NFC playoff picture - after week 15

[djwhokid]

1. DALLAS COWBOYS (11-1)

The best team in the NFC... No team in the NFC can beat them in Dallas.

2. GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-2)

They better watch out or could lose the #2 seed with the Bucs and Seahawks stepping up. They have an easy schedule, but I see them getting beat by Justin Fargas and the Raiders.

3. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-4)

They are hitting their stride. I don't know if they can beat Dallas or Green Bay on the road in the playoffs though.

4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-4)

Same as the Seahawks although they are not as good of a team. I could see them being upset in the first round. They look good because everyone in their division is garbage.

5. NEW YORK GIANTS (8-4)

If they play the Bucs in the first round, Eli might finally get out of the first round of the playoffs.

6.. ARIZONA CARDINALS/DETROIT LIONS//MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-6)

Yuck.

Detroit Lions - They might win one more game the entire season.

Arizona Cardinals - If they beat the Seahawks they can make a case, but they are so depleted because of injury.

Minnesota Vikings - The best of the 6-6 teams. Unless a 5-7 steps up, looks like we will see Adrian Peterson running in the playoffs.

OUT - WASHINGTON REDSKINS/CAROLINA PANTHERS/NEW ORLEANS SAINTS/PHILADELPHIA EAGLES/CHICAGO BEARS (5-7)

One of these teams could get hot.... Each are flawed however.

Redskins - I see them losing out.
Panthers - 1-5 record @ home.... what a disgrace.
Saints - No defense, dug themselves a giant hole from the start of the season.
Bears - Too limited on offense. Defense not playing like they did last year.
Eagles - Andy Reid sucks as a coach.. How many close games have the Eagles lost?

If the playoffs started today:

Dallas: BYE
Green Bay: BYE

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks
New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Bucs

Prediction: Vikings and Giants win

Minnesota Vikings @ Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants @ Green Bay Packers

Prediction: Cowboys and Packers

NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys

Winner........... Dallas

[bedir than average]

Umm, Seattle doesn't lose at Qwest - especially not in the playoffs. I know you hate your local club, but you do realize that they have played quite well against Dallas and Green Bay recently?

[djwhokid]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

Umm, Seattle doesn't lose at Qwest - especially not in the playoffs. I know you hate your local club, but you do realize that they have played quite well against Dallas and Green Bay recently?

Last year was last year. The Seahawks don't have an answer for Adrian Peterson. I am not a Romo/Cowboy fan, but what else do they need to prove? They beat the Giants twice and the Packers... how can anyone pick against them? The Cowboys are a completely different team from last year.

I hate to tell the Romo haters, but he is not Rex Grossman. He is not going to collapse down the stretch. For one, he is more mobile and second, he has the "it" factor. He is also a much better leader than Grossman. If Brady didn't exist, Romo would be the MVP of the league.

I could mention the fact that the Vikings went into Qwest field last year and blew out the Seahawks with Chester Taylor rushing for 169 yards... but I wont.

The Vikings are a team no one wants to play in the first round. Tarvaris Jackson is starting to give the Vikings at least, a passing threat.

If I were a Seahawks fan (I am not), I would match rather play the New York Giants.

[bedir than average]

Umm, the Seahawks are one of the top defensive teams against the run

[djwhokid]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

Umm, the Seahawks are one of the top defensive teams against the run

??? They are not even ranked in the top ten.

The Seahawks have yet to play a RB of Peterson's caliber this seson. He's leading the league in rushing despite being a rookie and missing two games. He's a better RB than Steven Jackson, Brian Westbrook, maybe even LT.

I could easily see him rushing for 200 yards. He's really in that Erik Dickerson class of RB's.

[bedir than average]

They were ranked 14th going into the weekend.

They just kept Westbrook to 93 yards on 21 carries
Stephen Jackson the week before got 90 yrds on 23 carries
Cedric Benson prior to that had 87 yards on only 11 carries
Frank Gore had 72 yards on 13 carries

In every game the lead back for the other team had one big run, but also in every game they couldn't get one hundred yards. You haven't been watching this defense this year, they've only given up 100 yards rushing to a single player twice in 13 games.

[djwhokid]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

They were ranked 14th going into the weekend.

They just kept Westbrook to 93 yards on 21 carries
Stephen Jackson the week before got 90 yrds on 23 carries
Cedric Benson prior to that had 87 yards on only 11 carries
Frank Gore had 72 yards on 13 carries

In every game the lead back for the other team had one big run, but also in every game they couldn't get one hundred yards. You haven't been watching this defense this year, they've only given up 100 yards rushing to a single player twice in 13 games.

LOL! Westbrook had 93 yards. Jackson had 90 yards. Do you really think 7-10 yards means that much?

Benson is clearly a bust first round pick who is not that good. Stopping Gore was impressive, but you have to consider the offensive line of the 49'ers.

The Vikings have some dude at guard, I think you are familar with him Bedir.

[bedir than average]

Originally Posted by djwhokid

LOL! Westbrook had 93 yards. Jackson had 90 yards. Do you really think 7-10 yards means that much?

When countering a weak argument that Peterson will get 200 yards, yes.

And yes, I miss Hutch dearly. The Hawks should have Franchised him and Transitioned Alexander. They'd be a better team now.

[BMW]

Originally Posted by djwhokid

1

2. GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-2)

They better watch out or could lose the #2 seed with the Bucs and Seahawks stepping up. They have an easy schedule, but I see them getting beat by Justin Fargas and the Raiders.

3. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-4)
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-4)

They better watch out because they only have a 2 game lead with 4 games left? I think people are overestimating the fact that the Packers lost a game in which their two best players played a total of 2 quartes (Favre and Woodson).

[FiveStars]

I don't see anyone beating Green Bay unless they can put pressure on Favre like Dallas accomplished. Finally someone called Green Bay on their one-deminsional offense. The aggressive play cost Dallas one long rushing touchdown, but that was the only downside of the game. If someone can duplicate that defensive effort, they could beat Green Bay. That's a big "if" though. They're still a very good team and they'll be playing at home after a bye week.

[FiveStars]

Here's my playoff picture for the NFC:

NFC East Winner: Dallas (14-2)
NFC North Winner: Green Bay (14-2)
NFC South Winner: Tampa Bay (11-5)
NFC West Winner: Seattle (10-6)

1st Wildcard: New York Giants (11-5)
2nd Wildcard: Minnesota Vikings (10-6)

The best Dallas has ever finished is 13-3. While I'd love to see them finish 15-1, I keep thinking they'll drop one of the next four. They have two division games left and those are never easy. Also, they have to go on the road twice.

The scariest wildcard team would have to be the Vikings if they really finish 10-6. that would put them on a seven game win streak going into the playoffs. Also (in my scenario), they'd be playing Seattle, who I believe is the weakest team in the bunch.

Regardless of who wins in the wildcard round, any four of those teams are going to have a tough time beating Dallas or Green Bay. I think we'll end up seeing the NFC championship game that almost everyone is expecting - Green Bay @ Dallas.

[Habsfan84]

I do think that the Lions may get a wild card position though.

[LongtimeBravesFan]

Lions' losses to REdskins, Eagles and Cards will hurt in tie breakers.

[FiveStars]

I believe 10-6 is the minimum record for getting into the NFC playoffs this season. In light of that, Detroit would have to win their remaining games to finish 10-6. That includes beating Dallas, which is certainly possible.

[bedir than average]

Five, I'm curious why you think that Tampa is going to win one more game than the Seahawks over the next four weeks.

Seattle has a better scoring differential, a better offense, and has beaten Tampa
Tampa has a better defense and faces slightly weaker competition (SF gives that to Tampa).

I actually see each of those winning 3 of those last four, and then Seattle is the Three Seed as they won the earlier match. That puts an outside shot at the Two Seed in reach, especially with Green Bay injured and facing only one easy opponent in the last month (Oakland). If either Tampa or Seattle tie Green Bay in wins they would be near certain to have the tie-breakers, as the first to apply would be Conference record, and if the Packers go in the dump this last month their conference record won't be so hot.