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Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - RFlagg - 12-07-2011 03:29 PM
With 4 weeks left in the NFL regular season, it's time to take a look at the current playoff standings in the NFC. As we know, 2 teams have already clinched their divisions, the Packers and 49ers. Here's a look at the way things currently stand.
Current Standings
1. Green Bay Packers (12-0)
2. San Francisco 49ers (10-2)
3. New Orleans Saints (9-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
5. Chicago Bears (7-5)
6. Atlanta Falcons (7-5)
Still Alive
Detroit Lions (7-5)
NY Giants (6-6)
Seattle Seahawks (5-7)
Arizona Cardinals (5-7)
So, if things ended today, our birds would be in the playoffs and traveling to New Orleans in the first round. Not exactly an ideal scenario. Ok, let's look at each of these teams remaining games.
Green Bay Packers
vs. Oakland, @Kansas City, vs. Chicago, vs. Detroit
San Francisco 49ers
@ Arizona, vs. Pittsburgh, @ Seattle, @ St. Louis
New Orleans Saints
@ Tennessee, @ Minnesota, vs. Atlanta, vs. Carolina
Dallas Cowboys
vs. NY Giants, @ Tampa Bay, vs. Philadelphia, @ NY Giants
Chicago Bears
@ Denver, vs. Seattle, @ Green Bay, @ Minnesota
Atlanta Falcons
@ Carolina, vs. Jacksonville, @ New Orleans, vs. Tampa Bay
Detroit Lions
vs. Minnesota, @ Oakland, vs. San Diego, @ Green Bay
NY Giants
@ Dallas, vs. Washington, @ NY Jets, vs. Dallas
Seattle Seahawks
vs. St. Louis, @ Chicago, vs. San Francisco, @ Arizona
Arizona Cardinals
vs. San Francisco, vs. Cleveland, @ Cincinnati, vs. Seattle
Green Bay and Arizona each have 3 of their final 4 games at home, while San Francisco and Chicago have 3 0f 4 on the road. Everyone else is spilt half and half. Looking at the schedule, it would seem the Falcons should have an easy path to the playoffs, 3 of their 4 games are against teams with a losing record. However, let's take a closer look at each division and then the wild card spots to see how I think things are going to break down.
NFC North
Green Bay Packers have clinched
The Packers officially clinched the NFC North this past weekend. They can't clinch the #1 seed this weekend, however a win will clinch them a first round bye. At this point, however, I think it's only a matter of time before the Packers clinch the #1 overall seed. Will they go perfect? It'll depend on if the Packers decide to rest their players after they clinch the #1 seed next weekend.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers have clinched
Like the Packers, the 49ers clinched the West this past weekend. So much for a sub .500 team making the playoffs in the NFC this year. Unlike the Packers, though, the 49ers cannot clinch a first round bye this weekend. However, their schedule does set up nicely for them to go 3-1 over the final for games which would be enough to take the #2 seed.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Atlanta Falcons
At this point, it's only a matter of time before the Saints clinch the division. They'd have to go either 1-3 or 0-4 with us going 4-0 for us to win the division. They will also most likely end up with the #3 seed unless they also choke away the division.
NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys
2. NY Giants
And so comes the battle for #4, the last home playoff game. I actually think this division might come down to the final week when the Giants host the Cowboys, and I think I'll give the Giants an edge, in the Meadowlands.
Wild Cards
5. Chicago Bears
6. Atlanta Falcons
In The Hunt
Detroit Lions
NFC East #2
Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals
4 games to go and 6 teams battling for 2 spots. Interestingly enough, 3 weeks ago it looked like the Bears were going to cruise to the #5 seed, but then Jay Cutler went down and now everything is wide open. I'm actually going to break down each teams remaining schedule, how I expect the results to go, and then give you my Wild Card predicition.
Chicago Bears
@ Denver - L, I have seen nothing of Caleb Haney to make me think he can beat the streaking Tebows
vs. Seattle - W, Seattle will be coming off a short week after playing on a Monday night
@ Green Bay - L, Even if their playing their backups, the Packers will still beat the Bears
@ Minnesota - W, They'll struggle, but I think the Bears win this game to finish above .500
Atlanta Falcons
@ Carolina - W, Even if Cam goes off, I don't think the Panthers D is good enough to stop the Falcons O
vs. Jacksonville - W, This is just a bad team, and even though their Top 5 in both total defense and pass d, they're o is atrocious
@ New Orleans - L, Just being realistic, I don't think we'll hang with the Saints in the Super Dome on a Monday night, extra rest be damned.
vs. Tampa Bay - W, If you've seen Tampa Bay play lately, you know that they have been playing very bad football, and they may finish dead last in the division.
Detroit Lions
vs. Minnesota - W, Even without Suh, their defense is good enough to top the Vikings
@ Oakland - L, A tough pick, but I think the Raiders will matchup well against the Lions at home
vs. San Diego - W, San Diego looks like they're finally coming on, but they won't win in Detroit with the Lions season on the line
@ Green Bay - L, The final victims to the Packers' undefeated regular season
NY Giants
@ Dallas - L, The Giants loss will give the Cowboys hope and a 2 game division lead
vs. Washington - W, Grossman? Beck? Neither has looked very good this year
@ NY Jets - W, The Jets have not looked like the same team this season
vs. Dallas - W, Turn about is fair play, as the Giants knock the Cowboys out in the final game
Dallas Cowboys
vs. NY Giants - W, Jerry Jones is flying high as the Cowboys appear headed to a playoff birth
@ Tampa Bay - W, A 2 game lead with 2 to play, what could go wrong...
vs. Philadelphia - W, In a bit of a revenge game, the Cowboys clinch the #3 seed
@ NY Giants - L, The Giants win in what is a meaningless game, as neither team can improve their playoff chances
Seattle Seahawks
vs. St. Louis - W, The Rams are a really bad team, and I still don't know how they got 2 wins
@ Chicago - L, Short week + 2000 mile flight + likely below freezing temps = Seattle loss
vs. San Francisco - L, The 49ers are the better team, plain and simple
@ Arizona - W, What I could almost hear Pete Carroll thinking: "7-9 got us in last year, though"
Arizona Cardinals
vs. San Francisco - L, Being the home team won't be enough to win this game
vs. Cleveland - W, But it will be enough to win this one
@ Cincinnati - L, A team from Arizona playing in Cincinatti around Christmas...I feel pretty secure with this prediction
vs. Seattle - L, Think Fitzgerald is regretting that new 8 year deal yet?
So, when all is said and done, here is how I have the NFC playing out.
1. Green Bay (16-0)
2. San Francisco (13-3)
3. New Orleans (13-3)
4. Dallas (10-6)
5. Atlanta (10-6)
6. Detroit (9-7)
And, just for fun, here's my AFC predition.
1. Pittsburgh (13-3)
2. New England (13-3)
3. Houston (12-4)
4. Denver (10-6)
5. Baltimore (12-4)
6. Cincinatti (11-5)
For my prediction on every game the rest of the way, click here.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - Jayhawk-Falcon2012 - 12-07-2011 05:06 PM
i agree with you on going 10-6, but I feel we're gonna have to judge our Offense on a weekly basis. If we can't even catch the ball one week, but the next go 27-30 2tds, 0 ints, then i dunno. Too much inconsistency with the Team, but especially the Offense. Defensively we have improved greatly, and besides Dunta playing like trash week in and week out, we're very solid.
Offense needs to carry their weight and start playing better ball.
Crossing my fingers.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - Radical - 12-07-2011 05:07 PM
(12-07-2011 05:06 PM)Jayhawk-Falcon2012 Wrote: besides Dunta playing like trash week in and week out, we're very solid.
When is the last time he's given up a big pass? He's gave up one jump ball against the Vikings, and... that's been it for quite a while.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - Jayhawk-Falcon2012 - 12-07-2011 05:18 PM
In this context, he's been absolutely D-hall. Just look at the Houston game if you need an example.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - Radical - 12-07-2011 05:43 PM
(12-07-2011 05:18 PM)Jayhawk-Falcon2012 Wrote: In this context, he's been absolutely D-hall. Just look at the Houston game if you need an example.
If that holding penalty had come at any other time, no one would have really cared at all. 2 passes out of 6 thrown his way for 30 yards, and one pass broken up. Are you really going to compare that to Hall, who last I checked was giving up over 70% of the passes thrown his way?
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - phocis850 - 12-07-2011 09:41 PM
I agree the saints don't lose another game. I think we lose in the swamp.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - RFlagg - 12-08-2011 09:38 AM
(12-07-2011 09:41 PM)phocis850 Wrote: I agree the saints don't lose another game. I think we lose in the swamp.
I wavered on this one this one, but I just think, with the way each team is playing, that we lose to them again. It hurts me to say it, but they have been the better team this year.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - Jesus - 12-08-2011 10:18 AM
(12-08-2011 09:38 AM)RFlagg Wrote: I wavered on this one this one, but I just think, with the way each team is playing, that we lose to them again. It hurts me to say it, but they have been the better team this year.
We can beat them. We should have beat them the first time. When these two teams meet it's always a tough game but could go either way. Remember the last game last season? Close game but winnable.
RE: Current NFC Standings, Remaining Games, and Prediction - MilleniumFalcon - 12-09-2011 01:41 PM
(12-08-2011 10:18 AM)Jesus Wrote: We can beat them. We should have beat them the first time. When these two teams meet it's always a tough game but could go either way. Remember the last game last season? Close game but winnable.
Past 3 games have been decided by 3 points. We win in their house by 3, and they win twice in our house by 3... we know each other well and I think we can win that game, but the way the Falcons are playing undisciplined football this year, Falcons will probably find a way to lose.