NFL Playoff Picture: 10 Most Likely NFC Matchups

Remember back around May and June when we were all going through NFL withdrawal? Remember how excited you got when training camps started and how in love you were with your team finally making the playoffs or winning the Super Bowl?

Now, think about how empty you feel now that your team (cough—Cowboys) have won four or five games?

The only thing that keeps you going is your love for the game of football and talking about how goofy Shannon Sharpe looks on Sunday mornings.

The good teams have differentiated themselves from the pack and everyone is just hanging on at this point.

With only two games left in the regular season, I present six potential NFC playoff matchups.

Wild Card Games: Chicago Bears Vs. New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants passes the ball against the Chicago Bears at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

As of right now, the Giants and Bears both stand at 11-5, with the Bears projected to win their division and the Giants to finish second in the NFC East—this is how we come to this matchup, based off win percentages.

The Giants lost a crucial game to the Eagles today at home, and with the way the Bears play at Soldier Field, there is no reason to believe Chicago will move past the Wild Card Round.

St. Louis Rams Vs. New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 12: Marques Colston #12 of the New Orleans Saints is tackled by Quincy Butler #36 of the St. Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on December 12, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Can you believe that the defending Super Bowl Champs may have to travel to St. Louis for a playoff game? Crazy, right? But who thought that the Atlanta Falcons would win the NFC South? Yep, nobody.

The Rams are an upstart and their defense is mature enough to hold Brees and the Saints down. Still, it should be fun to watch.

New York Giants Vs. Green Bay Packers

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 20: Corey Williams #99 of the Green Bay Packers reacts during the NFC championship game against the New York Giants on January 20, 2008 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Giants defeated the Packers 23-20 in overtime to

The Packers lost Aaron Rodgers last week against the Lions and had to go with greenhorn Matt Flynn. Their next two games after tonight are beasts of matchups, as they face the Giants next week and the Bears in Week 17.

A record of 9-7 would almost be a miracle for this group. Next week’s game against New York may just be a potential Wild Card matchup.

Atlanta Falcons Vs. San Francisco 49ers

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 03: Brian Finneran #86 of the Atlanta Falcons is tackled by Ahmad Brooks #55 of the San Francisco 49ers at Georgia Dome on October 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

For this game to happen, the NFL has to decide playoff games based on defensive matchups, and the Falcons have to fall all the way to the fifth seed.

The 49ers have the Rams next and the Cardinals to end the year. Who knows, maybe they’ll actually go on a two-game win streak.

Division Round Games: Atlanta Falcons Vs. New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 22: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants talks with Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons after their game on November 22, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Falcons 34-31 in over

Funny that the Giants may have to travel across the world again to make it back to the Super Bowl, but then again this may be how they want it.

The knock on Atlanta is that they have yet to beat anybody good or anybody good on the road. Their current eight-game winning streak features three winning teams. The Falcons can’t help who they play, but their ability to win leaves a lot to be desired.

Still, Atlanta is as tough as nails at home, and the Giants have a great pass rush. Sounds like a great Sunday night matchup.

Philadelphia Eagles Vs. New Orleans Saints

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Brian Westbrook #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled by Darren Sharper #42 and Sedrick Ellis #98 of the New Orleans Saints during their game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 20, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia may have found themselves a quarterback in Michael Vick. He accounted for 372 of the Eagles' 418 total yards, and he had four touchdowns. If that doesn’t spell MVP, I’m not sure what does.

The Saints have a tough little running game and Drew Brees, well, he’s Drew Brees. Just think about a mid-afternoon cold-weather game in Philly with drunken Eagles fans. Now, who wouldn’t want to watch that?

Atlanta Falcons Vs. New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 26: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons in action against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 26, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Falcons defeated the Saints 27-24. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty I

In Week 3, the Falcons beat the Saints, 27-24 in overtime, and we’ll see how the second game plays out on Monday night next week.

The Falcons visit the dome, and maybe we’ll find out just how great a team Atlanta may be. If New Orleans wins this game, they’ll still have a chance to win the division and change the entire playoff picture.

Philadelphia Eagles Vs. St. Louis Rams

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to pass against the New York Giants during their game on December 19, 2010 at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

If the Eagles end up with a first-round bye and the Rams as their second-round matchup, then Vick’s new contract should contain more zeros than the Kardashian family Christmas photo.

The Rams have talent and will be a team to reckon with in the future, but as of right now they are just enjoying the ride. We may just see the “Iggles” in the NFC Chip game.

New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Vernon Davis #85 of the San Francisco 49ers loses the ball while defended by Malcolm Jenkins #27 and Marvin Mitchell #50 of the New Orleans Saints at Candlestick Park on September 20, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Pho

This game is based off the Niners actually beating a team in the playoffs, of course. What’s crazy is that San Fran can look pretty good and pretty awful at the same time.

Without Frank Gore, they may not go far, but wouldn’t it be interesting to see them make it past the Wild Card Round?

Philadelphia Eagles Vs. Chicago Bears

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs to avoid Anthony Adams #95 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I remember some years back, when the Bears were favored to beat the Eagles, when Dick Jauron was the head man in Chi-Town and McNabb was nowhere close to being benched in Philly. Philly came in and did the work against the Bears, and maybe they’ll get revenge for their regular-season loss to the Bears back in November.