brimley]

If my math is correct, if we win out (highly unlikely, I'll be honest) but if we do, we get the #1 seed.

Reason being, winning out kicks ATL and NYG out of the picture, and should PHI NO, and TB also win out (thus tying us at 13-3), we own the tiebreaker vs PHI because we beat them, and NO and TB based on common opponents.

Well NO AND TB cannot both win out anyways...

Exceellllent.

[LUKE23]

Update:

NFC

1. Falcons (1st NFC South; 8-2)
2. Eagles (1st NFC East; 7-3)
3. Bears (1st NFC North; 7-3)
4. Seahawks (1st NFC West; 5-5)
5. Saints (2nd NFC South; 7-3)
6. Packers (2nd NFC North; 7-3)

In the hunt: Giants 6-4, Buccaneers 7-3, Rams 4-6, Redskins 5-5.

Basically Out: Vikings 3-7, 49ers 3-7, Cardinals 3-7.

ELIMINATED: Panthers 1-9, Lions 2-8, Cowboys 3-7.

[LUKE23]

and remaining schedules:

ATL (8-2) vs. GB at TB at CAR at SEA vs. NO vs. CAR
NO (7-3) at DAL at CIN vs. STL at BAL at ATL vs. TB
CHI (7-3) vs. PHI at DET vs. NE at MIN vs. NYJ at GB
GB (7-3) at ATL vs. SF at DET at NE vs. NYG vs. CHI
PHI (7-3) at CHI vs. HOU at DAL at NYG vs. MIN vs. DAL
TB (7-3) at BAL vs. ATL at WAS vs. DET vs. SEA at NO
NYG (6-4) vs. JAX vs. WAS at MIN vs. PHI at GB at WAS
WAS (5-5) vs. MIN at NYG vs. TB at DAL at JAX vs. NYG

[chuckleslove]

Update:

NFC

1. Falcons (1st NFC South; 8-2)
2. Eagles (1st NFC East; 7-3)
3. Bears (1st NFC North; 7-3)
4. Seahawks (1st NFC West; 5-5)
5. Saints (2nd NFC South; 7-3)
6. Packers (2nd NFC North; 7-3)

In the hunt: Giants 6-4, Buccaneers 7-3, Rams 4-6, Redskins 5-5.

Basically Out: Vikings 3-7, 49ers 3-7, Cardinals 3-7.

ELIMINATED: Panthers 1-9, Lions 2-8, Cowboys 3-7.

I disagree with the 49ers and Cardinals being out, I'm assuming Seattle is going to lose next week and move to 5-6 and whoever wins their MNF game will be 4-7 and only a game back Other than that though I agree with your other assessments

[an_also]

and remaining schedules:

ATL (8-2) vs. GB at TB at CAR at SEA vs. NO vs. CAR
NO (7-3) at DAL at CIN vs. STL at BAL at ATL vs. TB
CHI (7-3) vs. PHI at DET vs. NE at MIN vs. NYJ at GB
GB (7-3) at ATL vs. SF at DET at NE vs. NYG vs. CHI
PHI (7-3) at CHI vs. HOU at DAL at NYG vs. MIN vs. DAL
TB (7-3) at BAL vs. ATL at WAS vs. DET vs. SEA at NO
NYG (6-4) vs. JAX vs. WAS at MIN vs. PHI at GB at WAS
WAS (5-5) vs. MIN at NYG vs. TB at DAL at JAX vs. NYG

ATL has 2 potential losses
NO has 2-3 potential losses
CHI has 4 potential losses
GB has 3 potential losses
PHI has 1 potential loss
TB has 3 potential losses

[Mags FTW]

Tampa Bay is annoying.

[Wilford Brimley]

lol @ Tampa Bay's cupcake schedule down the stretch.

[LUKE23]

lol @ Tampa Bay's cupcake schedule down the stretch.

They do play Baltimore, Atlanta, and New Orleans as three of their six. I actually think they lose their next two and at Washington with Washington playing for its playoff lives is no gimme either.

[MickeyDavis]

A win vs. Falcons and a Bears loss to Philly moves us from 6 to 1.

[Newz]

It kind of sucks to be 7-3 and be in the position where we could easily be on the outside looking in.

[LUKE23]

It will work itself out as long a we win at least 10.

ATL (8-2) at TB vs. NO
NO (7-3) at ATL vs. TB
CHI (7-3) at GB
GB (7-3) vs. CHI
PHI (7-3) at NYG
TB (7-3) at NO
NYG (6-4) vs. WAS vs. PHI at WAS
WAS (5-5) at NYG vs. NYG

Lots of divisional games left, teams will beat each other up, especially in the South. No way the South or East gets three teams barring an absolute miracle, and we know the West is only getting one.

Personally, I feel TB is the one in trouble. They are at Baltimore then vs. the Falcons and end at New Orleans.

[Kerb Hohl]

lol @ Tampa Bay's cupcake schedule the entire season.

Fixed.

I believe I added up their opponents' records that they've beaten so far:

14-36.

If you count Carolina twice (they've beaten them twice),

15-45.

EDIT: I was missing a game or something. 17-53.

[chuckleslove]

When calculating SOS you do count Carolina twice since they played them twice. I had no idea their schedule was that easy