Aaron Rodgers, Packers
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws against the the Washington Redskins at Lambeau Field on September 15, 2013 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Home » Blog » NFC playoff picture, Week 12: Rams-Packers looms

NFC playoff picture, Week 12: Rams-Packers looms

Matt Verderame NFL

With the NFC playoff picture looking murkier than ever, the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams face off in a huge battle.

In the NFC playoff picture, there’s a huge gap between the top five teams and the rest of the postseason contenders. Here’s how things look going into the NFL Week 12 schedule this weekend.

1. Arizona Cardinals (9-2)
2. Green Bay Packers (8-3)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (7-4)
5. Los Angeles Rams (7-3)
6. Minnesota Vikings (5-5)
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-5)
—
8. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)
9. Carolina Panthers (5-6)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-6)

Of all the matchups in the NFC, there are two this weekend which take top billing.

For starters, it’s the Los Angeles Rams invading Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. Should the Packers win, they move two games ahead of Los Angeles while holding a key tiebreaker. However, Green Bay is incredibly beat up, missing multiple defensive stars in Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith, along with multiple starting offensive linemen.

As for the Rams, winning would keep hope alive of both getting to the top of the NFC West and also, potentially, getting to home-field advantage. First things first, though, they must catch the Cardinals, who are on their bye week this weekend.

Moving on, the 49ers and Vikings tangle on the west coast. San Francisco and Minnesota are both 5-5 and coming into Sunday’s affair on two-game winning streaks. Whoever loses drops out of the playoff picture and suddenly is under .500 and on the wrong side of a very important tiebreaker. The winner moves to 6-5 and suddenly looks like a borderline lock to make the playoffs with decent play down the stretch.

Elsewhere, the Buccaneers are on the road, taking on the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts enjoyed their breakout performance last week with a 41-15 demolition of the Buffalo Bills, as Indy tries to climb back into the AFC South race. The Buccaneers are going to win the NFC South, but can they threaten for the top seed in the NFC?

Finally, the Eagles are on the road, taking a trip up the New Jersey Turnpike to play the New York Giants. With a victory, Philadelphia would be 6-6 and on a three-game winning streak. For the Panthers, they visit the Miami Dolphins, who are 4-7 but have won three straight.

  • 100%