NFC Playoff Picture
With four weeks left, the NFC playoff picture is getting very clear.
- The Cowboys and Packers will get first round byes, barring a complete collapse by either team. The Cowboys appear headed for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
- The Seahawks and Buccaneers both had big wins today. They figure to be the two division winners who will play in the wild card round.
- The Giants are going to be a wild card team. It was a gutsy comeback win over the Bears today, and at 8-4 they are pretty much guaranteed the first wild card position.
- The final wild card spot looks like it’s going to come down to three 6-6 teams. The Lions, Vikings and Cardinals are in the lead to claim the final playoff position. They would face either the Seahawks or the Buccaneers in the wild card round.
Here is a look at the remaining schedule of the three teams battling for the final spot.
Detroit Lions: Dallas, at San Diego, Kansas City and at Green Bay.
Arizona Cardinals: at Seattle, at New Orleans, Atlanta and St. Louis.
Minnesota Vikings: at San Francisco, Chicago, Washington and at Denver.
Forget the Lions. I’ll be surprised if they win two games to finish at 8-8. The final spot is going to come down to the Cardinals and the Vikings. And I think the Vikings have an outstanding chance to take it.
The Vikings were 2-5 through 7 games. They have rebounded and played very good football to find themselves at 6-6 heading down the stretch. And the Vikings are the only one of the three teams who has outscored its opponents for the year.
And with Adrian Peterson, the Vikings run defense, and Tavaris Jackson even starting to resemble an NFL quarterback, I would not want to play this team in the wild card round if I were the Seahawks or the Bucs.
We’ll take a look at the AFC picture after tomorrow night’s game.
