As we hit the stretch run of our first season of GridIron version 2, the NFC playoff picture is still full of several teams pushing for a birth. There are a total of 11 teams pushing still fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
Locks:
1. Green Bay Packers (12-1): The Packers locked up the NFC north last week after beating the Lions, and can lock up the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win this week, and a Giants loss. Easily the strongest team in the league, and the favorite right now to win the GridIron Bowl. They have demolished nearly every team in their path, only having one setback against the Cowboys in week nine.
2. New York Giants (9-3): The Giants were cruising most of the season, but have lost two of the last three. The Giants can lock up the east by winning the next two, and it would take an all out collapse for them to miss the playoffs.
Still have work to do, but control their own destiny
1. Atlanta Falcons (9-4): The Falcons currently lead the south, but the Saints are hot on their trail. If they can win two of their final three games, or beat the Saints next week, they will wrap up the south. The will need some help from the Giants if they hope to lock up a first round bye.
2. Minnesota Vikings (8-4): The Vikings are fighting for a wildcard birth, but they hold the keys if they keep winning. There is a log jam behind them, and the most important game could be a match up with the Bears next week. A loss here could cause them to either miss the playoffs, or allow the Bears to enter the mix.
3. Arizona Cardinals (8-4): The Cards currently lead the west, but the 49ers, who already beat them once this season, are hot on their tail. They will need to finish strong or hope for a 49ers collapse.
Still alive and kicking
1. New Orleans Saints (8-5): The Saints still have a shot at the division, but they will need some help from the teams playing Atlanta. They are in a good position if they win out, but they have several teams threatening them. Luckily for the Saints, they are getting hot at the right time, winning their last four games.
2. San Francisco 49ers (7-5): The 49ers are hot on the Cards tail feathers for the NFC west, and after beating them early in the season, if both teams keep winning, the week 17 matchup could determine the division winner. After losing earlier in the season to the Saints, it could be tough to grab the final wild card spot if both teams finish strong.
3. Chicago Bears (7-5): The Bears probably have the toughest road to snag one of the final playoff spots. They still have the Patriots, Vikings, and Packers left on the schedule, and almost need to win out to get in, they could probably afford only one loss tops. The defense has carried this team, along with Matt Forte, all season long, and with a bad quarterback, they need to be huge these last four weeks.
4. Washington Redskins (7-6): They need to win out, and get a lot of help, but its still possible to sneak into the playoffs. A loss all but eliminates them.
5. Dallas Cowboys (6-6): Plain and simple they must win out and hope for a lot of teams in front of them to lose.
6. St. Louis Rams (4-
: There is only one thing the can do. Pray. The Rams need Arizona to lose out, 49ers to lose all games but the Arizona game, and hope the tiebreakers work in their favor.
My Predictions
1. Packers
2. Giants
3. Falcons
4. 49ers
5. Vikings
6. Saints
