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NFC playoff picture: Will any of the South’s underdogs step up?
Posted by Mike Wilkening on November 25, 2014, 4:01 AM EST
Control of the NFC South reverted to the 4-7 Falcons after the Saints’ loss to Baltimore on Monday night.
It’s here we note the Falcons will keep the lead if all four South teams lose on Sunday.
And judging from the early lines in Nevada, that’s not impossible.
All four NFC South clubs are underdogs in Week 13. The 9-2 Cardinals are favored by a little less than a field goal at Atlanta, with the Bengals (7-3-1) opening as favorites of a little more than three points at Tampa Bay (2-9).
Similarly, the reeling Saints (4-7) opened as underdogs of a field goal at 7-4 Pittsburgh. Finally, the Panthers (3-7-1) play at 4-7 Minnesota (-2.5).
With wins so scarce in the South, an upset by Atlanta, Carolina or New Orleans could tilt the division race. And perhaps a surprise win would jump-start Tampa Bay, which is still in with a chance.
Here’s how the NFC stacks up after 12 weeks. The NFL’s standings and tiebreaking rules were cited.
THE BIG SIX
1. Arizona Cardinals (9-2, .818). NFC West leader. Earn first-round bye, home-field advantage.
2. Green Bay Packers (8-3, .727). NFC North leader. Earn first-round bye. Hold No. 2 seed on basis of head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3, .727). NFC East leader. Host Seahawks in wild-card round. NFC East’s top-seeded team on basis of better division record than Dallas (2-0 vs. 2-1).
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-7, .364). NFC South leader. Host Cowboys in wild-card round. NFC South’s top-seeded team on basis of head-to-head win vs. New Orleans.
5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3, .727.). Wild card No. 1.
6. Seattle Seahawks (7-4, .636). Wild card No. 2. NFC West’s second-seeded team on basis of better division record than San Francisco (1-1 vs. 1-2). Seeded ahead of Detroit on basis of better record in common games.
JUST MISSING
7. Detroit Lions (7-4, .636). Earn No. 7 seed on basis of better NFC record than San Francisco (5-2 vs. 6-3).
8. San Francisco 49ers (7-4, .636).
9. Chicago Bears (5-6, .455).
10. New Orleans Saints (4-7, .364). Earn No. 10 seed on basis of better NFC record (4-4) than Vikings (4-5) and Rams (3-5).
11. Minnesota Vikings (4-7, .364). Earn No. 11 seed on basis of head-to-head win vs. St. Louis.
12. St. Louis Rams (4-7, .364).
THE REST OF THE NFC SOUTH
13. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1, .318).
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-9, .182).
Posted by Mike Wilkening on November 25, 2014, 4:01 AM EST
Control of the NFC South reverted to the 4-7 Falcons after the Saints’ loss to Baltimore on Monday night.
It’s here we note the Falcons will keep the lead if all four South teams lose on Sunday.
And judging from the early lines in Nevada, that’s not impossible.
All four NFC South clubs are underdogs in Week 13. The 9-2 Cardinals are favored by a little less than a field goal at Atlanta, with the Bengals (7-3-1) opening as favorites of a little more than three points at Tampa Bay (2-9).
Similarly, the reeling Saints (4-7) opened as underdogs of a field goal at 7-4 Pittsburgh. Finally, the Panthers (3-7-1) play at 4-7 Minnesota (-2.5).
With wins so scarce in the South, an upset by Atlanta, Carolina or New Orleans could tilt the division race. And perhaps a surprise win would jump-start Tampa Bay, which is still in with a chance.
Here’s how the NFC stacks up after 12 weeks. The NFL’s standings and tiebreaking rules were cited.
THE BIG SIX
1. Arizona Cardinals (9-2, .818). NFC West leader. Earn first-round bye, home-field advantage.
2. Green Bay Packers (8-3, .727). NFC North leader. Earn first-round bye. Hold No. 2 seed on basis of head-to-head tiebreaker over Philadelphia.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3, .727). NFC East leader. Host Seahawks in wild-card round. NFC East’s top-seeded team on basis of better division record than Dallas (2-0 vs. 2-1).
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-7, .364). NFC South leader. Host Cowboys in wild-card round. NFC South’s top-seeded team on basis of head-to-head win vs. New Orleans.
5. Dallas Cowboys (8-3, .727.). Wild card No. 1.
6. Seattle Seahawks (7-4, .636). Wild card No. 2. NFC West’s second-seeded team on basis of better division record than San Francisco (1-1 vs. 1-2). Seeded ahead of Detroit on basis of better record in common games.
JUST MISSING
7. Detroit Lions (7-4, .636). Earn No. 7 seed on basis of better NFC record than San Francisco (5-2 vs. 6-3).
8. San Francisco 49ers (7-4, .636).
9. Chicago Bears (5-6, .455).
10. New Orleans Saints (4-7, .364). Earn No. 10 seed on basis of better NFC record (4-4) than Vikings (4-5) and Rams (3-5).
11. Minnesota Vikings (4-7, .364). Earn No. 11 seed on basis of head-to-head win vs. St. Louis.
12. St. Louis Rams (4-7, .364).
THE REST OF THE NFC SOUTH
13. Carolina Panthers (3-7-1, .318).
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-9, .182).