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XML 7 Playoff Picture: NFC Edition
Every season, teams battle for six chances in each conference to get to one goal...a shot at reaching the XML Bowl. Six XML Champions have been crowned, and a seventh is only weeks away from being the next. With the season winding down, its time to break down the playoff picture and show what each team can do to clinch a playoff spot, and a chance at getting to the 7th XML Bowl. This thread will cover the NFC side of the XML. Click the link at the bottom to see the AFC Playoff Picture.
x - Clinched playoff
y - Clinched Wild Card
z - Clinched Division
* - Clinched Division and Homefield Advantage
NFC Division Leaders (W-L-T, Conference Record, Division Record)
1.) Carolina Panthers (9-3, 7-2, 2-1)
2.) Green Bay Packers (9-3, 8-2, 3-1)
3.) Philadelphia Eagles (8-4, 6-4, 2-2)
4.) St. Louis Rams (6-6, 5-5, 3-1)
NFC Wild Card Leaders
5.) Dallas Cowboys (8-4, 6-2, 2-1)
6.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5, 7-2, 3-1)
NFC Teams "In The Hunt"
7.) Minnesota Vikings (7-5, 4-4, 2-2)
8.) New Orleans Saints (6-6, 5-4, 1-3)
9.) Arizona Cardinals (6-6, 5-5, 3-1)
10.) Atlanta Falcons (5-7, 4-5, 1-2)
11.) Chicago Bears (5-7, 3-6, 2-2)
12.) New York Giants (4-8, 3-6, 2-1)
13.) San Francisco 49ers (4-8, 3-6, 0-3)
14.) Seattle Seahawks (3-9, 3-5, 1-2)
Unlike the AFC, the NFC race is much tighter, and less top heavy. It all starts with the Carolina Panthers, who sit over top of the Packers by virtue of their head to head victory back in week 2. If I told you a team starting a rookie QB won 7 of their first 8 games, you would probably think I was joking. But in all seriousness, Cam Newton has led the Panthers on a great run toward making the playoffs this season. Their three losses have come within their last six games, and they have a tough schedule to finish the season, facing all three of their division rivals, and the 9-3 Houston Texans. If Cam Newton wants to get Carolina into the playoffs, he has 4 big time challenges ahead of him, including a rematch with a Bucs team that just defeated him in Week 13.
The Green Bay Packers have been enjoying a lot of success this season, winning week after week after week. But seven of their nine wins have come against opponents who have a .500 record or worse. Their three losses? All opponents with a record well over .500. Their remaining four opponents each have records below .500, so many may argue that the Packers had it easy, but in the XML, no one gets it easy. But do expect the Packers to walk away with the black and blue division.
The Philadelphia Eagles are a team that has offensively been clicking like no other team has in the NFC. Mike Vick is playing spectacular football. And the defense is no slouch. They've also benefitted from racking up wins on teams with losing records. But they showed that they can play with the big boys when they handed the undefeated Patriots their first loss of the season back in Week 12. They'll be tested again in Week 14 against the 8-4 Miami Dolphins, and again in Week 16 when they go to Dallas in a possible fight for the division crown.
The St. Louis Rams are leading in a division where it looks like 7 or 8 wins could take the crown. Sitting at 6-6, they hold the tie breaker over the Cardinals. But with matchups coming against the Seahawks, Bengals, Steelers, and Niners, they'll have to get their game faces on and take some wins from these opponents to make sure they lock the division down so they can host a home playoff game. It's unlikely a wild card would come from the NFC West.
The Cowboys started the season hot, but also dealt with ownership issues through mid-season. But now with a steady owner, the Cowboys are looking to fight with Philly for the NFC East. They'll have two meetings with the Giants (weeks 14 and 17) as well as a meeting with the Bucs. But their Week 16 matchup with the Eagles could be their most important game of the season if they want a shot at winning the NFC East.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the other wild-card spot by virtue of their head to head win over the Vikings back in Week 2. It's been an up and down season for the Bucs, with injuries and inconsistencies holding them back just when they start to roll. They'll need LeGarette Blount and Josh Freeman to pick things up as it doesn't get any easier from here. They'll have matchups with the Jags, Cowboys, and Falcons. But the biggest will be their rematch with the division leading Panthers, which could play a big role in whether or not they can get a home playoff game, or if they'll have to fight for a wild card.
The Minnesota Vikings, led by Christian Ponder, have been bumpy through the season. After starting 3-1, they dropped 3 straight, but then picked a few wins back up, before suffering a meltdown at the hand of the Broncos. Their remaining schedule sees them playing all teams under .500, but if they don't erase the memory of their meltdown against the Broncos, they could be severely held back in the wild card race. If they can get wins over their lesser opponents, they may be able to scare the Packers in the division race. But as mentioned before, the Packers have a very light schedule remaining.
The Cardinals are another team that is now suffering from ownership issues. But they are only a half game out from the division, and one and a half games outside of a wild card spot. They only face one team with a winning record in their last four games. So if ownership issues don't persist, they'll have a chance to compete with the Rams for the West.
The Falcons, Bears, and Giants each have outside chances in the division and wild card races, but wins by the Panthers, Packers and Eagles in Week 14 should eliminate each of them from contention.
The Niners and Seahawks only have a shot at the division title with four games left. The Seahawks would be eliminated with a Rams or Cardinals win in Week 14.
The Redskins and Lions have both been eliminated from playoff contention in 2011.
For the AFC Playoff Picture, click here =>>> https://xml12.forumotion.com/t367-the-2011-12-xml-7-playoff-picture-afc-edition#1881
