Official 2012 NFC Playoffs Thread (AFC, wild card, win, games)
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As a Broncos fan, I follow the AFC teams a lot more closely than the NFC. Still I do enjoy the big picture and love this time of year when the playoff seeds begin to take shape. This is the counterpart to my AFC playoff thread. The AFC in interesting because it has 5 teams contending for the #1 seed, two of which can still actually miss the playoff entirely. Meanwhile over here in the NFC, half the conference is still contending for division titles and wild card spots. Here is what the NFC looks like today:
Atlanta Falcons: 11-2
San Francisco 49ers: 9-3-1
Green Bay Packers: 9-4
New York Giants: 8-5
Seattle Seahawks: 8-5
Chicago Bears: 8-5
Still in the hunt:
Washington Redskins: 7-6
Dallas Cowboys: 7-6
Minnesota Vikings: 7-6
St Louis Rams: 6-6-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-7
In this log jam I would say the Bucs are realistically out, but you never know. Some key games this week include:
49ers @ Patriots: 49ers need a win to hang on to that first round bye. They have the #1 scoring defense but will square off against the #1 scoring offense.
Cowboys vs Steelers: Wild Card and potentially division title implications for both conferences.
Packers @ Bears: One of the all-time great rivalries finds the Bears desperately needing a win or the Packers will clinch the NFC North. Also, a Bears loss coupled with a Redskins win over the Browns knocks the Bears out of the #6 seed. Unless the
Vikings @ Rams: Two teams outside looking to get in, so they both need this win big time.
Giants @ Falcons: The Giants are still not a lock for the playoffs. A loss to the Falcons coupled with a Redskins win over the Browns and the Redskins are now in first in the division due to better division record. Throw in a Cowboys win over the Steelers and the Giants move to the "still in the hunt" column.
With 3 games remaining for every team, (except the Bengals and Eagles at the time this post is written) the season is far from over and the landscape of the NFC playoffs still has a long way to go before anything is finalized. I will update the playoff picture after Sunday's action.
Great post and this weekend is awesome for football. At first I didn't like all the division games at the end of the season but certainly makes for some do or die moments!
In the NFC, if some unexpected teams get on a roll, win out, could mean some major shake ups, or if a team at the top totally collapses! Good stuff!
At first I didn't like all the division games at the end of the season...
I liked it from the minute they announced that they were going to start doing it. Of course, it is more exciting when the matchup just happens to be between two teams that are contending for their division title. Colts vs Texans in the last game of the year potentially meets this description. I think it is great football marketing to do that.
Some of the early games are at or near halftime. The Falcons are making as statement against a quality opponent in the Giants, leading 17-0. Vikings are helping their own cause, leading the Rams 27-7 in the 3rd. Packers leading the Bears 14-7. That one could still swing either way.
Better for the Packers if SF loses. I'm still amazed at the Packers game, play like that, they will be one and done.
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