NFL Playoff Picture: NFC Race Clearer Despite Poor Play from All Contenders

We know a few things about the NFC.

The Packers and 49ers have their divisions clinched and look good to be the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs. The Saints have not quite clinched but are red hot and hold a two-game lead over the Falcons. They have also already beaten Atlanta on the road. 

It's possible that they can catch the 49ers, but it's not looking good.

The 49ers are a game ahead of the Saints with a favorable schedule coming in, have only lost one game in the NFC and have beaten two teams that beaten the Saints. So the schedule, record and tiebreakers all lean toward San Francisco.

So the top three in the NFC is going to look like this:

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. New Orleans Saints 

This is where it begins to look tough. But looks can be deceiving. 

The battle for the NFC East is down to the Cowboys and Giants, who still have both of their games to play against each other.

But despite giving the Packers their toughest game of the season, the Giants' flaws were exposed in a loss. They simply can't defend the pass. Alex Smith came out and torched New York when they played San Francisco, and the 49ers don't have the kind of passing attack that Dallas has. 

The Giants will need to sweep the Cowboys to win the NFC East. That's just not going to happen. Dallas won't make a push to challenge the Saints, but they will win their division.

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. New Orleans Saints 

4. Dallas Cowboys

Now we're down to the Wild Card spots. With the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions at 7-5, it looks cluttered. Again, things look a lot closer than they actually are.

The No. 5 seed will go to the Atlanta Falcons. Their schedule sets up well to finish at 3-1, going 10-6 overall. The fact that they lost to the Bears hurts, but not that much.

Last week at this time, I would have predicted the Bears to make the playoffs. Certainly if you told me that the Lions would suffer yet another embarrassing, undisciplined loss, I would have said they were done. 

See, I thought the Bears could survive the loss of Jay Cutler and at least get to the playoffs. While I might have underestimated Cutler's impact, I still say that if that was their only loss, they would be fine.

But the loss of Matt Forte is going to do this team in. The Lions are struggling, but are far better equipped to finish the season well than the Bears are.

Matt Forte is just too much a part of the Bears offense. They couldn't manage more than three points against the Chiefs.

With Cutler or Forte out, I would like their chances. With both out, the Lions will get in and earn the last playoff spot.

That will earn them a date with the Saints in New Orleans. That won't go any better than last Sunday's game did, but they will earn a playoff bid. 

So, if you're trying to figure out how things will look come playoff time and who your team will play, take a look at this. This is what your NFC playoff picture will look like. 

1. Green Bay Packers

2. San Francisco 49ers

3. New Orleans Saints 

4. Dallas Cowboys

5. Atlanta Falcons

6. Detroit Lions