Arizona Cardinals 2011 NFC Playoff Scenarios: From 1-6 to Wild Card?

At just 1-6 after a sixth consecutive loss since winning the opener, the Arizona Cardinals had one of two decisions to make. They could:

            1. Begin talks of whom they would take with their top-five pick in the 2012 draft, or

            2. Begin finding ways to win and make something of an otherwise awful season

Now at 6-7 and winners of five of their last six games (and in refrenation to the obvious), we know which they chose.

As of this week, they remain on the outside looking in, and it's perhaps premature to prognosticate their participation in the playoffs. But what's the NFL without over-hyping a habitual underdog?

The Cardinals have Cleveland at home this week. Next week, they travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals before ending the regular season at home against division rival Seattle.

With the way the team has rallied around itself the past six weeks, it's not a far cry to say they will win out and remarkably finish the season 9-7. Should that happen, they would need some help from other teams to get that final playoff spot and have a chance at a Super Bowl.

Note: Before you stop reading, remember the 2008 Arizona Cardinals team that was one defensive stop away from winning Super Bowl XLIII was dubbed “the worst playoff team ever” by a certain unnamed commentator by the name of…ah, just making sure we’re all paying attention. It was Cris Collinsworth, by the way.

Here we go.

New York Giants (7-6) and Dallas Cowboys (7-6)

New York has Washington, the New York Jets and Dallas remaining on the schedule, whereas Jerry’s Kids have Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and the Giants.

Though the final three games for New York are at home, they are technically the visitor against Mark Sanchez and the Jets in Week 16. The Cowboys are at home Week 16 for Tampa but on the road for the other two.

One of these teams needs to lose once. As they play in East Rutherford to end the regular season, it’s a safe bet that will happen (unless they tie, in which case they both would get in, leaving Arizona out).

Chicago Bears (7-6)

Chicago can finish 2-1 and miss the playoffs due to tiebreakers that will be discussed later. The Monsters of the Midway have Seattle at home, Green Bay at Lambeau and end the regular season at home against Minnesota.

With the injuries they have suffered over the second half of the season, it's conceivable that they may lose out.

Playing the history-chasing Packers in Green Bay—with those injuries—gives them an excellent shot at losing at least the one required for Arizona to leapfrog them into the final Wild Card spot.

Detroit Lions (8-5)

Detroit has perhaps the toughest schedule remaining, going to Oakland and hosting San Diego before finishing up in Green Bay.

Conversely, they have the easiest road to the playoffs in terms of what they need to do in those games. If they win twice, they are in, and the Cardinals watch the playoffs on television.

However, the prospect of them beating any two of the previously mentioned opponents is in and of itself more difficult than one would think. Oakland is fighting for a playoff spot of their own in the AFC, while aforementioned history-chasing Green Bay speaks for itself.

Do not overlook the Chargers, either. Philip Rivers is playing great ball of late, leading his team to two consecutive wins while throwing six touchdowns and no interceptions.

Atlanta Falcons (8-5)

All the Falcons need to do is win once, and they are in. They have the luxury of possessing the easiest schedule remaining of all teams listed, playing a game in New Orleans sandwiched in between home games against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.

Based on that, they are not a threat to Arizona; they should lock up the No. 5 seed after beating Tampa in the finale.

Should they win just once, however, depending on which game they win, they could wind up giving Arizona the No. 5 seed and slipping into the No. 6 seed.

Tiebreakers

Arizona wins out and is 9-7

New York or Dallas goes 2-1 and is 9-7

Chicago goes 2-1 and is 9-7

Detroit goes 1-2 and is 9-7

Atlanta goes 2-1 and is 10-6

Chicago is then eliminated by Detroit based on best-win percentage in common games, leaving only New York or Dallas and Detroit. Arizona wins the tiebreaker and is awarded the No. 6 seed based on best win percentage in conference play.

Atlanta would get the No. 5 seed due to their 10-6 record.

Note: Should Atlanta go 1-2 while beating Jacksonville but losing their remaining NFC games, finishing 9-7, they would drop to the No. 6 seed, and Arizona would own the No. 5 seed based on overall conference record.

If Atlanta goes 1-2 but that lone win is either of their interconference games, they would win the No. 5 seed over Arizona because of owning the better conference record.

But remember: If the Cardinals do not win out, they will not get in no matter what happens.