NFC playoff picture, Week 11: Saints, Vikings look for key wins

The chase for the Super Bowl is in full swing. With seven weeks remaining in the NFL season, the contenders and pretenders are quickly being sorted out. In the NFC, it’s safe to say the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers will all be playing in January. The other spots? Up for grabs.

Here’s how things look, with talk afterwards about what to be watching this weekend.

1. San Francisco 49ers (8-1)
2. Green Bay Packers (8-2)
3. New Orleans Saints (7-2)
4. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-3)
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7. Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
9. Carolina Panthers (5-4)
10. Chicago Bears (4-5)

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Let’s take it from the top, while noting the Packers and Seahawks have a bye.

San Francisco is coming off its first loss of the season but draws what should be a victory this weekend in the Arizona Cardinals. The game is a rematch of a contest earlier this month, where the 49ers went to the desert and beat the Cardinals 28-25. Now the venue shifts, and the 49ers hope to bounce back quickly to remain atop the picture with a brutal schedule awaiting.

After being blown out 26-9 at the Superdome by the lowly Atlanta Falcons, the Saints are on the road this weekend to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is feisty, having taken the Seahawks to overtime in Seattle in defeat before coming home and handling the Cardinals. However, the Saints are almost completely healthy with Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara together in the lineup for a second straight week.

In Detroit, the Lions host the Cowboys in a must-win for Dallas. It appears their only hope of making the playoffs is winning the division, something it is currently tied atop of with Philadelphia. Speaking of the Eagles, they come off the bye to host the New England Patriots, another team also fresh after getting the week off. If Philadelphia can pull the upset, it’s in great shape with an easy slate ahead.

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In Minnesota, the Vikings welcome in the Denver Broncos. Minnesota can join the list above of teams almost certain to reach the postseason with a win over the 3-6 Broncos.

Finally, the Rams and Bears tangle in Los Angeles on Sunday night. The loser is finished in the playoff race sans an epic comeback, while the winner can continue trying to gain ground on the teams above. As for the Panthers, they draw the Falcons in Carolina, another team in a must-win situation.