Following an eventful Week 11, the NFC playoff picture is beginning to take shape. The Seattle Seahawks continue to sit on top of the conference, but will have to keep winning if they intend to stay there. With key upcoming games for a number of teams, both of the top two spots could change in the next few weeks.
At 10-1, the Seahawks have a 1.5-game lead over the New Orleans Saints for the No. 1 seed. The two teams will play in Seattle in two weeks and if the Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons this week, it will be a battle for the top spot in the NFC. If the Seahawks win that contest, they would hold at least a two-game lead and the head-to-head tiebreaker over New Orleans.
We love Carolina but...
From Cam Newton to Luke Kuechly to "Riverboat Ron," there's so much to like about the Panthers, except for one person. That and more in Matt Ufford’s Fumblr. While the Saints are still in contention for the No. 1 seed, the Carolina Panthers are chasing them in the NFC South race. Carolina has won six straight and is just a game behind New Orleans in the division. The teams will play in Week 14 and again in Week 16.
There is also a tight race at the bottom of the standings, with seven teams within two games of the final wild card spot. The San Francisco 49ers currently hold the No. 6 seed, thanks to tiebreakers over the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears. The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers are a game back with the surging New York Giants and the St. Louis Rams two back. The NFC North and NFC East races will also factor into the wild card standings.
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