NFC Playoff Picture, Week 14

The NFL playoffs are just around the corner, and though most New England fans seem to think the playoffs are just a formality this year, plenty of teams are still chasing that shiny Lombardi Trophy. With that in mind, here's a look at how the NFC playoff race is stacking up at this point in the season...

Seed	Team	Record	Div.	Conf.
1	Dallas Cowboys	11-1	4-0	8-0
2	Green Bay Packers	10-2	3-1	7-2
3	Seattle Seahawks	8-4	4-1	7-2
4	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8-4	4-0	7-2
5	New York Giants	8-4	2-2	6-4
6	Arizona Cardinals	6-6	2-2	3-5
--	Detroit Lions	6-6	3-2	4-6
--	Minnesota Vikings	6-6	2-3	4-5

TIEBREAKERS:

Seattle wins the tiebreaker over Tampa Bay based on head-to-head matchup.
Detroit wins the tiebreaker over Minnesota based on division record.
Arizona wins the tiebreaker over Detroit based on head-to-head matchup.

I know it's hard to believe, and if you're Will Leitch, you're probably wondering how they'll blow it this time, but yes, if the season ended today, the Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals would be in the playoffs.

How did this happen, you ask? Aside from the sort of favorable call that rarely goes their way, it comes down to this: three teams are 6-6, and two of them are in the same division. The NFL applies divisional tiebreakers first, and despite the Minnesota Vikings big win over Detroit last week, they split their games this year, so the Lions still win the tiebreaker based on division record -- and the Cardinals beat the Lions earlier this year.

Thus, the Buzzsaw is currently a playoff team, and it has some very winnable games left. 9-7 is not unreasonable, and given how the rest of the NFC is underperforming -- the sheer number of 5-7 no-hopers is stunning here, folks -- that ought to be enough.

Before you get all excited, Cards fans, just remember that your team is still two games behind the Seahawks and is flying to Seattle this week. A Seahawks win next Sunday ends the NFC West race right then and there. The only thing Seattle would have left to play for is to avoid the Giants in the first round.

Then again, if Minnesota jumps ahead of Arizona and Detroit -- and you'll see in the list of games why that's likely to happen -- maybe the 'Hawks would prefer seeing Eli Manning instead of Purple Jesus in the playoffs.

Oh, by the way, the Cowboys have the inside track to home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Packers still look likely to get a first-round bye, of course, but if the Cowboys and Packers meet again, A.) it will be in Dallas, and B.) cable TV subscribers won't have to go to a sports bar to watch it.

THIS WEEK'S IMPACT GAMES (All Times Eastern):

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks (SUN, 4:05 PM, FOX): Look! An NFC West Showdown! How cute! A Seattle win puts Arizona's playoff hopes in jeopardy. Why?
Minnesota Vikings @ San Francisco 49ers (SUN, 4:05 PM, FOX): This is why. Folks, I watched the 49ers on Sunday. Words cannot describe how horrid they are. If Minnesota blows this one, they deserve to stay home after New Year's Day.
Dallas Cowboys @ Detroit Lions (SUN, 1:00 PM, FOX): Hey, remember last year when Detroit upset Dallas and cost themselves the #1 draft pick, not that it matter that much? The Lions have something meaningful to play for against the Cowboys this time. Could they do it again, or are they back to the old Detroit for good this year?
Oakland Raiders @ Green Bay Packers (SUN, 1:00 PM, CBS): The Packers want to keep playing Brett Favre here. Unless he really does heal faster than Wolverine, I can't understand why. If Aaron Rodgers plays like he did against Dallas, the Packers can win this. Their defense has something to prove here, and the Raiders tend to let teams not based in Denver prove something regularly.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Houston Texans (SUN, 1:00 PM, FOX): The Bucs have a three-game lead and tiebreakers over everyone in the NFC South with four games to go. Only an executive order from the President could keep them from hosting a playoff game now. The Bucs might let up a little here, though, after last week's big win.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles (SUN, 1:00 PM, FOX): Have the Eagles been reduced to playing spoiler? It certainly appears that way. This could be a fairly ugly game in terms of quarterbacking.

Bookmark this page and visit it every Tuesday at noon EST for the latest NFC playoff picture. Click here for the latest AFC playoff picture.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-04-2007 @ 1:06PM

Peter said...

"If Minnesota blows this one, they deserve to stay home after New Year's Day."

Agreed. The Vikings ought to be able to win handily, but this is the kind of game I'm used to seeing them drop.

12-04-2007 @ 1:28PM

Kustie the Klown said...

Nobody on that list is capable of beating the cowboys.

12-05-2007 @ 9:48AM

Tony said...

The Minnesota Vikings are going to get into the playoffs, and they may get the chance to win it all, they can play with anyone, they will change people minds, and have the best running game in football, no question about that, go Vikes !!

12-04-2007 @ 2:32PM

Everyone on that list is CAPABLE of beating the Cowboys. Don't get too arrogant, or the Vikings will come into Dallas and embarass you :)

12-04-2007 @ 4:41PM

tobrien28 said...

The Vikings are getting way too much credit. They beat easy opponents and the Giants when their QB gave one of the worst performances in his life. They will lose to Denver and the Redskins and miss the playoffs at 8-8.

12-04-2007 @ 5:15PM

There's no way the Vikings lose to Denver. Minnesota had the best rushing offense and Denver has the 2nd worst rushing defense. Also, the Vikings will control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball all day.

I'm honestly more worried about the Bears surprising everyone on Monday Night Football in a couple of weeks, or the trap game in San Fransisco this week.

12-04-2007 @ 7:00PM

rowdy harger said...

like a cowboy or packer fans comment matters to a vikes fan. If Fav-Re goes down or has bad game see ya packers, if romo goes down later boys, if tavaris shows up, you all lose.. the pack constantly put 8 or 9 in th box, tavaris couldnt hit crap. you could key on AP. Its funny about the giants. they lost because of what?? eli's bad game? every vikings win came from the other team having a bad day? I cant wait to watch the boys and the packers next bad day, next time they meet the vikes!!!

12-04-2007 @ 7:13PM

byron wheeler said...

With 12 drive killing penalties and their best pass defender (Henry) out, Dallas was driving to tie the game late in the 3rd quarter. The Cowboys obviously have the only chance of beating New England in the Super Bowl...end of story!

12-04-2007 @ 10:24PM

eagles8707 said...

Dallas, Green Bay, Tampa and Seattle are the contenders because they have the best QB's. Dallas is the team with the least likely chance against New England because they have the worst pass defense out ot those four and Seattle has the best followed by Green Bay. Seattle gets the nod because Trufant is the best corner in the NFC right now, and their safties haven't given up a touchdown pass over 20 yards all season. Don't think any of them will beat the Patriots though. Seattle could catch Green Bay for the 2nd seed if they are not careful. Seattle has an easy schedule and Green Bay would have a worse conference record if they both finished 12-4, it is unlikely but possible.

12-05-2007 @ 5:23PM

All these Vikings fans are fools. They think the Vikings are legit because they have a 3 game winning streak. Right now the Lions can't beat anyone, the Giants had their worst game of the century and the other teams the Vikings have beaten are not very good. They will lose to the Broncos and the Chargers.

12-07-2007 @ 6:30PM

uh, toby, the Vikings already beat the Chargers.

There is no way they lose to the Broncos. Won't happen.