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Breaking down the NFC Wild Card race

By Joel Deering

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 25: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 25: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Running back Corey Clement #30 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a play against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 25: Running back Corey Clement #30 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a play against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
  • Philadelphia Eagles (5-6)

The defending Super Bowl champs might have a losing record right now, but that by no means disqualifies them from the playoffs. Philadelphia is lucky they play in a weak NFC East this season, which is very much still a wide open race. As discussed earlier when talking about the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles could take the division lead in two weeks.

They play the Redskins this week, followed by a game against the Dallas Cowboys. If Dallas drops to 6-6 and the Eagles knock off the Redskins to improve to 6-6, they’ll have an NFC East showdown for the division lead. Win that game, and they’re in control the rest of the way.

If that is how things play out, the Eagles would still have to overcome the 10-1 Rams, 7-3 Texans and the 6-5 Redskins again to finish the season. Pretty sure they don’t get past the Rams. They might get past the Texans, but I don’t think so. That would drop them to eight losses. Unless they can win the division at 8-8, which actually isn’t unreasonable this season, the Eagles won’t be able to overcome their competition in the NFC Wild Card race.

  • Green Bay Packers (4-6-1)

Green Bay has one thing all these other teams in the NFC Wild Card race don’t have. That one thing is Aaron Rodgers. I know the Packers have a lot of problems this season, but this wouldn’t be the first time the Packers have been on the outside looking in in the playoff picture.

Aaron Rodgers has been able to ‘run the table’ with the Packers before, earning the Packers a playoff spot. I wouldn’t put it past Aaron Rodgers being able to do it again this year.

Because of the tie against the Vikings earlier in the season, Green Bay can’t get more than nine wins this season. I don’t think that’s enough to make the playoffs with a tough NFC Wild Card race happening, but they’ll at least have a chance if they win out.

Their remaining schedule has them facing the Cardinals, Falcons, Bears, Jets and Lions. All of them are very winnable games, with the exception being the Bears. While they did beat the Bears earlier in the year, this is a different Bears team. They won’t let that happen to them again. The best I can see the Packers being at the end of the season is 8-7-1, which likely won’t earn them a trip to the playoffs.

Next. 2019 NFL mock draft update. dark

NFC playoff standing prediction

  1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)
  2. Los Angeles Rams (13-3)
  3. Chicago Bears (12-4)
  4. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
  5. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
  6. Carolina Panthers (9-7)
  7. Minnesota Vikings (8-7-1)
  8. Washington Redskins (8-8)
  9. Green Bay Packers (7-8-1)
  10. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9)
  11. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)
  12. Detroit Lions (6-10)
  13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
  14. New York Giants (4-12)
  15. Arizona Cardinals (2-14)
  16. San Francisco 49ers (2-14)
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