NFC Playoff Expectations As Of 12/14/21

NFC DIVISION WINNERS:

TAMPA BAY 10-3: The Buccaneers have home games left with New Orleans and Carolina. They go on the road to Carolina and the New York Jets. It is hard to see them losing more than one. Chances of Winning the Division and Making the Playoffs: 100%

DALLAS 9-4: The Cowboys went on the road and handled Washington, to take a 3 game lead in the NFC East, with four games left in the regular season. For all practical purposes, they locked up the division and can focus on as high a seed as they can get in the playoffs. Chances of Winning the Division: 95% Chances of Making the Playoffs: 100%

GREEN BAY 10-3: The Packers have a chance to get the top seed in the NFC. They have very winnable home games at Cleveland and Minnesota. The road games include Baltimore and Detroit. Chances of Winning the Division and Making the Playoffs: 100%

ARIZONA 10-3: The Cardinals stubbed their toe Monday night, losing at home to the Rams. They have home games left against Indianapolis and Seattle. and go on the road to Detroit and Dallas. Their division lead has been trimmed to one game over the Rams and they are struggling winning games at home. Chances of Winning the Division: 60%. Chances of Making the Playoffs: 100%

NFC WILD CARD CONTENDERS:

LOS ANGELES 9-4: With their win over Arizona, the Rams all but locked up a wild card spot. They also still have a shot at winning the NFC West, but their remaining schedule is really tough. They have road games at Minnesota and Baltimore with both teams fighting for playoff spots. The two home games are with division rivals, Seattle and San Francisco which are not gimmes. Chances of Winning the Division: 40%. Chances of Making the Playoffs:100%

SAN FRANCISCO: 7-6 The Niners showed a lot of guts in blowing a lead, late against Cincinnati, but then winning in overtime. That gives them a little breathing room in the wild card hunt. They finish with road games at Tennessee and Los Angeles. They need to win one of those games. The home games against Atlanta and Houston are absolute must wins. Winning the Division: 0%. Making the Playoffs 70%

WASHINGTON 6-7: The Football Team showed some fight in the loss to the Cowboys, but a horrible first half was too much to overcome. They have a home and home series left with Philadelphia and road games with Dallas and the Giants. Are they good enough to win 3 of those? Winning the Division: 0%. Making the Playoffs: 30%

PHILADELPHIA 6-7: Believe it or not, the Eagles still have a chance if they can beat Washington twice. They also play the Giants and Dallas at home. An interesting thing about the Dallas game, is it is the final game of the season, and the Cowboys might have the division locked up and rest some of their starters. Their fate is identical to Washington’s; can they win 3 of those games? Winning the Division: 0%. Making the Playoffs: 30%

NEW ORLEANS 6-7: The Saints broke a 5-game losing streak with a win over the Jets in New York. They have a schedule that is very doable. There are road games with Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The game with the Falcons is huge and they play the Bucs better than anyone. Their two home games are against Miami and Carolina, and both are must-wins. Winning the Division: 0%. Making the Playoffs: 30%

MINNESOTA 6-7: I have buried the Vikings so many times, that I have lost count. They lost to Detroit to drop to 5-7, and then bounced back and defeated Pittsburgh last Thursday night. So, they are still alive and have a shot. They have home games against the Rams and the Bears and travel to play Chicago and Green Bay. They need to win three of those, but 2-2 seems likely. Winning the Division 0% Making the Playoffs: 15%

ATLANTA 6-7: This is another team still alive, but on life support. They finish on the road at San Francisco and Buffalo, and at home with Detroit and New Orleans. They need 3 wins and it doesn’t look promising. Winning the Division: 0% Making the Playoffs: 10%

SEATTLE 5-8: They have won two in a row and they might be better than any of the 6-7 teams ahead of them. They are on oxygen, but still alive. They have to win all of their remaining games that includes home games with Chicago and Detroit (both very winnable), and on the road against the Rams and the Cardinals. Not likely to happen, but not impossible. Winning the Division: 0%. Making the Playoffs: 5%