The NFC playoff race is beginning to take shape as we begin to enter the final two weeks of the season. The Atlanta Falcons have clinched a playoff spot and at this point they're the top dog in the NFC. They've won 12 of their last 13 and enter a showdown against the New Orleans Saints next weekend.
Here's how the rest of the NFL playoff picture is shaping up:
NFC East: The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants were tied at 9-4 atop the NFC East entering this week and then the Giants....well, they got DeSean Jackson'd. Philly's victory over the Giants this week gives them a one game lead in the division. This is the Eagles division if they win out. The Giants now battle the Green Bay Packers for the final wildcard spot.
NFC North: The Chicago Bears play the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football at TCF Bank Stadium as they stand in first place in the NFC North. The Packers were one game behind them entering this week and lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football so they can gain some serious cushion by beating the Vikings. The Bears appear on their way to winning this division. The Packers need to beat out the Giants for a wildcard spot.
NFC South: Outside of the Patriots, the Falcons may be the best team in football at 12-2 and they hold a two-game lead over the Saints. The Falcons will win this division and they will likely be the No. 1 seed in the NFC with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
NFC West: Ugh. Both the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks lost this weekend moving them both to 6-8 on the year. Believe it or not, the San Francisco 49ers, at 5-9, still have a reasonable shot at winning the division. It's hard to argue that this isn't the worst division in the NFL. This division comes down to the Rams playing the Seahawks in Week 17.
Wildcard: It's looking like the Saints will get the top wildcard spot as they hold a one-game lead there. The final wildcard spot looks like it will come down to the Giants, 9-5, and Packers, 8-6. Those two teams play each other in week 16.
If the playoffs started today: The Falcons would be the top seed and the Eagles would be the second seed as both teams would get a first round bye. The Bears would be hosting the Giants and the Rams would be hosting the Saints.