NFL Three-Quarter Time Report - NFC

Only 4 games to go for everyone else in the NFL - apart from Jacksonville and San Diego who play on Monday Night Football (Tuesday NZ time). But they are part of the AFC.

The picture is a lot clearer in the NFC though.

The Green Bay Packers (12-0) have won the NFC North and might have even clinched a bye in the first weekend of the playoffs as they look on course to finish as the no. 1 NFC seed.

The No. 2 NFC seed looks set to be between the San Francisco 49ers (10-2) who have clinched the NFC West and the New Orleans Saints (9-3) who are close to clinching the NFC South.

The 49ers are away to the Cardinals, at home to the Steelers and then away to the Seahawks and Rams.

The Saints host the Atlanta Falcons (7-5) at the Superdome on Boxing Day in what looks likely to decide the NFC South winner - the Saints are at Tennessee and Minnesota before that game, while the Falcons are at Carolina and then Jacksonville. The Saints finish with Carolina at home while the Falcons host the Buccaneers.

The Falcons should win their games while the Saints may have a tough task against the Titans (7-5) who are harrying the QB/WR-less Texans (9-3) for the AFC South title.

I think the Saints' D and O may be too much for a good but one-dimensional Titans side - which would be quite good news for the Texans.

However, the 49ers do have the easier schedule and Jim Harbaugh will want his side to romp home into the playoffs.

I tip both 49ers and Saints to finish 13-3 with the 49ers taking the 2nd seed by dint of their better divisional record (6-0 v 6-1).

Which leaves us with the highly competitive NFC East. It's the division no one wants to win and next Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys (7-5) and New York Giants (6-6) take on each other at the home Jerry Jones built.

It is the first game between these two of the year which could go a long way to deciding the division - probably the only way one of these two will make the playoffs at this stage.  

Between those two games, the Giants go to Washington and host their cross-town rivals, Jets, while the Cowboys go to Tampa Bay (a Saturday night game) and host Philadelphia. Expect them to win one & lose one but the Cowboys will win their series v the Giants.

In the NFC wildcard race, despite both losing this weekend, the Bears and Lions (both 7-5) are still in control thanks to their better division record.

The Bears and Lions must take on the awesome Packers over the festive period - the Bears on Christmas night, the Lions on New Year's Day.

The Bears have to go to Denver to face the Tebow Time and then host Seattle before finishing off in Minnesota.

The Lions host Minnesota in their last home game before embarking on a road trip across America (Oakland, Buffalo and Green Bay in that order).

The Bears are most vulnerable with both their best offensive players, Jay Cutler and Matt Forte out for the near future - as was clear to see at home to the now 5-7 Kansas City Chiefs.    
 

Which paves the way for the Lions to end their eternal playoff drought and the Falcons to enter the playoffs in January.

So my tip on the NFC side -
Wildcard Round
#5 Detroit Lions (10-6 on division record)
#4 Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

#6 Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
#3 New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Bye:
#1 Green Bay Packers (16-0)
#2 San Francisco 49ers (13-3)