The NFL Playoff Picture: How I See it Panning Out; NFC Edition

Playoffs?!

The NFL Regular Season is 75% over. Time to make some playoff predictions. This is the NFC Edition.

NFC East

Current Standings:

1. Philadelphia (8-4)

2. NY Giants (8-4)

3. Washington (5-7)

4. Dallas (4-8)

Predictions:

I predict that Philadelphia can pull out the win in Dallas on Sunday Night, knocking them out of playoff contention completely. After that, I think they’ll lose to the Giants in New York, then win twice at home against Minnesota and Dallas to end the season at 11-5. After losing to Philadelphia, Dallas should beat Washington at home, then they should win in Arizona in Week 16 before falling again to Philadelphia in the final week to end the season 6-10. I think the NY Giants will fall at Minnesota (Week 14) and at Green Bay (Week 16), but they’ll beat Philadelphia in Week 15 and Washington in Week 17, to finish 10-6. I think Washington will lose all four of it’s final matches, to finish 5-11.

 

Predicted Final Standings:

1. Philadelphia (11-5)

2. NY Giants (10-6)

3. Dallas (6-10)

4. Washington (5-11)

NFC North

Current Standings:

1. Chicago (9-3)

2. Green Bay (8-4)

3. Minnesota (5-7)

4. Detroit (2-10)

Predictions:

The Patriots are going to be too good for Chicago this weekend, and after that I think they’ll lose at Minnesota, beat the Jets at home, then lose their final match at Green Bay to finish the year 10-6. Along with their home win over Chicago, I think Green Bay will handle the Giants at home and the Lions in Detroit, but will fall to New England at Gillette Stadium in Week 15, finishing the season at 11-5. After beating the Giants and Chicago at home in weeks 14 and 15, I think Minnesota will fall to Philadelphia, then beat Detroit, to end the season at a miraculous 8-8. Detroit will lose all four of their remaining games, vs. Green Bay, at Tampa Bay, at Miami, and vs. Minnesota, to finish the season at 2-14.

Predicted Final Standings:

1. Green Bay (11-5)

2. Chicago (10-6)

3. Minnesota (8-8)

4. Detroit (2-14)

NFC South

Current Standings:

1. Atlanta (10-2)

2. New Orleans (9-3)

3. Tampa Bay (7-5)

4. Carolina (1-11)

Predictions:

I think Atlanta will win all four of it’s remaining games, with two against Carolina, one against Seattle and a home clash against New Orleans. That’ll make them 14-2. Along with their loss to Atlanta, I think New Orleans will lose on the road to Baltimore. They should beat the Rams and Tampa Bay at home, though, making them 11-5. Before losing their final match to New Orleans, Tampa Bay will beat Washington, Detroit and Seattle to finish the season 10-6. Carolina are done. They’ll finish 1-15.

Predicted Final Standings:

1. Atlanta (14-2)

2. New Orleans (11-5)

3. Tampa Bay (10-6)

4. Carolina (1-15)

NFC West

Current Standings:

1. St. Louis (6-6)

2. Seattle (6-6)

3. San Francisco (4-8)

4. Arizona (3-9)

Predictions:

This division will be decided by the biggest match of Week 17, St. Louis @ Seattle. Both teams will go in at 7-8 (St. Louis will lose at New Orleans, then to Kansas City at home, then beat San Francisco in Week 16, and Seattle will beat San Francisco on the road, then lose at home to Atlanta and on the road to Tampa Bay). The eventual winner will be St. Louis who will win (absurd future prediction) 20-17, and finish their season 8-8, while Seattle will finish 7-9. After their loss at home to Seattle, San Francisco will lose at San Diego, then at St. Louis. They will, however, win their Week 17 match-up against Arizona, to finish the year at 5-11. Arizona will lose this week to Denver, then they’ll beat Carolina on the road, lose at home to Dallas and lose on the road to San Francisco, to finish 4-12.

Predicted Final Standings:

1. St. Louis (8-8)

2. Seattle (7-9)

3. San Francisco (5-11)

4. Arizona (4-12)

Playoff Picture

First Seed: Atlanta Falcons

Second Seed: Green Bay Packers*

Third Seed: Philadelphia Eagles

Fourth Seed: St. Louis Rams

Fifth Seed (Wild Card 1): New Orleans Saints

Sixth Seed (Wild Card 2): Tampa Bay Buccaneers**

*The tie for Second Seed between Green Bay and Philadelphia (both Division winners at 11-5) is broken by best conference record.

**The tie for Sixth Seed (Wild Card 2) between NY Giants, Chicago and Tampa Bay (all Non-Division winners at 10-6) is broken as follows: First Chicago is eliminated for only having 7 conference wins to New York and Tampa Bay’s 8. Tampa Bay has a better record against common opponents than NY Giants, thus Tampa Bay advances.

Spin

With home field advantage throughout, Atlanta will look rather playoff bound. I wouldn’t expect St. Louis to beat New Orleans, but Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia Eagles could be a great match-up. I’d expect to see the NFC Championship being Green Bay @ Atlanta, with Atlanta advancing to the Super Bowl in Dallas.

It’s very interesting to see that my predictions turned out three NFC South teams (Atlanta, New Orleans and Tampa Bay). Wouldn’t that be a riot.