WoodysGirl
11-10-2004, 12:51 PM
By Troy Aikman
Special to NFL.com
(Nov. 9, 2004) -- There are six NFC teams currently sitting at 3-5, and it's safe to say that none of them are out of the playoff picture.
If the season ended today, the New York Giants would be the first wild card in the NFC with a 5-3 record. But they are coming off a surprising loss to the Chicago Bears (one of those 3-5 teams) and both of their starting defensive ends, Keith Washington and Michael Strahan, are out for the season. I wouldn't rule them out, but it's going to be difficult for the Giants to keep that position in the playoff race.
In addition to the 3-5 teams, there are also three NFC teams at 4-4. So how does the race shape up for the second half of the season? My guess is that the NFC wild cards come out of the North and West divisions. If you're in the NFC East or South, although certainly possible to get in as a wild card, I would expect only the divisional winners to advance.
Of course, winning the division is what all these teams strive for. With the 2003 realignment into eight divisions, only two wild-card teams qualify for postseason play in each conference. It puts a premium on winning the division, which is how it should be.
Despite a 4-4 record, the Green Bay Packers could very well be the hottest team in the NFC right now. They began the season 1-4 and it appeared their year was about over before it ever really got started. Now, having won three straight, they battle Minnesota at Lambeau Field this weekend with a chance to move into a first-place tie in the NFC North and control their own destiny.
And if the Packers do remain hot and end up winning the NFC North, then the Vikings are suddenly thrown in the mix of wild-card contenders.
(Note: Considering the importance of Sunday's Minnesota-Green Bay game, it's either tough luck or unfair scheduling that the Packers are coming off a bye week, giving them two weeks to prepare for this game, while the Vikings must travel to Green Bay after playing in Indianapolis on Monday night. Not an easy task for Minnesota.)
The Seattle Seahawks (5-3) and St. Louis Rams (4-4) will battle for the NFC West title, and my belief is that whichever team finishes second will earn a wild-card spot. The Arizona Cardinals are 3-5, which is fairly impressive for a team that won four games all of last year. The Cardinals are playing better than expected, especially on defense. Dennis Green is seeing progress, but this is still a team that is at best a year away.
The two 3-5 teams in the NFC East are in a difficult position. The Dallas Cowboys' loss to Cincinnati last week kept them from making up any ground in the division following losses by both the Eagles and Giants, both teams are ahead of the Cowboys in the division. A win would have put the Cowboys at 4-4, a game behind the Giants for second place. Realistically, their chances of making the playoffs hinge on them winning seven of the last eight games. They play Philadelphia twice, starting this Monday night, and they have road games at Baltimore and Seattle. Not that they can't win any of those games, but winning seven of eight is hard enough for teams like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or New England -- the elite teams of the NFL. It's difficult to imagine Dallas pulling it off.
Washington is coming off a win over the Detroit Lions (4-4), but the Redskins are in the same position as Dallas. I thought they'd be a good team. They have good players and they've played good defense pretty much all season. With a new coaching staff and a team that was 5-11 last year, it's not surprising that they've struggled. What is surprising is the way they've lost games. They have been hurt by poor clock management, penalties, turnovers -- things you would not expect from a Joe Gibbs team.
Washington and Dallas are also in the same boat in that you wonder when they will turn to their young quarterbacks. I'm a little surprised the Redskins haven't gone to Patrick Ramsey, their first-round pick of two years ago. Likewise, people are asking Bill Parcells (much to his chagrin) about Drew Henson. Both of those teams have young quarterbacks, and it's a reasonable question for both of those teams: Who is going to be the quarterback down the road, and when is it time to make that switch?
In the NFC South, Tampa Bay and New Orleans both trail first-place Atlanta by three games. The Buccaneers are playing better and might be able to get back in it, but it will be a tough task. The Saints just seem too inconsistent. I don't see a wild card team coming from that division.
In the NFC North, no teams are out of the mix. The Bears are in last place at 3-5, but only two games behind first-place Minnesota. With starting quarterback Rex Grossman out for the year, a lot of things have to go well for the Bears in order for them to be competitive. But last week's win over the Giants was huge, and they have as realistic a chance as anyone in that division of doing something. Detroit and Minnesota have lost two straight, Chicago has won two straight and Green Bay has won three straight. The division is up for grabs.
The final eight weeks should be exciting!
Special to NFL.com
(Nov. 9, 2004) -- There are six NFC teams currently sitting at 3-5, and it's safe to say that none of them are out of the playoff picture.
If the season ended today, the New York Giants would be the first wild card in the NFC with a 5-3 record. But they are coming off a surprising loss to the Chicago Bears (one of those 3-5 teams) and both of their starting defensive ends, Keith Washington and Michael Strahan, are out for the season. I wouldn't rule them out, but it's going to be difficult for the Giants to keep that position in the playoff race.
In addition to the 3-5 teams, there are also three NFC teams at 4-4. So how does the race shape up for the second half of the season? My guess is that the NFC wild cards come out of the North and West divisions. If you're in the NFC East or South, although certainly possible to get in as a wild card, I would expect only the divisional winners to advance.
Of course, winning the division is what all these teams strive for. With the 2003 realignment into eight divisions, only two wild-card teams qualify for postseason play in each conference. It puts a premium on winning the division, which is how it should be.
Despite a 4-4 record, the Green Bay Packers could very well be the hottest team in the NFC right now. They began the season 1-4 and it appeared their year was about over before it ever really got started. Now, having won three straight, they battle Minnesota at Lambeau Field this weekend with a chance to move into a first-place tie in the NFC North and control their own destiny.
And if the Packers do remain hot and end up winning the NFC North, then the Vikings are suddenly thrown in the mix of wild-card contenders.
(Note: Considering the importance of Sunday's Minnesota-Green Bay game, it's either tough luck or unfair scheduling that the Packers are coming off a bye week, giving them two weeks to prepare for this game, while the Vikings must travel to Green Bay after playing in Indianapolis on Monday night. Not an easy task for Minnesota.)
The Seattle Seahawks (5-3) and St. Louis Rams (4-4) will battle for the NFC West title, and my belief is that whichever team finishes second will earn a wild-card spot. The Arizona Cardinals are 3-5, which is fairly impressive for a team that won four games all of last year. The Cardinals are playing better than expected, especially on defense. Dennis Green is seeing progress, but this is still a team that is at best a year away.
The two 3-5 teams in the NFC East are in a difficult position. The Dallas Cowboys' loss to Cincinnati last week kept them from making up any ground in the division following losses by both the Eagles and Giants, both teams are ahead of the Cowboys in the division. A win would have put the Cowboys at 4-4, a game behind the Giants for second place. Realistically, their chances of making the playoffs hinge on them winning seven of the last eight games. They play Philadelphia twice, starting this Monday night, and they have road games at Baltimore and Seattle. Not that they can't win any of those games, but winning seven of eight is hard enough for teams like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or New England -- the elite teams of the NFL. It's difficult to imagine Dallas pulling it off.
Washington is coming off a win over the Detroit Lions (4-4), but the Redskins are in the same position as Dallas. I thought they'd be a good team. They have good players and they've played good defense pretty much all season. With a new coaching staff and a team that was 5-11 last year, it's not surprising that they've struggled. What is surprising is the way they've lost games. They have been hurt by poor clock management, penalties, turnovers -- things you would not expect from a Joe Gibbs team.
Washington and Dallas are also in the same boat in that you wonder when they will turn to their young quarterbacks. I'm a little surprised the Redskins haven't gone to Patrick Ramsey, their first-round pick of two years ago. Likewise, people are asking Bill Parcells (much to his chagrin) about Drew Henson. Both of those teams have young quarterbacks, and it's a reasonable question for both of those teams: Who is going to be the quarterback down the road, and when is it time to make that switch?
In the NFC South, Tampa Bay and New Orleans both trail first-place Atlanta by three games. The Buccaneers are playing better and might be able to get back in it, but it will be a tough task. The Saints just seem too inconsistent. I don't see a wild card team coming from that division.
In the NFC North, no teams are out of the mix. The Bears are in last place at 3-5, but only two games behind first-place Minnesota. With starting quarterback Rex Grossman out for the year, a lot of things have to go well for the Bears in order for them to be competitive. But last week's win over the Giants was huge, and they have as realistic a chance as anyone in that division of doing something. Detroit and Minnesota have lost two straight, Chicago has won two straight and Green Bay has won three straight. The division is up for grabs.
The final eight weeks should be exciting!