AZCardsWin's BYE Week Update: NFC Playoff Picture

[AZCardsWin]

NFC Playoff Picture- Top 4 seeds are division leaders. Overall record followed by NFC record.

1 Cowboys 6-1 / 4-0
2 Packers 5-1 / 4-1
3 Panthers 4-2 / 4-1
4 Seahawks 4-3 / 3-2
5 NY Giants 5-2 / 4-2
6 Redskins 4-2 / 3-2
----------------------------
7 Lions 4-2 / 3-2
8 Buccaneers 4-3 / 3-2
9 Bears 3-4 / 2-3
10 Cardinals 3-4 / 2-3
11 Saints 2-4 / 2-2
12 49ers 2-4 / 2-2
13 Vikings 2-4 / 2-3
14 Eagles 2-4 / 1-4
15 Falcons 1-6 / 0-4
16 Rams 0-7 / 0-6

When looking at this playoff tree you have to like the Cardinals chances of being in contention to the end of the season.

This week will most likely see the Panthers (at Colts)drop to 4-3, Packers to 5-2 (at Denver), and Redskins to 4-3 (at New England). With the Lions (4-2) playing at Bears (3-4), New Orleans (2-4) at 49ers (2-4) and Eagles (2-4) vs. Vikings (2-4) we will see a lot of teams getting there "5th" loss this weekend.

The Cardinals should come out of the BYE week not only healthy, but just "1" game back in the NFC West and "1" game out of the last wildcard spot.

Go Cardinals/ America!
~Tim

www.myspace.com/prosvsjoes

 

[Cheesebeef]

even if the Skins lose, we'll basically still be two games back of them for the 6 spot since they beat us and own the tie breaker.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

I think our best chance at playoffs comes from winning our division period.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think our best chance at playoffs comes from winning our division period.

Definitely. I wouldn't be surprised if both of the wildcards are from the NFC East.

 

[football karma]

even if the Skins lose, we'll basically still be two games back of them for the 6 spot since they beat us and own the tie breaker.

head to head only counts if those two teams are tied

If the Cards finish at 10-6, I suspect they win the west outright. While not required, 10-6 suggests that they beat Seattle in Seattle.

If they finish 9-7, they probably tie with Seattle for the Division lead (and it assumes a Cardinal loss at Seattle). At that point, it probably comes down to division record, and I think Seattle will end up at 5-1 with the Cards at 4-2.

So -- at 9-7, I suspect that the Cards will be tied with two other teams at that record for the final wildcard. Who knows what happens then.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Definitely. I wouldn't be surprised if both of the wildcards are from the NFC East.

yup.

 

[Duckjake]

Just tell those goofballs to win the rest of their games and we won't have to worry about the playoffs at 12-4.

 

[football karma]

because its the bye week and I am bored -- I put together a matrix of the NFC teams, their remaining schedule and then projected the games to come up with ending standings -- did it a couple different times just to see how things varied

the results ranged from the weird ( 10 teams finishing with 9 wins ) to the not so surprising. At the end of the day, for Cardinal fans interest:

The CArds need to win all their remaining home games. Det and Clev will be the toughest tests, but both teams are far weaker on the road than when they are home. They then have SF and finish with ATL and STL the final two weeks of the season.

They then need to win at least one of: At Tampa, At Cincy, At Sea or At NO. A win at Seattle coupled with one other road win in all likelihood wins the Division for the Cards.

 

[AZCardsWin]

head to head only counts if those two teams are tied

meaning the NFC Conference record will be very important as well.

 

[cardsfanmd]

mr smartypants loves the bye cause its the only week Neil wont miss a FG

 

[JC_AZ]

The Cards will win 7 of 9 and win the NFC West

 

[imaCafan]

Let's see.......

Nov 4 @Tampa Bay........L
Nov 11 Detroit................W
Nov 18 @Cincinnati..........50/50
Nov 25 San Francisco.......W
Dec 2 Cleveland.............W
Dec 9 @Seattle..............50/50
Dec 16 @New Orleans........W
Dec 23 Atlanta.................W
Dec 30 St. Louis...............W

May be overly optimistic, but other than TB I see 6 sure wins and 2 that could go either way. By seasons end I see at least 8-8, with a good chance to be 10-6......AND taking the West....

 

[football karma]

Let's see.......

Nov 4 @Tampa Bay........L
Nov 11 Detroit................W
Nov 18 @Cincinnati..........50/50
Nov 25 San Francisco.......W
Dec 2 Cleveland.............W
Dec 9 @Seattle..............50/50
Dec 16 @New Orleans........W
Dec 23 Atlanta.................W
Dec 30 St. Louis...............W

May be overly optimistic, but other than TB I see 6 sure wins and 2 that could go either way. By seasons end I see at least 8-8, with a good chance to be 10-6......AND taking the West....

I see the Tampa game as a potential win only in that the Cards are coming off a bye week and the Bucs are not.

Cincy-- tough to say what squad will show up then.

Seattle -- I was about to say "always tough at home", but then immediately thought of their recent meltdown against the Saints, and losses to the 49ers the year before. Never the less, with the division title on the line, I expect them to be up for this game.

NO-- like Cincy -- who knows what squad will show up.

NO is showing signs of life, so who knows.

 

[imaCafan]

And another thing to factor in is the "lose one we shouldn't" or "win one we shouldn't"................

 

[Hawkfandyno]

Let's see.......

Nov 4 @Tampa Bay........L
Nov 11 Detroit................W
Nov 18 @Cincinnati..........50/50
Nov 25 San Francisco.......W
Dec 2 Cleveland.............W
Dec 9 @Seattle..............50/50
Dec 16 @New Orleans........W
Dec 23 Atlanta.................W
Dec 30 St. Louis...............W

May be overly optimistic, but other than TB I see 6 sure wins and 2 that could go either way. By seasons end I see at least 8-8, with a good chance to be 10-6......AND taking the West....

Cleveland is playing decent ball recently so that one is not a lock.

NO has the same offense that they fielded last year, so they are capable of putting up some points.

And i just checked out your schedule since 2005, you have only won 5 away games in that time, 3 against STL and 2 against the niners. Your team has to get over the "not being able to win on the road" stigma before you can count any road games as wins or 50/50.

Dont get me wrong, this is not the same cardinals team, they are greatly improved, just have to start killing some monkey's.

 

[Mulli]

Cleveland is playing decent ball recently so that one is not a lock.

NO has the same offense that they fielded last year, so they are capable of putting up some points.

And i just checked out your schedule since 2005, you have only won 5 away games in that time, 3 against STL and 2 against the niners. Your team has to get over the "not being able to win on the road" stigma before you can count any road games as wins or 50/50.

Dont get me wrong, this is not the same cardinals team, they are greatly improved, just have to start killing some monkey's.

Yep.

 

[football karma]

And i just checked out your schedule since 2005, you have only won 5 away games in that time, 3 against STL and 2 against the niners. Your team has to get over the "not being able to win on the road" stigma before you can count any road games as wins or 50/50.

no question about that

Cards are 1-3 thus far on the road -- with losses of 3 pts, 3pts and 2 pts -- all in the last 20 secs of the game; two of the losses against winning teams.

It certainly is progress relative to the "over by the middle of the 3rd quarter, lose by 3 scores" games of prior years --

The need to start winning some of those close games.

 

[AZCardsWin]

The need to start winning some of those close games.

Very true. This will have to start at Tampa!

 

[earthsci]

This will have to start at Tampa!

I disagree. Let's make sure that it isn't close.

 

[AZCardsWin]

Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Washington and Carolina all lost to AFC teams.* S.F. is also going to lose.

A Very Good day indeed!

 

[ajcardfan]

A Very Good day indeed!

Yep, we soared in the standings all the way from 10th to.....10th! But, hey, we could've lost ground and we didn't.

 

[AZCardsWin]

But, hey, we could've lost ground and we didn't.

Very True!