Predicting the NFL Playoffs Early: NFC Edition

The NFL season, unfortunately, is winding down.

We're into the last two weeks, and it's shaping up to have a photo finish.

I can't remember another year where the playing field was more level than what it is this season, which is evident by all the teams still holding on to playoff hopes.

Most years, the playoff picture with the exception of a few teams has cleared itself up by this point. However, this year both divisions are so clustered it will take right up until the last game of Week 17 to decide who plays into early 2009.

Here's how I see the NFC playoff race shaking out.

1. Carolina Panthers
2. New York Giants
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Atlanta Falcons
6. Philadelphia Eagles

The Carolina Panthers, at this point, are the best team in football. I think that is unquestioned. Most would argue and say the New York Giants, but I find it difficult to anoint a team as the best in the league when it has lost back-to-back games against division opponents.

Also, I believe the Panthers will take NFC supremacy this Sunday by beating the Giants. Meaning the "best team in football" would have lost three straight.

The Minnesota Vikings are playing good football and really exposed a weak Arizona secondary. Tarvaris Jackson is not known for his passing prowess, yet he threw for four touchdowns last Sunday against a team that has already clinched its division. The Cardinals will not go far into the postseason with defensive play like that.

The Atlanta Falcons are an odd story. A good story, but an odd one.

They ended the 2007 campaign at an embarrassing 4-12, but have made a 180-degree turnaround in 2008.

Behind the leadership of rookie coach Mike Smith and rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, the city of Atlanta is starting to believe in a way they haven't experienced since this team's failed NFC championship bid in 2004.

With their win against Tampa Bay, they have really muddied up an already-clustered NFC South. I see them beating Minnesota next week, while Tampa goes on to lose to a hot San Diego team and gets knocked out entirely by a resurgent team in Philadelphia.

The Eagles are another interesting story.

After being selected by some to go as far as the Super Bowl, the Eagles looked mediocre at best through the first 11 weeks.

The mediocrity turned into catastrophe when the Eagles found a way to tie the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, and then got blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in a game where the face of the franchise, Donovan McNabb, was benched.

Since then McNabb has seven touchdowns compared to one interception and Brian Westbrook is getting more touches than he has in his entire career.

The Eagles are hot at the right time and have a great shot of winning out and getting into the playoffs. They end the year at Washington and home against Dallas, two teams they should beat.

Now to the games.

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