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Breaking Down The NFC Playoff Picture

By Andrew Porter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- What? What's that Jim Mora? Playoffs? Yes, playoffs.

Is it crazy to look at the playoff picture with six weeks left in the regular season? Maybe, but it's fun, so why the heck not? And hey, you're reading it.

 

NFC East

Eagles 7-3

Cowboys 7-3

Giants 3-7

Redskins 3-7

 

This is a two horse race between the Eagles and Cowboys, who will play each other in Week 13 and Week 15.

Remaining for the Eagles (HOME, away): TEN, dal, SEA, DAL, was, nyg.

Remaining for the Cowboys (HOME, away): nyg, PHI, chi, phi, IND, was.

It seems like the Eagles schedule is a tad bit easier and they have the extra home game. A split against the Cowboys should get the Birds their second straight division title.

Projection: Eagles 11-5, Cowboys 10-6

 

NFC North

Lions 7-3

Packers 7-3

Bears 4-6

Vikings 4-6

 

Seems like we have ourselves another two horse race, and with the way Aaron Rodgers is playing, the edge goes to Green Bay. They seem unbeatable at home.

Remaining for the Packers: min, NE, ATL, buf, tb, DET

Remaining for the Lions: ne, CHI, TB, MIN, chi, gb

Both teams are 11-4 heading into that Week 17 monstrous game, which will decide the division. Unfortunately for the Lions, the game is at Lambeau Field.

Projection: Packers 12-4, Lions 11-5

 

NFC South

Falcons 4-6

Saints 4-6

Panthers 3-7-1

Buccaneers 2-8

 

The fact that the Atlanta Falcons are in first place makes me sick. Mike Smith? Really? That team stinks. The only thing that is certain in this division is just one team will make the playoffs.

Remaining for the Falcons: CLE, ARZ, gb, PIT, no, CAR

Remaining for the Saints: BAL, pit, CAR, chi, ATL, tb

Remaining for the Panthers: min, no, TB, CLE, atl

The Falcons are the least likely team to win this division. Ultimately, my faith lies in the Saints, and no team is going to be happy about going to New Orleans for a playoff game.

Projection: Saints 8-8, Panthers 6-9-1, Falcons 6-10

 

NFC West

Cardinals 9-1

49ers 6-4

Seahawks 6-4

Rams 4-6

 

How 'bout those feisty Rams upsetting the Broncos, huh? Anyway, the Cards have established themselves as the runaway favorite in this division, but the Seahawks and 49ers are still legitimate threats, with a ton of division games left to be played.

Remaining for the Cards: sea, atl, KC, stl, SEA, sf

Remaining for the Seahawks: ARZ, sf, phi, SF, arz, stl

Remaining for the 49ers: WAS, SEA, oak, sea, SD, ARZ

 

Projection: Cardinals 11-5, Seahawks 10-6, 49ers 10-6

 

NFC Playoff Picture

(1) Packers (BYE)

(2) Cardinals (BYE)

(6) Cowboys at (3) Eagles

(5) Lions at (4) Saints

 

Your division winners, from top to bottom, are the Packers, Cardinals, Eagles, and Saints. The Lions get the first wild card spot and earn themselves the daunted date in New Orleans.

For the final wild-card spot, it's a three way tie between the Cowboys, Seahawks, and 49ers, all with records of 10-6. Here's where it gets too complicated to try to comprehend six weeks early, but I'll give it a shot. Seattle wins the tie-breaker over San Fran with a better division record, but Dallas wins the tie-breaker over Seattle because of their Week five win, so Dallas sneaks into the post-season.

Yes, get ready for the theatrical rubber-match against the Birds, in Philadelphia.

So while all of that doesn't really mean anything because there's no way I just predicted that correctly, I hope you had fun playing along. Come on, Cowboys at Eagles round three in January 2015? Where do I sign?

 

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