Handicapping the NFC Wild Card Race: Bears are IN. Giants & Saints await tie-breaker.

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.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?