NFC Playoff Picture

Division Leaders
1. Philadelphia -- Will have home field advantage.
2. Atlanta -- Should be #2 seed in NFC.
3. Green Bay -- The Packers control their own destiny and the Vikes are fading, again.
4. Seattle -- Seahawks are in the driver's seat again. But they are not as good as any AFC playoff team.

Wildcards
5. Minnesota -- Game against Detroit could determine Vikings' playoff destiny and Tice's coaching future. The Vikings do not fare well in too many tiebreakers, so they need to win 2 of their last 3 to lock this spot up.

6. Carolina -- The Panthers have made it all the way back. But now have a tough one against Atlanta. Considering the competition in the NFC, the Panthers could afford a loss if they win their last 2. But an upset here and a Vikings loss could move them and really solidify their position. This is a BIG game for the Panthers!

Outside Looking In
7. St Louis (6-7) -- If Carolina or Minnesota stumble, the Rams could benefit and move up. But this team does not look like a team ready to move up. Injuries and inconsistency have hurt them all year and will continue. And with their last 2 games against the Eagles and Jets, the Rams are looking at a year without playoffs.

8. Tampa Bay (5-8) -- Tampa Bay has a favorable schedule and should easily pass the Rams. They also have a game with Carolina, which would throw the tiebreaker advantage to the Bucs against them. Tampa needs to win out, which is possible, and get a little help from others beating Minnesota and/or Carolina. But they are in pretty good position, considering their record.

9. Giants, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans (5-8) -- Yes, they have the same record as Tampa Bay, but only the Bucs have shown any inclination to make a move upwards. The Giants tossed out their chances when they switched to Eli and are now playing for the future. Dallas blew it against New Orleans. The only team that has a chance of climbing the mountain here is Detroit. They have a chance with their schedule to win the last 3, but they would also need a lot of help.

Bottom Line in the NFC is this. Based on the last month, Carolina and Tampa Bay deserve the wildcard spots more than any other teams, and that includes division leaders Green Bay and Seattle. Nobody else seems to want it enough to take it. Maybe Detroit, they are playing well in their losses. But Minnesota, Seattle, and St Louis are all playing badly. Those 3 are vulnerable.

The final spots could be decided by the Bucs/Panthers game in 2 weeks.