NFC Playoff Picture

by Tom Nieradka
Editorial. Photos by AP News

Down to only 6 games now, a week after my AFC Playoff predictions lets go ahead and take a look at the NFC.

NFC East: Winner: Philadelphia Eagles…..Wildcard Contender: Dallas Cowboys

The NFC East is probably the biggest disappointment of a division in the NFL this year.

Before the season people were calling for the Giants (6-5), Eagles (7-4), and Cowboys (8-3) to be three of the elite teams in the league, but unfortunately each team is barely managing to assert itself as the elite team of its division.

Starting at the bottom with the Redskins (3-8) the breakout year for Jason Campell is looking more and more like it is never coming. And with Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley out, this team has no shot. The Giants defense is looking terrible, and the offense is subpar at best. And now that Eli Manning is re-injured and they have three upcoming games against their NFC East rivals, 8-8 is looking like a real possibility. The Eagles are also looking at a somewhat tough schedule with games against Denver, Dallas, and Atlanta coming up. However with Atlanta beaten and Denver and Dallas doing everything possible to disprove themselves as legit contenders, it is very possible that the Eagles can win three or four of their last five games.

Speaking of the Cowboys, they currently sit in first somehow. Their coaching has looked bad all year, as has Romo and most of the wide receiving corps. They get hit with the Giants, Chargers, Saints, Eagles, and Redskins to end the year, and I only have them winning one or two of those games (Giants and Skins) which would put them at 10-6.

NFC North: Winner: Minnesota Vikings….Wildcard Contender: Green Bay Packers

The Brett Favre division continues to be dominated (after a year off of course) by none other than Brett Favre. Off to one of his best seasons since the invention of the automobile, his Vikings sit atop the division at 10-1. They have a somewhat challenging two games coming up against the Cardinals and Bengals, but 14-2 is a very real possibility.

Firmly seated in second place are the Brett Favre-less Packers (7-4). It actually seems like a good thing that Favre is gone right now because if Favre was getting hit as much as Aaron Rogers is he would have already had two hip replacement surgeries and an artificial ribcage by now. Nevertheless Green Bay continues to perform well as a high tier team, and with their winnable schedule ahead they should cruise to a 10-6 finish.

The other two teams are barely worth mentioning, but below the Packers sit the Bears (4-7) and the Lions (2-9). The Bears had high expectations with their brand new QB Jay Cutler, but 20 interceptions later the investment is not looking very promising (could Cutler demand a trade after this season as well?). On the flip side The Lions are having a great season by their standards. Calvin Johnson has been hurt and Stafford has played well for a rookie, and if they could steal one more win the season would go down as a great success (they probably won’t get the win, but the season still will be a big improvement).

NFC South: Winner: New Orleans Saints….Wildcard Contender: Atlanta Falcons

The NFC South features another one of the elite teams in football in the New Orleans Saints (10-0). Their big win Monday night over the Patriots has officially and undoubtedly cemented them as the team to beat in the NFC (or NFL for that matter). With Drew Brees leading the charge and the much improved defense not allowing the other teams to keep pace, their 38-17 spanking of the Pats means that it is now very possible the Saints could grab that coveted 16-0 record.

Below the Saints sit the breakout contender Falcons (6-5), who seem to have recently decided that they’re not really that into breaking out after all. With Matt Ryan and Michael Turner down this team will finish around 8-8. As for the others, the Panthers (4-7) and the Buccaneers (1-10) are out of playoff contention barring a miracle.

Jake Delhomme reverted to the Jake we all know and love throwing four picks to the Jets, and without a good QB and a wide receiver to complement Steve Smith you can have all the best running backs in the world and still not make the playoffs. And the Bucs should be thankful that the Packers took a week off and handed them a win….I don’t see them getting anymore.

NFC West: Winner: Arizona Cardinals…..Wildcard Contender: San Francisco 49ers

The NFC West again proves that it is still one of the worst divisions in football.

The reigning NFC Champ Cardinals (7-4) are not the same team that they were last year (they still have the players, but they lost the magic), however a cushy schedule should see them to 10-6. Below them are Singletary’s 49ers (5-6) who should end up at .500 on the backs of Alex Smith and Vernon Davis. The 4-7 Seahawks will not be making a push anytime soon and look at about their usual level of mediocre on the bad side.

And then the Rams (1-10) continue to make a case for themselves as the worst team in football. However with Steven Jackson still on the team vs. no elite players for the Browns, I think we all know who that title goes to.

The Final Cut:

1. New Orleans Saints (first round bye, home field throughout)

2. Minnesota Vikings (first round bye)

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Arizona Cardinals

5. Green Bay Packers

6. Dallas Cowboys (gasp)