NFL playoff picture: NFC

Week 12 saw the NFC playoff picture change once again with some big results. The Giants embarrassed the Packers in a 38-10 blowout; Chicago beat the great pretending Vikings 28-10 whilst Robert Griffin and the Redskins got themselves back in to the hunt with a Thanksgiving Day win over NFC East rivals the Cowboys. After rallying back to a 5-5 record within the last two weeks the Saints fell to 49ers, week 12, and on Thursday night were defeated 23-13 in an NFC South clash meaning they dropped to 5-7 with Drew Brees throwing 5 interceptions on the night! Thankfully for New Orleans and teams like them on losing records the NFC playoff race is so tight that anything is still possible. Remember the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 made the playoffs with a 7-9 record, first time to ever happen, so there is reason for optimism for many. With the rest of week 13's matchups kicking off in a few hours we'll take a look at those who have a shot of reaching the playoffs and predict how the seeding will finish come the end of the regular season.

NFC current standings:

NFC EAST	W	L	T	PCT
New York Giants	7	4	0	.636
Washington Redskins	5	6	0	.455
Dallas Cowboys	5	6	0	.455
Philadelphia Eagles	3	8	0	.273
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	PCT
Chicago Bears	8	3	0	.727
Green Bay Packers	7	4	0	.636
Minnesota Vikings	6	5	0	.545
Detroit Lions	4	7	0	.364
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PCT
Atlanta Falcons	11	1	0	.917
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6	5	0	.545
New Orleans Saints	5	7	0	.417
Carolina Panthers	3	8	0	.273
NFC WEST	W	L	T	PCT
San Francisco 49ers	8	2	1	.773
Seattle Seahawks	6	5	0	.545
St. Louis Rams	4	6	1	.409
Arizona Cardinals	4	7	0	.364

 
Tough at the top 

Three of the four NFC divisional leaders could be replaced at the top come the end of the regular season with only the Atlanta Falcons the certain division champions as they are sitting pretty at 11-1 in the NFC South following their Thursday Night win and they also look set to seal the NFC's number one seed for the playoffs along with a bye week in the first round.

The NFC East may be close but following last Sunday's impressive performance by Eli Manning and the New York Giants against the Packers the defending Super Bowl Champions would realistically wrap up the division with a win against the Redskins on Monday Night. A win for Washington though would open things up especially if Dallas win in week 13 too as then two of the Giant's rivals would only be a game back on them and they have some more hard games coming up.

The 49ers are in control in the West and with two red hot quarterbacks jostling for the starting position it is only a matter of time before they win the West but over in the NFC North we have the Bears (8-3) Vikings (6-5) and Packers (7-4) all battling it out for the division title and a shot at the post-season. With it being so close it is anyone's call, so is the hunt for that elusive bye-week in the playoffs and so is the race for who will get the two wildcard spots in the NFC.

Ultimate Opportunity

Some years you get outright divisional winners and other years you get a battle till the end. The NFC this year seems to be one massive brawl between all the teams in the conference and with only a few weeks remaining in the regular season it appears quite likely that a team finishing with a 9-7 record will sneak in to a wildcard spot which isn't ultimately a bad thing as we know the 9-7 New York Giants went on to win Super Bowl 46.

Speaking of the Giants they could end up as a wildcard team but that looks doubtful. At 7-4 a win over the 5-6 Redskins this week would almost definitely wrap up the NFC East for them but as mentioned previously a loss to RGIII as Washington would open the title race. Either way the Giants will make the playoffs, if the Redskins lose on Monday night it is doubtful that there young team will bounce back. It is literally make or break for Washington as a win would give them the momentum shift they need to push on in their last 4 games and make the post-season. As for Dallas well they are literally an unpredictable team and make to beat the Eagles on Sunday Night to keep their playoff hopes alive, if they do then I believe it will come down to the week 17 matchup against the Redskins with the winner determining who possibly makes in to one the wildcard positions in the NFC. All in all it's all about who can put a run of wins together when it matters most.

The NFC North is very hard to predict. Thankfully for Chicago they started the season well, Jay Cutler has been efficient at quarterback and the defense have performed very well for the majority of the season. They'll hold on and win the division. Green Bay will want to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat to the Giants and I think they'll blowout the Vikings today, Minnesota have had a very good season but they are the great pretenders and with the Packers to play twice along with Chicago once as well as the Texans in four of their final five games the Vikings playoff hopes will take a downward spiral after today

The NFC South seems complicated to some but following the Saints defeat to Atlanta on Thursday I see it playing out simply as with a tough schedule the Saints will try their best but not make the playoffs. With Drew Brees throwing five interceptions in the loss to the Falcons he'll want to make amends for the New Orleans self-destruction on Thursday Night and will grab some wins in the teams remaining games which will include a victory over Tampa Bay. I'm a Josh Freeman fan and this young Buccanneers team have a lot to be proud of but if they lose to the Broncos today they need to beat the Eagles in week 14 ahead of the big road game against the Saints at the Superdome in order to have a shot at the post-season.

Finally we take a look at the West. Divisional leaders, the 49ers, have games against all three of their rivals in their final 5 games but with second year Quarterback Colin Kaepernick in red hot form and San Francisco having the best defense in the league I expect them to sweep those three games. The only matchup they may lose is against the New England Patriots but besides that the 49ers are in prime position to take a bye by wrapping up the second seed in the NFC. The Seahawks have one of the best defenses in the league but injuries and suspensions have come at a back time for Seattle and I see them just missing out on the post-season.

Looking Ahead

So in conclusion with everything I have mentioned above here are the six teams who I believe will make the playoffs with predicted records and seedings.

Seed 1: Atlanta Falcons 13-3
Seed 2: San Francisco 49ers 12-3-1
Seed 3: Chicago Bears - 12-4
Seed 4: New York Giants 11-5
Seed 5: Green Bay Packers 11-5
Seed 6: Washington Redskins 9-7

The Atlanta Falcons have played good football all year round and silenced critics on Thursday Night with a win over divisional rivals the Saints. I can see their final four games splitting if some complacency creeps and the fact that they do have some tough games remaining but overall they'll hold on to the number one seed in the NFC and ensure home field advantage as well as a bye week once the playoffs begin.

The 49ers have hit their stride once again and there only possibly defeat in their remaining games will come against the Patriots. So let's say that is the outcome they will finish with a record of 12-3-1 meaning that they edge out the 12-4 Chicago Bears for the second seed and elusive bye week. The Bears are in a good position at 8-3 ahead of their matchup today against the Seahawks but with tough divisional games on their schedule too they'll have to play in the wildcard round when January comes around.

The Giants may fall to the Redskins on Monday Night Football especially as QB Eli Manning doesn't have the greatest history against the capital's team but New York still wins the NFC east and with their week 12 triumph over the Packers it will give them a game at the MetLife stadium against the Packers in the wildcard week.

Overall I think although the first five teams I have predicted for the playoffs may seem obvious choices whether this be at the start of the season or now it is safe to say you can expect to see them in the playoffs one way or another but the sixth seed is a choice that I've been scratching my head over. After looking at the schedules of the contending teams it hasn't made the decision any easier. I'm a fan of young quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Josh Freeman of the Seahawks and Buccaneers respectively but sadly I think they miss out although with both at 6-5 that prediction will be completely turned on its head if they can win their week 13 matchup as they both have to entertain two Super Bowl contenders so a victory would be a big confidence boost. The more likely outcome is one way or another they fall short, the Saints have too big of a mountain to climb and as for the Cowboys well once again it is too little too late.

To finish here is my bold prediction, Dallas (7-8) will head in to FedEx Field ahead of a week 17 game against the Redskins (8-7) and lose like they did to the Giants in the same scenario a year ago meaning that Robert Griffin and Washington reach the post-season. Thankfully for RGIII and co a 24-22 week 4 win over Tampa Bay is what keeps the 9-7 Buccaneers out of the playoffs. There's something extremely special about Griffin and the Colts' Andrew Luck so I think they'll both get a chance to set the playoffs alight in their rookie seasons in the NFL.