CjayC wrote:I'm not sure if 10 wins will get a wild card spot. Remember the Saints are also 8-3 and they have a piss easy schedule coming up(@ Cincinnati and a game against the Rams). I think 11 wins definitely gets you in, and I'm pretty sure there are a couple of other teams that we have to worry about. Namely the Giants since they own the tie breaker over us and have a relatively easy schedule coming up(2 games left against the Redskins, and a game against Minnesota which they should win).
Right now, you've got 7 teams at 7-4 or better in the NFC, which is pretty crazy. One playoff spot is reserved for a team under .500, so of those 7 teams, only 5 will go.
One likely drop-out is Tampa Bay. Cliff Levingston refuses to believe they're a 7-4 team. They're -4 in point differential on the season and still have games against Atlanta and New Orleans, both teams from in the division that are significantly better.
With that, Atlanta is almost a lock for home-field advantage. They have 2 games left against Carolina, one against Tampa and one against Seattle. Their only tough game left is New Orleans, but that's at home where they've been tough. Might see them go 14-2.
New Orleans has Cincy, St. Louis and Tampa left, but also Baltimore and Atlanta on the road. They could go 3-2 over that stretch, finishing 11-5.
Green Bay has a tough remaining schedule along with us. San Francisco at home should be a win, and they're on the road at Detroit, but they end in New England and against us and the Giants at home. Hard to tell how they'll end up, but it's hard to see them missing the playoffs.
The Giants have two games against Washington left, a game against Minnesota, then Philly at home and Green Bay on the road. Philly has Dallas twice, Houston at home, the Giants on the road and Minnesota at home. That might be the easiest schedule left of all the contenders.
Meanwhile, we've got one of the hardest schedules: all 3 division opponents on the road, then the Pats and Jets at home.
Forgive Cliff Levingston for being pessimistic, but we could easily be left out of the playoffs if we don't keep playing well. Detroit is better than 2-9, Minnesota is better under Frazier and Green Bay to finish the season is tough. The Jets and Pats are basically at the top of their games too.
The bright side of it though is that we're a game up on GB, Philly and NYG... and if we happen to fall to the 5th seed perhaps in front of a team like Philly, then we get a first round matchup against Seattle or St. Louis.