With only 5 weeks remaining and some inexcusable losses coming in week 12 who's still got a chance and how will the Playoff Spots Breakdown in the NFC.
Cruisin Towards a Bye
Chicago Bears
Likely Spot: NFC North Champs #1 seed
Despite the loss against the Pats this weekend the Bears will need a collapse down the stretch to yield the number 1 spot in the NFC to any of its competetion. After the Bears went 2-1 on their difficult Northeast Road Trip the Bears should cruise to the seasonal finish line while hopefully improving Rex Grossman's decision making and production.
Remaining Schedule: Minn, @Stl, TB, @Det, GB
Fighting for a Bye
Dallas Cowboys
Likely Spot: NFC East Champs #2 or #3 seed
The Cowboys are currently playing like the best team in the NFC East but as we have seen with other teams, aka Giants Bears, its not that difficult to fall off the perch. A loss to the Giants gives the Cowboys a legitimate shot at losing the division as they would no longer control their own destiny. A win and they have a 2 game lead and will be battling the remainder of the season to take a bye week away from the Seahawks or Saints.
Remaining Schedule: @NYG, NO, @ATL, PHI, DET
Seattle Seahawks
Likely Spot: NFC West Champs #2 or #3 seed
The Seahawks have snuck under the raider to a 7-4 record and have 3 remaining games on their schedule that would be shocking if they lost. If they could ever beat a newly QBed Denver Broncos team this week they could easily set themselves up with a Bye week and the ever important playoff game at Qwest field. It's really amazing that a team that lost their QB and RB for an extensive period of time, combined with terrible rush defense for the majority of the season is in a position to go 11-5 for the season. A solid coaching job by big Mike.
Remaining Schedule: @DEN, @ARI, SF, SD, @TB
NFC South Battle
New Orleans Saints
Likely Spot: NFC South Winner #4 Seed or Wildcard #5
The feel good story of the year and the best offense of the season comes down the stretch with a one game lead over the rival Panthers with three very difficult games remaining on their five game schedule. If they can get past San Francisco and Washington, both at home, and all signs point to yes, than they will need to win atleast one of those difficult games preferably against the Panthers. How exciting would a last week of the season battle for the South title in the Superdome be?
Remaining Schedule: SF, @DAL, WAS, @NYG, CAR
Carolina Panthers
Likely Spot: NFC South Winner #4 Seed or Wildcard #5
Last weeks loss to the Redskins was both very confusing and unexcusable. A week after shutting out the Rams completely they head to Washington and give up a game winning drive to Jason Campbell? Huh? Also with Steve Smith and Keyshawn on offense shouldn't this team be putting up more points than 13 every week? That last week of the season in the Superdome they could be tied but they will need to find an offensive grove to beat the Saints who haven't been stopped by anyone other than themselves when they committ foolish turnovers.
Remaining Schedule: @PHI, NYG, PIT, @ATL, @NO
Attempting to Endure the Storm
New York Giants
Likely Spot: Wildcard #6 Seed
As I said yesterday the Giants have many issues but they still are in the driver's seat despite all of their problems to gain a wildcard spot. First no matter if they lose this week they will still be at the worst tied for the final wild card spot, with the tiebreaker. See the Giants lost 3 of their games to the AFC meaning their conference record, aka the tie-breaker following head to head, is better than every 5-6 team. The Giants just might be able to go 8-8 and still make the playoffs, in fact I think that is a distinct possibility, as when you look at the 5-6 teams schedules all seemingly have 2 losses on their schedule.
Remaining Schedule: DAL, @CAR, PHI, NO, @WAS
The 5-6 Brigade
St. Louis Rams
Likely Spot: Tied with the G-Men, Tiebreakered Out
The Rams have the best path of all the 5-6 teams. They play three games against teams that are far out of the playoffs, play their one very difficutly game at home in their dome, and by the time they face the Vikings in the final game of the season they could be completely out. In addition that game is also played in a dome, not a huge disadvantage for the Rams. With that being said, I do not foresee the Rams having a chance and winning their final 5 games, and would find it difficult to foresee them winning four games simply due to their inconsistancy this season and the lost focus on getting Tory Holt the ball. They'll probably end up with the same record as the G-Men but get axed due to a tiebreaker.
Remaining Schedule: ARI, CHI, @OAK, WAS, @MIN
Minnesota Vikings
Likely Spot: On the Fringe, but just out of the postseason
And the key game for the Vikings is this weekend at Soldier Field, win it and they could move into a tie with the G-Men or the Panthers for the final wildcard spot and sit with a relatively easy remaining schedule to possibly go 9-7. Lose it and then they sit needing to win their final four games and they just do not appear to be a consistant enough offensive team to win four games in a row weak schedule or not.
Remaining Schedule: @CHI, @DET, NYJ, @GB, @STL
San Francisco 49ers
Likely Spot: Overachieved in 06, but not to the playoffs
The 49ers have had a fantastic season given the expectations and have made enough progress to think that they in fact won't always be a doormat in the NFC West. This season however, they really have no chance at the playoffs with three deadly road games and the need to go 4-1 down the stretch run. If those three road games against 7-4 squads were played in San Fran I would give them a remote shot, but they aren't going to win in Seattle or Denver at the end of the season when both will need games to improve their postseason positioning.
Remaining Schedule: @NO, GB, @SEA, ARI, @DEN
Philadelphia Eagles
Likely Spot: Far, Far Away from the Playoffs
The Eagles only hope for surviving the Donovan McNabb injury was for their defense to stop up and start playing big. Well the sign from Sunday night was that they're terrible. They single handedly put Joseph Addai in the rookie of the year debate, and now have a huge game against the Panthers if they want any shot of making the playoffs. They hold no tie-breaker over the Giants and if you think they will win their last 4 games with Jeff Garcia at the helm, you are a dillusional person.
Remaining Schedule: CAR, @WAS, @NYG, @DAL, ATL
Atlanta Falcons
Likely Spot: Jim Mora Fired
This team just might implode coming down the final five games of the season. There is obvious tension everywhere around this team from the Quarterback to the Coach, QB to every Wideout, QB to fans, Fans to Wideouts, nothing is stable on this team right now. They do have 5 winnable games, but they've already lost multiple winnable games in a row and Vick has to have lost all confidence in his receiver core after their laughable performance against the Saints. One more offseason contemplating whether Michael Vick can ever get it done at the quarterback position.
Remaining Schedule: @WAS, @TB, DAL, CAR, @PHI
Cruisin Towards a Bye
Chicago Bears
Likely Spot: NFC North Champs #1 seed
Despite the loss against the Pats this weekend the Bears will need a collapse down the stretch to yield the number 1 spot in the NFC to any of its competetion. After the Bears went 2-1 on their difficult Northeast Road Trip the Bears should cruise to the seasonal finish line while hopefully improving Rex Grossman's decision making and production.
Remaining Schedule: Minn, @Stl, TB, @Det, GB
Fighting for a Bye
Dallas Cowboys
Likely Spot: NFC East Champs #2 or #3 seed
The Cowboys are currently playing like the best team in the NFC East but as we have seen with other teams, aka Giants Bears, its not that difficult to fall off the perch. A loss to the Giants gives the Cowboys a legitimate shot at losing the division as they would no longer control their own destiny. A win and they have a 2 game lead and will be battling the remainder of the season to take a bye week away from the Seahawks or Saints.
Remaining Schedule: @NYG, NO, @ATL, PHI, DET
Seattle Seahawks
Likely Spot: NFC West Champs #2 or #3 seed
The Seahawks have snuck under the raider to a 7-4 record and have 3 remaining games on their schedule that would be shocking if they lost. If they could ever beat a newly QBed Denver Broncos team this week they could easily set themselves up with a Bye week and the ever important playoff game at Qwest field. It's really amazing that a team that lost their QB and RB for an extensive period of time, combined with terrible rush defense for the majority of the season is in a position to go 11-5 for the season. A solid coaching job by big Mike.
Remaining Schedule: @DEN, @ARI, SF, SD, @TB
NFC South Battle
New Orleans Saints
Likely Spot: NFC South Winner #4 Seed or Wildcard #5
The feel good story of the year and the best offense of the season comes down the stretch with a one game lead over the rival Panthers with three very difficult games remaining on their five game schedule. If they can get past San Francisco and Washington, both at home, and all signs point to yes, than they will need to win atleast one of those difficult games preferably against the Panthers. How exciting would a last week of the season battle for the South title in the Superdome be?
Remaining Schedule: SF, @DAL, WAS, @NYG, CAR
Carolina Panthers
Likely Spot: NFC South Winner #4 Seed or Wildcard #5
Last weeks loss to the Redskins was both very confusing and unexcusable. A week after shutting out the Rams completely they head to Washington and give up a game winning drive to Jason Campbell? Huh? Also with Steve Smith and Keyshawn on offense shouldn't this team be putting up more points than 13 every week? That last week of the season in the Superdome they could be tied but they will need to find an offensive grove to beat the Saints who haven't been stopped by anyone other than themselves when they committ foolish turnovers.
Remaining Schedule: @PHI, NYG, PIT, @ATL, @NO
Attempting to Endure the Storm
New York Giants
Likely Spot: Wildcard #6 Seed
As I said yesterday the Giants have many issues but they still are in the driver's seat despite all of their problems to gain a wildcard spot. First no matter if they lose this week they will still be at the worst tied for the final wild card spot, with the tiebreaker. See the Giants lost 3 of their games to the AFC meaning their conference record, aka the tie-breaker following head to head, is better than every 5-6 team. The Giants just might be able to go 8-8 and still make the playoffs, in fact I think that is a distinct possibility, as when you look at the 5-6 teams schedules all seemingly have 2 losses on their schedule.
Remaining Schedule: DAL, @CAR, PHI, NO, @WAS
The 5-6 Brigade
St. Louis Rams
Likely Spot: Tied with the G-Men, Tiebreakered Out
The Rams have the best path of all the 5-6 teams. They play three games against teams that are far out of the playoffs, play their one very difficutly game at home in their dome, and by the time they face the Vikings in the final game of the season they could be completely out. In addition that game is also played in a dome, not a huge disadvantage for the Rams. With that being said, I do not foresee the Rams having a chance and winning their final 5 games, and would find it difficult to foresee them winning four games simply due to their inconsistancy this season and the lost focus on getting Tory Holt the ball. They'll probably end up with the same record as the G-Men but get axed due to a tiebreaker.
Remaining Schedule: ARI, CHI, @OAK, WAS, @MIN
Minnesota Vikings
Likely Spot: On the Fringe, but just out of the postseason
And the key game for the Vikings is this weekend at Soldier Field, win it and they could move into a tie with the G-Men or the Panthers for the final wildcard spot and sit with a relatively easy remaining schedule to possibly go 9-7. Lose it and then they sit needing to win their final four games and they just do not appear to be a consistant enough offensive team to win four games in a row weak schedule or not.
Remaining Schedule: @CHI, @DET, NYJ, @GB, @STL
San Francisco 49ers
Likely Spot: Overachieved in 06, but not to the playoffs
The 49ers have had a fantastic season given the expectations and have made enough progress to think that they in fact won't always be a doormat in the NFC West. This season however, they really have no chance at the playoffs with three deadly road games and the need to go 4-1 down the stretch run. If those three road games against 7-4 squads were played in San Fran I would give them a remote shot, but they aren't going to win in Seattle or Denver at the end of the season when both will need games to improve their postseason positioning.
Remaining Schedule: @NO, GB, @SEA, ARI, @DEN
Philadelphia Eagles
Likely Spot: Far, Far Away from the Playoffs
The Eagles only hope for surviving the Donovan McNabb injury was for their defense to stop up and start playing big. Well the sign from Sunday night was that they're terrible. They single handedly put Joseph Addai in the rookie of the year debate, and now have a huge game against the Panthers if they want any shot of making the playoffs. They hold no tie-breaker over the Giants and if you think they will win their last 4 games with Jeff Garcia at the helm, you are a dillusional person.
Remaining Schedule: CAR, @WAS, @NYG, @DAL, ATL
Atlanta Falcons
Likely Spot: Jim Mora Fired
This team just might implode coming down the final five games of the season. There is obvious tension everywhere around this team from the Quarterback to the Coach, QB to every Wideout, QB to fans, Fans to Wideouts, nothing is stable on this team right now. They do have 5 winnable games, but they've already lost multiple winnable games in a row and Vick has to have lost all confidence in his receiver core after their laughable performance against the Saints. One more offseason contemplating whether Michael Vick can ever get it done at the quarterback position.
Remaining Schedule: @WAS, @TB, DAL, CAR, @PHI
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