2006 NFC Playoff Picture

As we head into the final 2 weeks of the 2006 season the NFC playoff picture is very interesting. There are only 2 division races that have been sewed up as Chicago (12-2, NFC North Champion) and New Orleans (9-5, NFC South Division) have clinched their division titles and a playoff spot. In addition to these teams, Dallas (9-5) has clinched a playoff berth and have a 1 game lead over Philadelphia (8-6) for the NFC East Division crown. Seattle (8-6) has a 3 game lead over San Francisco (6-8) and St. Louis (6-8) and can clinch the division championship with a win.

There are many teams still with a mathematical chance at the playoffs. They are listed in order of how they would rank as of today with tiebreaker scenarios and listed behind them is the teams remaining on their schedule. The top 2 teams from this group will make the playoffs. This assumes that Dallas and Seattle are the division winners in their respective divisions.

Philadelphia (8-6) – at Dallas, home Atlanta
New York Giants (7-7) – home New Orleans, at Washington
Atlanta (7-7) – home Carolina, at Philadelphia
Green Bay (6-8) – home Minnesota, at Chicago
San Francisco (6-8) – home Arizona, at Denver
Carolina (6-8) – at Atlanta, at New Orleans
Minnesota (6-8) – at Green Bay, home St. Louis
St. Louis (6-8) – home Washington, at Minnesota

Here are the matchups if the playoffs were held after week 15:
Chicago - bye
New Orleans – bye
New York Giants at Dallas (winner plays at New Orleans)
Philadelphia at Seattle (winner plays at Chicago)

We must look at these scenarios to see if we can use it to our advantage in trying to handicap the games for the upcoming weekends. Chicago has the final 2 weeks to rest their players and get everyone healthy as they have already clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The rest of the teams listed above all have a significant reason to play hard in week 16 because they are all fighting for either a playoff spot or for a higher seed meaning the could have home field advantage and first round byes. This means that those teams will be playing their frontline starters and giving a maximum effort in trying to win the game. This may not be the case for week 17 depending on how things play out in week 16.

The Philadelphia – Dallas game will have huge playoff implications as Philadelphia can move into a tie with a win; however, a loss by the Eagles would drop them in the wild card standings and may leave them outside the playoffs. The Cowboys can clinch the division if they win the game.

The Giants control their own destiny as they will clinch a playoff spot with 2 victories. Their game in week 16 will be difficult as New Orleans is still trying to capture a first round bye and home playoff game.

Atlanta currently finds themselves tied for the last playoff spot but would lose out on the tiebreaker so they must try to win both of their games to increase their playoff hopes. A split in their final 2 games would probably mean that they spent the playoff season at home.