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*
|
12-2
|
4-1
|
9-1
|
|
2
|
Green Bay Packers*
|
12-2
|
3-1
|
8-2
|
|
3
|
Seattle Seahawks*
|
9-5
|
5-1
|
8-3
|
|
4
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
|
9-5
|
5-0
|
8-2
|
|
5
|
New York Giants
|
9-5
|
3-3
|
7-5
|
|
6
|
Minnesota Vikings
|
8-6
|
3-3
|
6-5
|
|
--
|
New Orleans Saints
|
7-7
|
3-3
|
6-4
|
|
--
|
Washington Redskins
|
7-7
|
2-3
|
5-6
|
* - Clinched division title.
TIEBREAKERS:
- Dallas has the tiebreaker on Green Bay based on head-to-head record.
- Seattle has the tiebreaker on Tampa Bay based on head-to-head record.
Just because these division races are done and dusted doesn't mean that the division winners don't have some incentive here in the next few weeks.
The Cowboys laid a rather stunning egg against the Eagles on Sunday, which makes Tony Romo 0-2 whenever some hot blonde singer he's nailing is sitting in a luxury box watching the game. What's worse, Romo's thumb will be a hotter topic of conversation this week, as will the variety of injuries the Cowboys suffered in that game. Could it cost them home field advantage? The Packers are certainly playing like they want it, and if they could force the NFC title through Green Bay in January, all the better for them.
The race for the #3 seed is less defined, and quite honestly, I'm starting to suspect the Seahawks would rather take on the Giants in the first round than the Vikings, Redskins or Saints, who are all duking it out for that last Wild Card spot. Minnesota did itself a huge favor by beating the Bears at home on Monday night, but as this weekend's Sunday night game shows us, these Vikings may control their own destiny, but they're far from in the clear.
Incidentally, Minnesota has a head-to-head tiebreaker on the Giants. I wonder if that might come into play later.
THIS WEEK'S IMPACT GAMES (All Times Eastern):
- Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers (SAT, 8:00 PM, NFLN). Everyone in Green Bay just became bigger Panthers fans than everyone in Charlotte. Cowboys fans, however, may find plenty of tickets available from Panthers fans for this one. Bad things tend to happen to the Panthers whenever they have to face Dallas in Charlotte. Then again, I was so sure the Seahawks would win in Charlotte last weekend.
- Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears (SUN, 1:00 PM, FOX). The curse of the Super Bowl loser continues for Chicago, but perhaps they can still spoil the Packers' hopes for a #1 seed. After watching that Monday night game, though, I would advise all fans to bypass holding their breath for that.
- Baltimore Ravens @ Seattle Seahawks (SUN, 4:15 PM, CBS). Have the Seahawks taken their collective foot off the gas, or are they just a team that can't run on anyone? We'll find out how bad their running game really is against this team.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Francisco 49ers (SUN, 4:05 PM, FOX). This would be Jon Gruden's victory lap, though it might be a bittersweet one, given that Chucky got his NFL start in San Fran.
- New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills (SUN, 1:00 PM, FOX). Just when you think the Giants will claim their spot in the playoffs, they go and choke at home against a division rival. Can they finally get over the hump upstate? And are Seattle and Tampa Bay really all that afraid of facing these guys?
- Washington Redskins @ Minnesota Vikings (SUN, 8:15 PM, NBC). It's another elimination special in the NFC. The winner could get the inside track to the final Wild Card spot...
- Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints (SUN, 1:00 PM, CBS). ...assuming the Saints don't sneak up and take it away from them. The Eagles showed some determination last weekend in Dallas. Can they do the same in New Orleans, something they couldn't do last January?
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)
12-18-2007 @ 12:17PM
Justin said...
Follow the equation:
Jessica Simpson in the stands of Bank of America Stadium + Tony Romo - Roy Williams = Victory for the Panthers
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 2:10PM
Jack Mac said...
"bad things seem to happen to the Panthers when they have to face Dallas in Charlotte" ?? I recall attending two playoff games in Charlotte when Panthers easily handled Cowboys.
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 2:13PM
Dave said...
Jack: At least one of those playoff games involved Quincy Carter, who may or may not have been high at the time. The last two regular season affairs have seen the Panthers drop more passes than Dick Schaap dropped names. Popular wisdom seems to think the Eagles may have wounded the Cowboys last week, but I've become too much of a skeptic lately to buy into that -- even after the whole egg incident.
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 6:21PM
Jay said...
Jessica Simpson got almost as much camera time Sunday as Tony Romo. Maybe Tony should remember he's a professional football player, and let Jessica stay home. It just might help him play better.
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 7:35PM
tobrien28 said...
The Buccaneers shouldn't be afraid of the Giants? The only reason the Giants lost on Sunday was because they passed 52 times in crappy weather. I was at that game and the play callers should have heard the entire stadium booing when they called a pass on first or second down. In Sunny Florida however the Bucs will be facing a team that is 6-1 on the road, has a punishing pass defense and running game and (despite what you may have heard) a good quarterback.
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 7:36PM
tobrien28 said...
Also the Vikings have one of the easiest schedules out there. I am personally rooting for the Vikings to make the playoffs because i want to see all those morons in the media see they are less than mediocre.
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 8:33PM
brett favre lover said...
IT IS KINDA FUNNY THAT EVERY TIME ROMO HAS A "CELEBERTY" GIRLFRIEND THERE HE PLAYS. BAD. CARRIE UNDERWOOD, NOW JESSICA SIMPSON. HA. THEY NEED TO KEEP COMMING TO GAMES.
Reply
12-18-2007 @ 9:31PM
A. C. Smith said...
Love how everyone wants to bash the Vikings...bring your running game on and see what happens when you have to pass! Oh and you better be ready to tackle..coming at you...mediocre...RIGHT?
Reply
12-19-2007 @ 7:45AM
Steve said...
Hey A.C. - LOL...yeah, that running game by the Vikings really lit it up in Green Bay didn't they? Boy, those Vikings are a real powerhouse against - umm..let's see, the Bears? The Chiefs? The Lions? Yuk Yuk Yuk..And your boy Peterson? LOL..70 yards on how many carries? The only reason the Bears didn't hand your Viqueens their collective asses was because the Bears offense was more pathetic than your Queens' was. But hey, keep hoping for them to make the playoffs - bring their little poofty "dome" butts to Lambeau - THAT will be a sight to see..ROFL
Reply
12-20-2007 @ 10:44AM
Peter said...
toby's taking the Giants' loss to the Vikings awfully hard. He has to find every Vikings post and make a negative comment. How sad.
Hey Steve, I seem to recall Minnesota embarassing San Diego with bot their run offense and run defense. And if the Vikings do make it to Lambeau in the playoffs, well, just don't you forget about the year GB swept MN in the regular season and then got trounced in the first round of the playoffs. Hope to see you there, chump.
Reply