NFL Playoff Race: Predicting the 6 Teams That Will Represent the NFC
December is here. This is where the contenders separate themselves, and the pretenders see their playoff hopes come to an end.
Four weeks remain in the 2014 regular season. In the NFC, the playoff race is especially competitive.
At this point, no team has locked up a playoff berth—yet some control their own destiny. There are also several teams that may need to win out to sneak into the playoffs.
Here are the six NFC teams that will reach the 2014 NFL playoffs.
Near Misses
1 of 7
Before the six teams are revealed, let's first examine three teams that will narrowly miss the NFC playoff field.
Atlanta Falcons
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: at Green Bay (9-3)
Week 15: vs. Pittsburgh (7-5)
Week 16: at New Orleans (5-7)
Week 17: vs. Carolina (3-8-1)
The Falcons (5-7) currently sit atop the NFC South standings because of their head-to-head victory over the Saints in Week 1. On Sunday, they secured an impressive 29-18 win over the Cardinals (9-3) at home.
The problem for the Falcons is their upcoming schedule. On Monday night, they will travel to Green Bay, which is undefeated at home and coming off wins against Philadelphia and New England.
Atlanta then faces a tough test against the AFC-contending Steelers, followed by a trip to New Orleans, which will most likely determine the NFC South winner.
Expect the Falcons to compete but ultimately come up short against Green Bay and New Orleans—leaving them just short of the NFC South title and a playoff berth.
San Francisco 49ers
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: at Oakland (1-11)
Week 15: at Seattle (8-4)
Week 16: vs. San Diego (8-4)
Week 17: vs. Arizona (9-3)
The 49ers (7-5) are on the outside looking in. Coming off a blowout loss on Thanksgiving to Seattle, they are now 1-3 in the division. With a Week 15 trip to Seattle looming, Colin Kaepernick will need to be more effective in the passing game, where he has struggled all season.
However, if Thanksgiving's blowout loss is any indication of how the 49ers offense will play the rest of the season, the 49ers will be on the golf course in January.
Arizona Cardinals
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: vs. Kansas City (7-5)
Week 15: at St. Louis (5-7)
Week 16: vs. Seattle (8-4)
Week 17: at San Francisco (7-5)
Once the clear-cut best team in the NFC, the Cardinals' (9-3) season is spiraling fast. Tyrann Mathieu needs surgery on his thumb. The offense has been anemic.
In fact, before Drew Stanton's garbage-time touchdown in the final minute Sunday, the Cardinals offense had only produced three points in its last 10 quarters.
Looking at the team's schedule, there is not one game that it is clear favorites to win. Kansas City is tough. St. Louis has beaten Denver and Seattle this season. Seattle's defense is formidable. And finally, a trip to San Francisco in Week 17 could have playoff implications for both teams.
Expect the Cardinals to drop at least two more games and come up just short this season, while Seattle steals the NFC West title.
No. 6 Seed: Dallas Cowboys
2 of 7
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: at Chicago (5-7)
Week 15: at Philadelphia (9-3)
Week 16: vs. Indianapolis (8-4)
Week 17: at Washington (3-9)
This is finally the year Tony Romo and the Cowboys will return to the playoffs. Although they looked mediocre on Thanksgiving, a trip to Chicago on Thursday should get them back on track.
Tony Romo has played exceptionally well this season, especially in the second half. Romo has the highest passer rating in the NFL in the second half of games (114.5).
The Cowboys also have DeMarco Murray, who has rushed for 100-plus yards in all but two games this season.
Dallas plays three of its last four games on the road. But this should not be a problem, as Romo and Murray will put up enough points to defeat Chicago and Washington.
The game that will likely decide the team's season comes in Week 16 vs. Indianapolis. Because the Cowboys will be at home, expect Tony Romo to be clutch in the second half and lead them to a close victory—setting them up for Wild Card Weekend.
No. 5 Seed: Detroit Lions
3 of 7
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay (2-10)
Week 15: vs. Minnesota (5-7)
Week 16: at Chicago (5-7)
Week 17: at Green Bay (9-3)
The Lions would be the fifth seed in the NFC if the season ended today. With a favorable schedule the rest of the season, there's no reason Detroit should miss out on the playoffs.
The next two weeks, the team will host the Bucs and the Vikings. The Lions should win both of these games.
They will then travel to Chicago, before a rematch with Green Bay at Lambeau Field. The Lions have not won in Green Bay since 1991. However, expect the Lions to take care of the Bears before heading to Wisconsin.
With Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford firing on all cylinders, the Lions should clinch a playoff berth heading into Week 17—making the potential loss to the Packers in the final week irrelevant.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
No. 4 Seed: New Orleans Saints
4 of 7
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: vs. Carolina (3-8-1)
Week 15: at Chicago (5-7)
Week 16: vs. Atlanta (5-7)
Week 17: at Tampa Bay (2-10)
The Saints are having a disappointing season in 2014. Yet they are right with the Falcons at the top of the NFC South standings.
Their schedule is also about as favorable as it gets. All four opponents are below .500.
On Sunday, New Orleans should easily handle the hapless Panthers at home, while Atlanta will be hard-pressed to come out on top against Green Bay on Monday night. This will allow the Saints to control their own destiny in the NFC South.
In a game that will likely decide the NFC South, the Saints should avenge their Week 1 loss to Atlanta due to their home-field advantage.
Additionally, if Drew Brees can build off his five-touchdown performance on Sunday at Pittsburgh, the Saints could be a dark horse in the NFC in January.
No. 3 Seed: Philadelphia Eagles
5 of 7
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: vs. Seattle (8-4)
Week 15: vs. Dallas (8-4)
Week 16: at Washington (3-9)
Week 17: at New York Giants (3-9)
Eagles fans were likely concerned following a 53-20 blowout loss to Green Bay in Week 11. Since then, the team's offense has responded—especially the running game.
In a Thanksgiving win over Dallas, LeSean McCoy rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles controlled the game throughout. McCoy has now rushed for 100-plus yards in consecutive weeks.
With McCoy getting back into form, it will alleviate some pressure off of Mark Sanchez. When Sanchez is comfortable, he looks like a quarterback capable of leading the Eagles to a division title.
On Sunday, the Eagles will host the resurgent Seahawks. Expect a close game with Seattle, which will come out on top. However, Philadelphia will be favorites over Dallas at home and then close out its season with two winnable games against 3-9 teams.
This gives the team the edge in the NFC East, which should give it the No. 3 seed in the NFC.
No. 2 Seed: Seattle Seahawks
6 of 7
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: at Philadelphia (9-3)
Week 15: vs. San Francisco (7-5)
Week 16: at Arizona (9-3)
Week 17: vs. St. Louis (5-7)
They're back. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks have won back-to-back contests, allowing only six points total. Even more impressive? One of those games was on the road at San Francisco.
If Seattle's defense continues to play like it did last year, it should be able to handle turnover-prone Mark Sanchez on Sunday in Philadelphia. That would give the team the tiebreaker for playoff seeding.
With home games within the division in Weeks 15 and 17, the NFC West title is now Seattle's to lose.
Expect Russell Wilson to continue to take care of the football while the defense forces takeaways. With a first-round bye and a divisional home game as a projected No. 2 seed, the Seahawks could find themselves back in the Super Bowl conversation.
No. 1 Seed: Green Bay Packers
7 of 7
Remaining schedule:
Week 14: vs. Atlanta (5-7)
Week 15: at Buffalo (7-5)
Week 16: at Tampa Bay (2-10)
Week 17: vs. Detroit (8-4)
The road to the Super Bowl will likely go through Green Bay in January. That spells trouble for the rest of the NFC.
The Packers are 6-0 at home this season. Aaron Rodgers has been unstoppable at home, tossing 20 touchdowns without an interception. In fact, it has been two calendar years since Rodgers' last interception at home.
Eddie Lacy has given Green Bay a balanced offensive attack that has been absent in past years. But most importantly, the defense looks much improved.
The Packers defense was able to hold Tom Brady and the Patriots to only 21 points on Sunday. Considering the Patriots have one of the best offenses in the NFL, it will be tough for NFC opponents to outscore Rodgers and the Packers on their home field, where they average 40.8 points per game.
If Green Bay grabs the top seed in the NFC, we could have another Ice Bowl in the near future.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
