Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Sep 24, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Home » Blog » NFC playoff picture, Week 9: Vikings, Packers try to move up

NFC playoff picture, Week 9: Vikings, Packers try to move up

Matt Verderame NFL

We’re officially at the midway point of the NFL season. With eight weeks behind us and eight ahead, the playoff picture is starting to take on great importance. Soon enough, we’ll be talking about possible postseason matchups and how the road to Miami might look.

Going into Week 9, here is how things stand in the NFC:

1. San Francisco 49ers (8-0)
2. New Orleans Saints (7-1)
3. Green Bay Packers (7-1)
4. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
5. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
6. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
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7. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
8. Carolina Panthers (4-3)
9. Detroit Lions (3-3-1)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)

A few teams are getting much-deserved rest this week. The Rams are off after beating the Cincinnati Bengals in London last Sunday, while the Saints are also getting the bye following a convincing 30-9 victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Speaking of the Cardinals, the 49ers are ahead of there game this week, having beaten Arizona in the desert on Thursday night.

As for the Sunday and Monday games, the Packers are on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are the home team here but only in theory, as Green Bay will likely see plenty of its fans packing the stadium in California. With a win, the Packers would move into the second seed with New Orleans idle.

On Monday night, the Cowboys are taking a trip to theMeadowlands for a date with the moribund New York Giants. New York is 2-6 and desperately hoping to pull off an upset, but the Cowboys know with a win they would move to 5-3 and continue towards the postseason.

Seattle is also a favorite, taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at CenturyLink Field on Sunday. The Seahawks need to show something in their own building, though, having a mediocre 2-2 mark there thus far.

The Vikings have a tough game on the docket, dealing with the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in the early window. Minnesota draw Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is questionable after dislocating his kneecap on Thursday night a few weeks ago against the Denver Broncos. If Mahomes plays, the Vikings are the underdog.

Finally, below the proverbial fold. Carolina is trying to bounce back from a humiliating 51-13 loss against the 49ers, welcoming in the Tennessee Titans. Detroit is on the road this weekend, taking a trip to the Black Hole in a tilt with the Oakland Raiders. Whoever loses that game is likely out of the race. Then there are the Eagles who host Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears in another affair where the loser is all but finished.

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