NFL Playoff Picture: How Saints vs. Falcons, Vikings vs. Eagles Affect Playoffs

The NFL Playoff Picture is up in the air, especially in the NFC, and with the Eagles vs. Vikings now moved to Tuesday along with the already scheduled Monday Night affair between the Saints and Falcons, the next two days will have a profound impact on NFC playoff seeding. 

Let's take a glance at what the NFC playoff teams have riding on Monday and Tuesday night...

Atlanta Falcons 

They get the Saints in the Georgia Dome, a place in which quarterback Matt Ryan has only lost once as a starter. They've already clinched a Wild Card spot, and they clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win on Monday. 

It's very simple for the Falcons. 

A win, and the road to the Super Bowl goes directly through the ATL. 

Chicago Bears

The situation for the Bears is a little more tricky. They've already wrapped up the NFC North division title. They needed a Giants and Eagles loss this week to clinch a first-round bye.

With the Giants losing to Green Bay, Bears' fans will be fixated on Eagles/Vikings contest, pulling for an upset.

However, if the Eagles do win, the Bears are still in good shape. They hold the tie-breaker for the No. 2 seed over Philadelphia, having beat him head-to-head this season. 

A win next week against the Packers or a Eagles loss to the Cowboys in the season finale would lock up the No. 2 spot for Da' Bears. 

Green Bay Packers

They did what they needed to do and beat the contending New York Giants on Sunday. 

Now it comes down to a home tilt with their bitter rival Chicago Bears next week. 

If they win, they're essentially in the playoffs. 

A loss and they're out. 

Philadelphia Eagles 

The Eagles were winners on Sunday, and they didn't even play a single down. 

With the Giants loss, they were crowned NFC East champs, but still have much to play for in their final two games. 

Philadelphia (now 10-4) needs to finish with a better overall record than the Bears (11-4) to jump the Monsters of the Midway and land in the No. 2 seed, securing a first-round bye. 

New Orleans Saints 

The Saints will have their hands full with the Falcons in their own stadium, but we could be in for a highly competitive contest, and as you know, anything can happen. 

They need to muster a victory, because if they do, they're in the postseason. 

If they lose, they'll need to win against a never-easy Buccaneers team in Week 17 to get in. 

If they win both of those games, they can repeat as division champs if the Panthers can pull off a miracle against Atlanta in the final game. 

St. Louis Rams 

Got to hand it to these resilient Rams. They've been over-matched at times this season, but a win against NFC West foe Seattle in Week 17, and Sam Bradford will have led St. Louis to it's first playoff appearance since the 2003 season. 

Not bad, kid. 

If they lost to Seattle, the Seahawks will make the playoffs with a 7-9 record. 

Yikes. 

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