So I was 4 points off in my prediction last week as the Cardinals clinched the NFC West and with it a playoff birth. With the red birds in they’ll be looking for a favorable match up during wild card weekend, as it is unlikely the Giants will be dethroned as conference champions and one member of the South will undoubtedly take slot 2. The rest of the race is completely up in the air. Arizona can help shape their destiny today going against Minnesota, who is narrowly holding down a playoff spot in the NFC North. The Cardinals looked poised to take the number three spot and judging by the strength of their remaining schedule they can as long as they topple the Vikings. With a difficult game against New England next week Arizona should have an easier going week 17 against the Seahawks.
As it stands now I would say the Cardinals beat both the Vikings and the Seahawks (I’m a Pats fan and they can’t afford to lose) and clinch the number three slot in the NFC conference. With that being said they’ll be matching up against the number two wild card team and all candidates for that position will have a tough time of getting in. In today’s match up we have Tampa Bay and Atlanta, a match that may in fact decide who goes to the show. With a win over their divisional rivals today Atlanta plays a weak St. Louis team and ends out the season playing Minnesota making them the most likely candidate to clinch one of the two openings. However the Bucs schedule also gets easier while Carolina’s get incrementally more difficult having to play the Broncos, Giants, and Saints by season’s end. It’s quite possible that the NFC South winds up having three teams with 11-5 records when all is said and done.
Should the South break down that way it’ll be impossible for the Eagles to have a shot at the playoffs and with a loss today from the Giants today Dallas can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye. If that wasn’t enough for the Cowboys they’ll have to play the Raven’s who boast one of the NFL’s strongest defenses and finally divisional rivals Philadelphia. All and all look for the Cardinals to be playing Atlanta or Carolina come the first round and if they can play defense like they did last week against St. Louis, Arizona will be getting their shot against New York for the title of conference champions.
