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After this weekend, we now know who the NFC contenders will be. However, we have no idea who’s gonna play where. The Vikes and the Saints take it easy, their places are locked in for first round byes. But the Saints have a lot more to play for. After losing two weeks in a row, especially to the Bucs, they’re picking the worst possible time to stumble (with home field advantage thru the playoffs at stake if Minnesota wins tonight in Chicago.) It was by far the shock of the week. The problem is that the two remain games pit the last four teams left standing in the NFC, and how they play this week will determine where they go from here. Let’s take a look at the 6 playoff teams and how they’ll match up against each other, and I’ll make some predicts on how the NFC will sort itself out.
1. Dallas Cowboys – I predicted about 4 weeks ago that NO would suffer their first loss at home to
Dallas. There are things about BigD that show promise, but I also predicted that D would lose the final two weeks of the season and miss the playoffs altogether. (I was looking at the wrong team and somehow didn’t see that it was the lowly Redskins they’d play this week, however I stood by my original statement because D has historically had crappy Decembers.) Needless to say, I’m still a bit surprised that despite the crappy play over the course of the season, the last week will actually be against the Eagles for the NFC East Crown.
So, Dallas made the playoffs, but who they play will come down to win-or-lose this weekend. Against Philly two weeks in a row? It’s possible… The East will be the Eagles or Cowboys, and the loser will take a wild card, and how the Packers and Cards fare will determine who goes where.
My prediction: Whoever loses this weekend will win next weekend in a rematch. My gut says Dallas brings the heat this weekend and wins, but just pisses off Philly and loses next weekend.
2. GB Packers – In my opinion, probably the underdogs of the NFC. They’re stuck with a WC, but they’re in. No chance in taking out the Vikes this year for the North, but should a showdown between Favre and his old team happen, this could be a great game. Too bad though, that’s a week 2 game for the Pack, and they’ll have to beat the East or West Champ (most likely the Cards) for that shot. It all comes down to these last couple teams and how they fare in the last week.
My prediction: GB wins this weekend, and IF they go to Dallas, they win, but lose if they wind up playing the Cards again or get blown out by Philly (at Philly.) Either way, they lose in the second week.
3. Arizona Cardinals – In a weak NFC West, the Cards were the lone contender. I can’t think of another team that really even showed up this year (Rams, Seahawks, 49ers) The remaining three teams have a combined record of 13-32… the 49ers are the only team even close to .500 (7-8) and will probably finish at 8-8 because the last week is a must-see matchup against the 1-14 Rams.
Anyway… My guess is that because the Cards really have nothing to play for, they lose this weekend against the GBP, but get fired up for next weekends game. If they play Philly, the season is over. As a matter of fact, Arizona looks to me like the weakest team in the NFC chase.
My prediction: They lose this weekend to GBP, but get fired up for next weekend. As long as they don’t go to Philly, they survive, but Dallas could really work them over, maybe even win.
4. Philadelphia Eagles – This is honestly the first year that I have wanted to give the Eagles any respect at all. They have some age, which is not all bad, because its really good experience. They have hunger, and talent, and potential.
I’d really like to see them win this weekend against Dallas, and they’ll win in the first round of the playoffs, no matter who they play. They can beat the Saints, but they’ll lose to the Vikes, so the path to the NFC Championship for the Eagles rests entirely on who they play and when.
My prediction: Eagles win in the first round, and then who knows.
5. Minnesota Vikings – Minnesota looks better than they have in a long time. Tonight’s game against Chicago is really nothing more than a tune-up for a run to the NFC Championship. Whatever that situation between Favre and Childress was… they need to REALLY get that outta the way, because that’s the only distraction left. I’m scared about a possibly matchup with Philly, but I really think that given the Saint’s recent stumble, they look like the most likely team to represent the NFC.
My prediction: A close game with Philly is the only thing between here and a Purple Lombardi.
6. New Orleans Saints – Something has gone wrong in down in the Bayou. Up until this week I really thought that NO was the team to beat. Tampa proved just that, they were the team to beat, and that’s exactly what they did. The problem is this: Tampa is 3-12. They had a better shot at winning the lottery. But that’s why they play the game. So one of two things happened… Either NO pulled the reigns in to conserve for a playoff run (stupid idea) or they just flat got beat. Now, if they would have lost #2 to a team like the Pats or Eagles… then I would be much less concerned. I really thought that the loss to Dallas would be the wake-up that pulled them together, but in retrospect, it’s a microcosm of what’s been happening all season: The Saints have just been really good in the 4th, (and lucky… REALLY lucky) and wound up on the good side of the gun.
Has the luck ran out? We’ll find out for sure when the Saints battle the Panthers, who flat BUSTED the Giants, and crushed all hopes of of a playoff run in NY.
My prediction: If the Saints can win this weekend and secure home field, then they get to the NFC Championship, but I can’t help but feel like it’s going to be Minnesota.
