It is time for my fearsome predictions of teams headed for playoff bliss and teams headed for playoff whiffs in the NFC – the contenders versus the pretenders, the players versus the dreamers, and the combatants versus combustibles.  

With 4 weeks left in the regular season and no more byes to be had, the margin for error for most teams to make the playoffs save the Colts or the Saints is slim to none and as the saying goes slim is out of town. 

Let’s begin by taking a look at the contenders. 

Contenders

Minnesota (10-2)

The Vikings no doubt got more than one wakeup call by the time the left Arizona.  But this is a team that of course will be playing meaningful football come January, and certainly along with the Saints the current favourite to go deep into the post-season.  It certainly would be an interesting matchup with the Saints potent offense against the Vikings vaunted defence.  They say defence wins championships.  If that’s true the Vikings are in good position, notwithstanding their loss yesterday.

Arizona Cardinals (8-4)

They are starting to look like the team that went to the big dance last year.  Much like Philadelphia, they are not a team you would like to play in the first round of the playoffs or anywhere the temperature is above freezing.  As long as Warner can stay healthy, they have too many weapons to not be considered an elite team in the NFC. 

Philadelphia (8-4)

A very resounding win yesterday against a depleted Falcons team doesn’t hurt this team’s chances.  Going down the stretch and given the choice I would take my chances with McNabb at crunch time over Romo.  Their schedule isn’t much easier with matchups against the Giants and Broncos.  If they do make it to the playoffs and I think they will with an 11-5 record, I think this is one team nobody wants to face.

N.Y.Giants (7-5)

What has happened to that fearsome Giants D?  This is not your infant’s defence from 2 years ago.  A nice surprise has been the WR position which was thought to be a glaring weakness going into the season.  If it comes down to the last game of the season against the Vikings it may come down to whether the Vikings have anything to play for.  This one may be the hardest to call.  The Giants could conceivably run the table against the Eagles, Redskins, Panthers and Vikings or they could lose 3 or 4.  I’m hedging they will go 3-1 and finish at 10-6 – which puts them in the playoffs.

New Orleans (12-0)

They have a swagger don’t they?  Add to that the coach says they will not rest starters but will play for an unbeaten record down the stretch and you can feel the confidence oozing out of New Orleans.  I seem to remember a lot of confidence in Oklahoma this year too, until a certain QB there hit the injury shelf. 

Green Bay Packers (8-4)

Much like the Cowboys, something doesn’t feel right with this team.  Perhaps fittingly their only win against a team with a winning record this year was against those same Dallas Cowboys.  I don’t see much changing with this team, and given the fact that of the 5 games remaining on the schedule 3 will be against .500 teams or better they are in tough.  But it says here there will be one more playoff reunion with the frozen tundra  this year but not with Brett Favre.

Pretenders

Atlanta Falcons (6-6)

They aren’t who we thought they would be.  Hopes reigned high in Atlanta after last year’s success.  But the fine folks in Atlanta better look to the Hawks for their next post-season success.  You can take away yesterday’s loss to the Eagles because they were certainly undermanned – but this team is still average at best.  Their schedule bodes well for them with three of the four remaining games against the likes of the Jets, Bills, and Bucs.  But, even at that they are still a long shot to make the playoffs.

Dallas (8-4)

It is hard to figure this team out – starting with the offense.  In many ways it seems like a collection of parts that put together look more like a Lada than a Lamborghini.  However, at 8-4 they sit atop the NFC East after beating Philly earlier this year.  That said, the Eagles may very have something to say about that on the last game of the season.  That game could very well decide the division and may even decide who packs up and goes home.  However, with games against San Diego and New Orleans still ahead, I think this team is in danger of finishing the season with a 9-7 record.  I don’t think that will be good enough.