NFL Week 14: NFC playoff picture
It’s Week 14 of the NFL regular season, which means we have already gone through 75 percent of the campaign. At this point, we know a few things when we look at the NFC standings.
The Carolina Panthers have won the NFC South and are going to be the top seed. The Arizona Cardinals are going to win the NFC West and are likely to be the second seed. The winner of the NFC East is going to be terrible, and is assured of being the fourth seed and then one-and-done in the postseason, probably getting hammered by the Seattle Seahawks.
There is a distinct amount of clarity to this playoff picture, if only because teams have such defined roles. Carolina and Arizona are poised to have BYE weeks. Although the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are tied atop the NFC North with 8-4 marks, we all know that Green Bay is going to pull out the division. Why? Because Green Bay beat Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium and Week 17 brings the Vikings into Lambeau Field.
Assuming that the Vikings can’t beat the Packers on the Frozen Tundra, that means Green Bay only has to stay within one game of Minnesota going into the final week. This Thursday, the Vikings play against the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Assuming Arizona pulls that one out of the fire, it means the Packers would only have to beat the Dallas Cowboys at home this week to assure themselves of a shot at the division in Week 17.
With all that being said, one of the wild card spots seems to be locked up. The Seattle Seahawks are only 7-5 and one game ahead of the suddenly hard-charging Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the race for the sixth seed, but this is where schedule comes into play. Seattle’s next three games are at the Baltimore Ravens, home to the Cleveland Browns and then another home date versus the St. Louis Rams. Yes, the Legion of Boom is going against Matt Schaub, Johnny Manziel and Case Keenum. Good night.
The only questions in the NFC are whether the Vikings can hold off the Buccaneers, and who will win the NFC East. Outside of Dallas, the other three teams all have a legitimate chance to pull off the crown if things break right. The Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Washington Redskins are all at 5-7, making for what should be a sloppy yet highly entertaining finish.
This week, keep an eye on the following games:
- New York Giants at Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
- Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams
- Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears
- Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
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