In the NFC Wild Card race, no team is safe as there are eight teams are fighting for two spots.  Nonetheless, here is my prediction on how the NFC will finish up.  

In the process, I am basically throwing out the teams' first eight games and going with what the teams have done in the last three.  Six of the eight remaining teams have only one win against a team with a winning record.  The leaders of the pack came out firing, but are now falling fast.   All eight teams have a shot at making the playoffs—and all eight teams have a shot at staying home in January.

Why each team WILL make the playoffs:

1. New York Giants – They have a lot to fight for.  If they don’t make the playoffs, Tom Coughlin is out of a job and Eli Manning will be looking for a new team when his contract is up.

2. Detroit Lions – John Kitna can throw the ball and he has receivers who can catch the ball.  They can put up a lot of points.  They finish out with the Packers.  The Packers will know where they are going to be seeded before the game kicks off, so they will rest a lot of people.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Of five wins, three are against winning teams.  So they know how to win.  They have the easiest schedule remaining and they are playing teams that they can throw on.  They just have to protect Warner.

4. Chicago Bears – Cedric Benson’s loss could be a blessing is disguise.  "The Other" Adrian Peterson is a better blocker and a better receiver.  He will give the Bears more options coming out of the backfield and give help on pass protection.  Oh, and Devin Hester.

5. Minnesota Vikings – With Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor in the backfield they can run against any team all day long.  Their DB’s show their meddle against the Giants and Tarvaris Jackson showed he can play and not lose the game.

6. New Orleans Saints – They started 0-4 and are 5-2 since then.  They are figuring out ways to get Reggie Bush open and that allows them to spread the ball out.  Are tied with the second easiest schedule of the remaining eight. They finish with the Bears which will be key for both teams.

7. Philadelphia Eagles – Only shot is if they finish the season out with Feeley.  With him opening the passing lanes and Brian Westbrook in the backfield they have a chance.

8. Washington Redskins – With the wrongful death of Sean Taylor, they can use the emotion on the field and win some games.
 
Why each team WON'T make the playoffs:

1. New York Giants – With Eli Manning being called scared by his general manager, coupled with the fact that they love blowing up in their final eight games.  They have two winning second halves in the last five years.

2. Detroit Lions – They have lost their last three and have the 2nd-worst pass defense in the league and have three final games with teams that like to throw the ball.  They have not won a game since starting 6-2. The hardest remaining schedule of the final eight.

3. Arizona Cardinals – One of the ugliest losses of the year against the hapless 49ers.  484 yard passing by Kurt Warner, BUT he loses the ball in the end zone in overtime. Can’t run the ball and like to give up a lot of points.

4. Chicago Bears – They are right in the middle of the road of all the teams in the hunt.  They have a lot of injuries on defense, and the just lost their #1 running back.  You don’t know what you’re going to get from Rex Grossman from week to week, or from quarter to quarter.

5. Minnesota Vikings – They can run the ball, and can defend the run.  They can’t throw the ball and they can’t defend the pass.  They can rely on running the ball, but only for so long.  Adrian Peterson is a bad tackle away from ending his season.

6. New Orleans Saints – Can throw the ball, but can’t run the ball.  Can defend the run, but can’t defend the pass.  Deuce McAllister’s injury is why Reggie Bush can’t get the open air he had last year.

7. Philadelphia Eagles – They might have showed the league how to beat New England, but Feeley’s two interceptions were the key.  Will make a huge mistake by putting Donovan McNabb back in and that will end their season.  I have nothing against McNabb, but this year is just not his year.

8. Washington Redskins – The loss of Sean Taylor will be too much to bear.  They have the Bills on Sunday, Sean Taylor’s funeral on Monday, and then the Bears on Thursday.  The toughest five day schedule in the NFL.  They have not won a game since starting 5-2.

Team-by-team Breakdowns
 
NEW YORK GIANTS (7-4)

    * Three games out from NFC East leading Dallas Cowboys
    * Two game lead over rest of wild card contenders
    * Have one win over  a winning team (Lions, week 11)
    * Offense ranked 11th Points, 18th Yards, 16th Passing Yards, & 10th Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 16th Points, 8th Yards, 11th Passing Yards & 8th Rushing Yards
    * One 300-yard passing game. With a low of 59 yards.
    * Three 100 yard rushing games. (Jacobs 2, Droughns 1)
    * Three 100 yard receiving games. (Burress 2, Shockey 1)
    * Started 6-2, and are 1-2 since.
    * OPP winning % .564 (31-24)
    * @CHI (L), @PHI (L), WAS (W), @BUF (W), NE (L)
    * Will finish 2-3 at 9-7 and will tie with Saints for last wild card spot.  

 DETROIT LIONS (6-5)

    * Four games out from NFC North leading Green Bay Packers
    * One game lead over rest of wild card defenders
    * Have one win over a winning team (Buccaneers wk 7)
    * Offense ranked 9th Points, 15th Yards, 7th Passing Yards & 31st Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 26th Points, 29th Yards, 31st Passing Yards & 10th Rushing Yards
    * Two 300-yard passing games. With a low of 106 yards.
    * One 100-yard rushing games (one game with 1 yard). (Jones)
    * Three 100-yard receiving games. (Williams 2, McDonald 1)
    * Started 6-2 and are 0-3 since.
    * OPP winning % .636 (35-20)
    * @MIN (L), DAL (L), @ SD (L), KC (W), @ GB (L)
    * Will finish 1-4 at 7-9 and miss playoffs

 ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-6)

    * Two games out from NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks
    * Tied with five other teams @ 5-6
    * Have three wins over winning teams (Seahawks wk 2, Steelers wk4, & Lions wk 10)
    * Offense ranked 10th Points, 14th Yards, 10th Passing Yards, & 27th Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 24th Points, 13th Yards, 20th Passing Yards, & 15th Rushing Yards
    * One 300-yard passing game.  With a low of 102 yards.  Have used three different QBs
    * One 100-yard rusher and one game with a high of 15 yards. (James)
    * Four 100-yard receiving games. (Fitzgerald 3, Boldin 1)
    * Started 3-5 and are 2-1 since
    * OPP winning % .418 (23-32)
    * CLE (L), @SEA (L), @NO (L), ATL (W), STL (L)
    * Will finish 1-4 at 6-10 and miss playoffs

 CHICAGO BEARS (5-6)

    * Five games out from NFC North leading Green Bay Packers
    * Tied with five other teams @ 5-6
    * Have one win over a winning team (Packers wk 5)
    * Offense ranked 19th Points, 23rd Yards, 14th Passing Yards, 30th Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 20th Points, 26th Yards, 25th Passing Yards, 27th Rushing Yards
    * Two 300-yard passing games. With a low of 142. (Griese 2)
    * One 100-yard rushing game. (Benson)
    * One 100-yard receiving game. (Berrian)
    * Started 3-5 and are 2-1 since
    * OPP winning % .582 (32-23)
    * NYG (W), @WAS (W), @MIN (W), GB (L), NO (W)
    * Will finish 4-1 at 9-7 and will be seeded 5th with wins over Giants (wk13) and Saints (wk17)

 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-6)

    * Five games out from NFC North leading Green Bay Packers
    * Tied with five other teams @ 5-6
    * Have one win over a winning team (Giants wk 12)
    * Offense ranked 16th Points, 16th Yards, 31st Passing Yards, 1st Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 13th Points, 27th Yards, 32nd Passing Yards, 1st Rushing Yards
    * Zero 300-yard passing games.  With lows of 72, 94 & 95.  Have used three QBs.
    * Six 100-yard rushing games. (Peterson 5, Taylor 1)
    * Zero 100-yard receiving games
    * Started 3-5 and are 2-1 since
    * OPP winning % .455 (25-30)
    * DET (W), @SF (W), CHI (L), WAS (W), @DEN (L)
    * Will finish 3-2 at 8-8 and miss playoffs.

 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-6)

    * Two games out from NFC South leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    * Tied with five other teams @ 5-6
    * Have two wins over winning teams (Seahawks wk 6 & Jaguars wk 9)
    * Offense ranked 15th Points, 8th Yards, 4th Passing Yards & 28th Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 21st Points, 22nd Yards, 27th Passing Yards, & 9th Rushing Yards
    * Two 300-yard passing games.  With a low of 192 yards.
    * Zero 100-yard rushing games.
    * Six 100-yard receiving games. (Colston 2, Patten 2, Henderson 1)
    * Started 4-4 and are 1-2 since.
    * OPP winning % .455 (25-30)
    * TB (W), @ATL (W), AZ (W), PHI (W), @ CHI (L)
    * Will finish 4-1 at 9-7 and will tie with Giants for last wild card spot.

 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-6)

    * Five games out from NFC East leading Dallas Cowboys
    * Tied with five other teams @ 5-6
    * Have one win over a winning team (Lions wk3)
    * Offense ranked 17th Points, 6th Yards, 12th Passing Yards, 12th Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 9th Points, 14th Yards, 22nd Passing Yards, 7th Rushing Yards
    * Three 300-yard passing games. With a low of 116. (McNabb 2, Feeley 1)
    * Five 100-yard rushing games. (Westbrook 4, Buckhalter 1)
    * Three 100-yard receiving games. (Curtis 2, Brown 1)
    * Started 3-5 and are 2-1 since.
    * OPP winning % .618 (34-21)
    * SEA (L), NYG (W), @DAL (L), @ NO (L), BUF (W)
    * Will finish 2-3 at 7-9 and miss playoffs

 WASHINGTON REDSKINS (5-6)

    * Five games out from NFC East leading Dallas Cowboys
    * Tied with five other teams @ 5-6
    * Have one win over a winning team (Lions wk5)
    * Offense ranked 21st Points, 13th Yards, 15th Passing Yards, 6th Rushing Yards
    * Defense ranked 15th Points, 9th Yards, 13th Passing Yards, 11th Rushing Yards
    * Two 300-yard passing games.  With a low of 95 yards.
    * Two 100-yard rushing games. (Portis 2)
    * Four 100-yard receiving games. (Randle El 2, Cooley 1, Moss 1)
    * Started 5-3 and are 0-3 since.
    * OPP winning % .582 (32-23)
    * BUF (W), CHI (L), @NYG (L), @MIN(L), DAL (L)
    * Will finish 1-4 at 6-10 and miss playoffs.

Summary

    * The Bears, Giants, and Saints will all finish 9-7.
    * The Bears will finish with wins over the Giants and Saints and control the tie-breaker over both
    * The Giants and Saints tie-breaker will be decided by strength of victory, as shown below:

1. Head-to-head – They did not play each other
2. Conference – They will both finish 7-5
3. Common Games – Do not have four common opponents
4. Strength of Victory – Right now Giants have 21-point advantage.