With six weeks left, here’s how the NFC playoff race is shaping up, with the teams listed below in current order (four division leaders, followed by wild-card teams) along with each team’s remaining schedule:
- Green Bay (10-0) – @DET, @NYG, OAK, @KC, CHI, DET
- San Francisco (9-1) – @BAL, STL, @ARI, PIT, @SEA, @STL
- New Orleans (7-3) – NYG, DET, @TEN, @MIN, ATL, CAR
- Dallas (6-4) – MIA, @ARI, NYG, @TB, PHI, @NYG
- Detroit (7-3) – GB, @NO, MIN, @OAK, SD, @GB
- Chicago (7-3) – @KC, OAK, @DEN, SEA, @GB, @MIN
- Atlanta (6-4) – MIN, @HOU, @CAR, JAC, @NO, TB
- N.Y. Giants (6-4) – @NO, GB, @DAL, WAS, @NYJ, DAL
Obviously, there are other teams still in contention, including Philadelphia (4-6). But at the moment, the safe bet is six of these eight teams will make the playoffs in the NFC. Right now, factoring in the likelihood that the Bears will have to play the last six without Jay Cutler (broken thumb/surgery), it looks to me like the Falcons and Lions have the best shot at the wild-card berths. And if the Lions do make it, I bet they’ll have a 4-0 record against the AFC West — as well as Tony Romo — to thank for it.
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