Playoff Preview: A Look At The NFC Playoff Race

Taking a look into the current playoff races and the scenarios that can unfold in the last 3 weeks of the season. I will give you where it stands currently and how I think it shakes out in the end. With that being said lets move on to the AFC first. I will go in reverse order so we are going to start with the 10th prosepctive team and work our way down.

10. Chicago Bears: The Bears best shot of getting into the playoffs is winning the North I don't see a 7 seed with more than 6 losses in the NFC. The Bears still have games with the Cardinals, 49ers, and Vikings to finish the season. The would need to win out in this scenario for them to really have a chance of winning the North. The Lions already have a better division record and the head to head wins against the Bears. Chicago fans need to hope the Lions drop these next few games and the Bears win out. The chances are not high at all and I expect Chicago to be sitting home come playoff time.

9. Carolina Panthers: The Panthers are a CPU team at this point so I am not going to say much. I don't expect them to factor into this race at this point.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs are in a rough spot, their remaning 2 games Texans and Falcons should proably drop them to 8-8 considering both teams in theory still have seeding to play for and will bring their 1st string units to play instead of a littany of backups. That being said Tampa wins these next 2 games at 10-6 I find it hard to believe they will not have a shot at the 7 seed. The Bucs user is new and will be getting a big test here with those 2 guys down the stretch.

7. Arizona Cardinals: With a game pending against the Bears still this week we need to wait and see what happens there but the Cardinals will face the Rams for a chance to climb back on top of the division in week 16. Big game for Cardinals in terms of seeding I can see them still maing the playoffs even if they lose 6 games. As I mentioed before Tampa doesn't get to 10 wins and even if they lose 2 out of the next 3 I could see them holding this spot. However a former superbowl champion I don't exepect that to happen and Coach Ramesu will be ready for the playoffs.

6. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers will fall to 8-6 after the loss to the Rams but are still in the thick of it for the division and a playoff spot for that matter. With the Bears and Bengals to finish the season I expect a 10 win season out of the Bay area and a playoff birth proably in this spot or the 7th. Lamar Jackson is a stud, defense has lost some talent the last couple of years but they are still very good on that side of the ball. Can Jackson get this team over the hump for the first time in his tenure?

5. Philadelphia Eagles: I don't think this where they finish, I would honeslty expect them to be the 2 seed. At 11-3 and a date with the Cowboys in week 17 I expect the Eagles to go all out and get the 2. Due to the tiebreakers and the Falcons current record I don't see it as a realistic achivement to get the 1 but they are better than the 5 that they are at now. The NFC is really really good with this team sitting as a 5 seed. The Eagles run the ball well and controlling the clock is always a great thing during the playoffs. The Eagles are looking to get back to the promise land once more.

4. Detroit Lions: The Lions are under 500 and let the NFC North slander begin... Not really in that type of mood so I will say this. I expect the Lions to win this division they have 2 division games left and if they win those it should be enough for them to get in. They better be prepared for a hell of a game against a good 5 seed either way. If they are not careful and they drop these last 3 games the Bears will be in the 4th spot even if it is highly unlikley that happens.

3. Los Angeles Rams: The Rams have a huge game against the Cards and that will determine thier fate. A win should make them divison champs and a loss would muddle the picture. Two losses could have this team out, but a few wins and they are here as the 3 seed. The Browns are up in week 17 and they've had their own sturggles but will be trying to win to get a playoff spot themselves.

2. Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have had a fantastic season, they are locked into the playoffs. Whether that is a 2 or a 5 should not matter because the Cowobys have some momentum from last years playoff run. I expect them to fall to the 5 but they will be a tough out for winner of the NFC North and proably gets them a favorable matchup in the Wild Card round. The Cowboys do a little bit of everything and if Archer can keep his turnovers down WG might just surpise someone.

1. Atlanta Falcons: Best team in the league all year. Should win these last 2 games and be the number 1 seed for the conference. I have long been shouting from the rooftops that the Falcons have a complete squad and I have been proven right all year long. They have won big game after big game and I fully expect them to be a major factor in who goes to the superbowl this year. The road to the superbowl goes through Atlanta that much we can be sure of. DJ Carter and Magatron had yet another brilliant season they are poised to do it again.

Thanks for reading.