It's Christmas Day in America today, and five NFC teams already have a gift-wrapped box under the tree with a shiny new playoff berth inside. Who will join them as the sixth team? Let's take a closer look at the situation.
|
Seed
|
Team
|
Record
|
Div.
|
Conf.
|
|
1
|
Dallas Cowboys*
|
13-2
|
4-1
|
10-1
|
|
2
|
Green Bay Packers*
|
12-3
|
3-2
|
8-3
|
|
3
|
Seattle Seahawks*
|
10-5
|
5-1
|
9-3
|
|
4
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
|
9-6
|
5-0
|
8-3
|
|
5
|
New York Giants+
|
10-5
|
3-3
|
7-5
|
|
6
|
Washington Redskins
|
8-7
|
2-3
|
6-5
|
|
--
|
Minnesota Vikings
|
8-7
|
3-3
|
6-6
|
|
--
|
New Orleans Saints
|
7-8
|
3-3
|
6-5
|
* - Clinched division title.
+ - Clinched playoff berth.
TIEBREAKERS:
- Washington has the tiebreaker on Minnesota based on head-to-head matchup.
So here are the five teams in the playoffs and where they stand today:
1.) Dallas Cowboys. Clinched the NFC East title, a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
2.) Green Bay Packers. Clinched the NFC North title and a first-round bye.
3.) Seattle Seahawks. Clinched the NFC West title and the #3 seed.
4.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Clinched the NFC South title and the #4 seed.
5.) New York Giants. Clinched the first Wild Card berth and the #5 seed.
Boring, right? None of these teams have to play for anything but pride and fine-tuning. They can rest banged-up players, run through their offensive and defensive setups, and that's that.
The #6 seed is the only thing left to decide, and three teams still have a shot at it. Here's what they need:
1.) The Washington Redskins can clinch the #6 seed with a win.
2.) The Minnesota Vikings can clinch the #6 with a win and a Redskins loss.
3.) The New Orleans Saints can clinch the #6 with a win, a Redskins loss and a Vikings loss. All three teams would be 8-8, and the Saints would win the tiebreaker based on conference record.
Who's going to win a trip to Seattle? We'll find out Sunday.
THIS WEEK'S IMPACT GAMES (All Times Eastern):
- New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears (SUN, 1:00 PM, FOX). Playoffs or no playoffs, the Saints would love to finish the season with a win in Soldier Field, where their season ended disastrously last year. At least Reggie Bush won't be doing any stupid end zone dances this time.
- Minnesota Vikings @ Denver Broncos (SUN, 4:15 PM, FOX). This won't be an easy season-ender for Minnesota. The Broncos will be playing for a lot of pride at home.
- Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins (SUN, 4:15 PM, FOX). Boy, wouldn't beating the Cowboys to end the season be pretty sweet for the 'Skins? Wouldn't it be more interesting if the Cowboys actually cared? Or does the fact that it's the 'Skins make them care?
Click here for the latest AFC playoff picture.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-25-2007 @ 3:11PM
Giants Fan said...
Watch out for the G-men, 7-1 on the road,if they can catch the ball,they will be a big suprise in the playoffs,osi will put a hurtin on garcia.
Reply
12-25-2007 @ 3:27PM
Phil said...
THE ROAD TO THE BOWL GOES THROUGH TEXAS, END OF STORY. SO WHAT IF THE SKINS WIN. REST T.O, AND TONY, TERRY SHOULD BE BACK, OR DID U PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT TERRY? THEY ALSO CAN RUN THE BALL.
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12-25-2007 @ 4:01PM
marc said...
The Redskins are going to the playoffs, is it not fitting after all they have been through this season ??
Reply
12-25-2007 @ 5:57PM
Ocoeesteve said...
hey if im the dallase cowboys i would keep tony romo out for the last game and keep t.o. out and a couple other of there key starters rest them up for the play offs dont risk chance of them gettin hurt when last game doesnt matter, nothin to play for they got everything they needed to get le the key starters take the day off...
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12-25-2007 @ 10:28PM
aaorn W said...
After TO going out last week, expect Dallas to rest alot of people. Ditto for Green Bay. With that being said, good luck picking NFL games this week.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 2:37AM
Ascencion said...
It would be very sweet to rest all of these guys and still have the second team whip Redskins just the same.
An so it shall be done!!!!!Go Boys!!
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 6:42AM
Stanley said...
Is it true that Giants/Patriot tickets are worth a ton of money, according to radio sports news in N.Y.? We thought the stadium would be empty, especially if Giants rest starters.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 7:19AM
Paul Lemnah said...
Even if "Americas Team" plays their 3rd string, they will beat the "DeadSkins" The "DeadSkins" dont deserve a trip to the Post season. You would think that the "DeadSkins" are the only team to lose a member of their team. Taylor at best, was just a above average ball player, the only reason he got off from the felony sentencing was because of his money and the help of Danny boy and his police chief father, or one of his fathers, not sure how many he had. the man is "dead" so get over it. Portis???what a bum!!!! he should have stayed in Denver, and Collins, well he's had a few lucky games, see what happens when he faces "Americas Team, especially their DEFENSE. Americas Team is not going to lay down, they want this win almost as bad as i do, lmao. There is no reason to lay down and let the "DeadSkins" into Post Season, and im sure that Americas Team wants to beat them also, and they dont need Tony and T.O. to beat them.
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12-26-2007 @ 8:52AM
john said...
it's not a question to rest T.O.,There is no choice. And secondly,The redskins made the vikings look silly(the hottest team up to that point.So with that being said,No t.o.,and the cowboys are screwed,we just witnessed that against carolina,Ankle sprains don't heel in two weeks,not even three.
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 3:27PM
Cowboys 31 - foreskiins 17 said...
Um John boy is this your 1st year watching the NFL? T.O. is probably the fastest healer in the NFL. You wont be able to keep him out of the 1st playoff game. I think they should rest the Dallas starters also. They dont need them to beat the 4skins
Reply
12-26-2007 @ 5:08PM
BIG T said...
PATS have been lucky all year, no serious injuries! Your Defense is overrated! It's not Moss that makes you good, it's WELKER, without him you're a 10-11 win team. They have NO RUNNING game. The playoffs are a whole new season. Watch out for the JAGS. Oh then there's that team that is the DEFENDING SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS, it seems that everybody's forgot about.
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 7:25AM
billyh said...
AT THIS POINT WE ALL HAVE TO HOPE FOR THE COLTS TO WIN OVER NEW ENGLAND . MR . B. HAS HAD GREAT TRAINING UNDER MR. P. AND BOTH N.E. AND DALLAS ARE MR. P. BUILT TEAMS . WADE NEEDS TO PLAY HIS STARTERS MINUS T.O. REST THE ANKLE FOR A HALF THEN GO SECOND STRING . HE ALSO NEEDS TO WATCH THE RAVENS N.E. VIDEO AND LEARN A LITTLE BUDDY BALL . GO DALLAS
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12-27-2007 @ 9:48AM
Rob said...
Just like a true Cowboys fan, let the starters rest to justify the loss to Washington. They'll beat Dallas with or without Romo or T.O. Their paid to play all games. They should join the Cubscouts. Funny how they actually work on the job 48 hours a year and they want time off cause their afraid of injury. Funny how military, fire, cops ect dont get time off, dont think of injury and make 30-40k/yr?
And, isn't what the Atlanta coach did? quit in the middle of it?
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 10:10AM
Mike said...
I have no idea why everyone thinks the cowboys are so good, and, this "americas team" thing is old and sure not a fact, at all. Watch the little cowboy lose in the playoffs and then watch little terrell go off on the team then, he will get another year older and he knows time is running out to win anything for him. Even if the little boys make the Super bowl, they will end up losing it anyway, the AFC, like 3 or four teams there, is just way better than the NFC, its all hype there, they have no shot at winning it all, not one team, especially the little cowboys. It will be fun watching old, Brett take the little boys down, at home no less.
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12-27-2007 @ 10:56AM
Peter said...
Dave (or anyone), what happens if Washington, Minnesota and New Orleans all lose?
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 10:58AM
Dave said...
Peter: If they all lose, the situation you see up there doesn't change. Washington would be in at 8-8, because they beat the Vikings, who would also finish 8-8.
It would be far more satisfying if one of them actually won, of course, but let's not forget that this is the NFC.
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12-27-2007 @ 11:36AM
Phil said...
LUV YA BIG T. U R SO RIGHT. ALL THESE ASSES DON'T LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. THE GOAL IS TO WIN THW SUPERBOWL REST YOUR PLAYERS. I KNOW TIMING IS EVERYTHING, BUT THINGS CAN HAPPEN. THIS IS WHERE BELACHEAT WILL MESS UP BY PLAYING ALL HIS GUYS.
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12-27-2007 @ 12:07PM
CW said...
Hey Rob & Mike - it's funny you guys are here bashing the Cowboys, and yet don't state your own team affiliation - I bet at least one of you is an Eagles fan...go ahead, admit it. Mike, all you've done is shown that you're a football idiot by saying Dallas doesn't have a chance; Rob, the Cowboys beat the Redskins in the first game that mattered, and if they meet again in the playoffs, they'll destroy that Washington team. GET OVER IT GUYS, DALLAS IS FOR REAL - ACCEPT IT.
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12-27-2007 @ 1:44PM
cajunmr43 said...
Go Dallas go Denver The Skins & minn. will go down
Reply
12-27-2007 @ 3:04PM
Stephen said...
One thing is for sure: The Redskins have class.
While "America's team",until Bill Parcells came in
and straightened them out, was a bunch of jerk-offs.
Both teams have had their problems in the recent past,but the rivalry between the Cowboys and the
Indians goes back to the birth of the Dallas
franchise. It's always a good game, and this one should be no different.
"Hail to the Redskins"
Reply