Week 16 comes to a close with Bears win over Vikings, what does the playoff picture look like now?

by Bush League All Star on Dec 28, 2009 11:40 PM CST

With the OT win by the Bears, the Vikings now have no chance for the 1st spot and have lost their firm grasp on the 2nd spot. Right now the Eagles would have the 2nd spot making the Vikings have to play in the Wild Card week. The only thing we know about the playoffs for certain are:

1) Saints are the #1 and have HFA.

2) There are 6 teams for sure in that can almost occupy any seed (except the Packers).

3) Week 17 is going to be exciting since a lot of the playoff teams are playing one another...

Let's juggle some of the scenarios...

Eagles Win, Vikings Win, Cardinals Win, Cowboys L, Packers L

2) Eagles

3) Vikings

4) Cardinals

5) Packers

6) Cowboys

Eagles W, Vikings L, Cardinals W, Cowboys L, Packers L

2) Eagles

3) Cardinals

4) Vikings

5) Packers

6) Cowboys

Eagles L, Vikings W, Cardinals W, Cowboys W, Packers L

2) Vikings

3) Cardinals

4) Cowboys

5) Eagles

6) Packers

Eagles L, Vikings L, Cardinals W, Dallas W, Packers L

2) Cardinals

3) Cowboys

4) Vikings

5) Eagles

6) Packers

Eagles W, Vikings W, Cardinals L, Dallas L, Packers W

2) Eagles

3) Vikings

4) Cardinals

5) Packers

6) Cowboys

Eagles W, Vikings L, Cardinals L, Dallas L, Packers W

2) Eagles

3) Vikings

4) Cardinals

5) Packers

6) Cowboys

Eagles L, Vikings W, Cardinals L, Dallas W, Packers W

2) Vikings

3) Dallas

4) Cardinals

5) Packers

6) Eagles

Eagles L, Vikings L, Cardinals L, Dallas W, Packers W

2) Dallas

3) Vikings

4) Cardinals

5) Packers

6) Eagles

Chances are we will play the Cardinals. There are scenarios out there where we could have rematch games against the Cowboys and Vikings in the first round. The Eagles have more likely scenarios to take the 2nd seed followed by the Vikings, but any division leader including the Cowboys has a chance to get a 2 seed aside from the Saints.

Correct them if they seem wrong. I don't account for ties because I have deleted from my memory the concept of ties in professional sports a long time ago.

It also seems like the top seeds are losing their steam. Saints are down along with the Vikings. The scary team right now is Philadelphia. Dallas, I am not sold on. I just don't know what to think about them at this point. The Cardinals are Jekyll and Hyde of football. Some games they look like they could dominate 11 on 1,000,000. Other nights they look like they can't buy a yard. This could be a reason to worry about them. This decade has been about the teams that are on fire going into the playoffs.

As a homer it pains me but it also makes me smile a little bit, but....

Thank you Chicago Bears and their fans for beating the Vikings and making this an interesting week 17 coming up.

Tweet Comment 32 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Bottom line question here...

…should we just rest Rodgers, Grant and the first teams and play Flynn, Bjack? Arizona is going to be playing all their starters, thanks to the Vikings losing.

I would love to rest our starters and give them a sort of “bye” week….am I off on this?

by PackFaninFL on Dec 29, 2009 12:10 AM CST reply actions

yes

It doesn’t matter who we wind up playing. All that matters is that we are healthy.

Play the starters for 1-2 quarters of vanilla football and then send in Flynn and the backups

by dishingoutdimes on Dec 29, 2009 12:13 AM CST up reply actions

Arizona will only have Bye to play for if Vikings lose again

If the Vikings win, bye goes to them or Eagles.

Giants @ Vikings is currently scheduled early (1pm) while Packers @ Cardinals and Eagles @ Dallas are scheduled late (4pm).

Glendale or not, Packers are going to be on the road somewhere the following week. I agree with dighingoutdimes: better to have them rested and ready (which should be an advantage over any team playing to win week 17)

by DaveInTucson on Dec 29, 2009 12:57 AM CST up reply actions

You think our scenarios are complicated...check out the Broncos:

Denver clinches a playoff spot with:

1. DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR

2. DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR

3. DEN win + NYJ loss or tie + HOU win OR

4. DEN win + BAL loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR

5. DEN win + BAL loss or tie + HOU win OR

6. PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss OR

7. PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + NYJ loss OR

8. PIT loss + BAL loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR

9. PIT loss + HOU loss + JAC loss + NYJ loss OR

10. MIA loss or tie + NYJ loss + BAL loss + HOU loss + JAC loss or tie

by dishingoutdimes on Dec 29, 2009 12:20 AM CST reply actions

and that team started out so hot too

Get out of my dreams and into my Chuckie Carr
-Molitorfan 12/23/09

by Michael M on Dec 29, 2009 12:25 AM CST up reply actions

It's amazing that they can get in

while losing. At 8-8? Ridiculous

by dishingoutdimes on Dec 29, 2009 12:26 AM CST up reply actions

Cmon

I wanna see GB play the Vikes one more time

by Wade V on Dec 29, 2009 5:26 AM CST reply actions

soo…there is seriously NO way we can play the Eagles in round one? I am loving that. I don’t have the time right now to verify all of this but if that is true, I am thrilled. I think they are the scariest team in the NFC right now (sans the Packers)

by TrevorR on Dec 29, 2009 7:24 AM CST reply actions

If Eagles win, they are the #2 seed and have a bye round 1
If Eagles lose, they are a wildcard, and play on the road round 1

Also, with Vikings losing, here’s the pecking order for the #2 seed:

1. Eagles
2. Vikings
3. Cardinals
4. Cowboys

For a team to clinch the #2 seed, they need to win, and everyone above them to lose (with the Eagles having win-and-in status)

by DaveInTucson on Dec 29, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions

I want dallas to have a rematch against you guys, whether that is in the WC round or further down the line.

I would like to see a rematch, I think it would be a very good game and would like to see if dallas could put up a better performance against your team. Hopefully our teams will face-off in the playoffs.

Ignore the Mainstream Media, EMBRACE THE HATE!!!!

by cowboy78 on Dec 29, 2009 10:24 AM CST reply actions

It certainly wouldn’t be as much of a blowout as it was last time. Dallas came out really flat but clearly they are starting to look like they are finding their swagger. I’d rather play your cowboys than the Eagles right now though…if I got to choose.

by TrevorR on Dec 29, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

for GB the scenario is not that complicated....

No Philly for now…thank God
If MIN wins…we play in Arizona regardless of what we or DAL-PHI do
If MIN loses..
we win we play in Arizona
we lose and Dallas wins we play in Dallas
we lose and Dallas loses we play in Minnesota

with 90% certainty we play in Arizona

by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 29, 2009 11:45 AM CST reply actions

If MIN wins…we play in Arizona regardless of what we or DAL-PHI do

Not quite. If Vikings win, Cowboys win, and Packers tie, Packers would play at Cowboys [yahoo scenario link]

by DaveInTucson on Dec 29, 2009 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

TIES? TIES!!?!?!!?

Ties are what we thought they were!!! Have no place in the NFL!!! :P

I didn’t do ties since they aren’t probable or likely, yet possible.

Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge

by Bush League All Star on Dec 29, 2009 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

What are the odds

that the Pack play their starters if the Giants beat Minnesota? And if Minnesota does win, will the Cardinals have any need to play their starters?

by Chet Gresham on Dec 29, 2009 11:51 AM CST reply actions

I think the Pack will play their starters if the Vikings lose because they would want to play Arizona in the playoffs rather than the Vikes or Cowboys. If Minnesota wins GB is most likely sitting their players as their matchup with the Cards becomes certain. Arizona will playing for a potential third spot only….pretty weak incentive so I’m guessing they’ll sit a few players as well

by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 29, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

And if Minny wins then both teams won’t want to tip their playbook to the other team since they will probably be playing each other anyway, right?

by Chet Gresham on Dec 29, 2009 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

correct, if Minnesota wins then we play in Arizona for sure. Neither team will show their full hand.

by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 29, 2009 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

I'll admit my ignorance here but

how exactly do you go into a game with two separate gameplans and personnel groupings? That seems a little bit extreme. Is it possible to tell guys like Barnett, Driver, Jennings, Big Play Clay, Crosby (j/k) to prepare both for playing the entire game all out like normal and to sit on the bench, depending on the outcome of an earlier game? What if the Viking game goes into OT? Can we delay the start of our game until that one is done so we know what to do? Not trying to be critical of anyone in particular here, just seems strange. Especially considering that there is a very small chance that we will end up playing somewhere other than AZ in the first round. I’d rather just rest the starters regardless of what happens and go from there.

Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb

by verno329 on Dec 29, 2009 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

I'd be shocked if the starters don't play the first quarter either way

Indy pulled their starters last week even though they played competitive football for over half a game. if the Vikes have lost by the end of our first qtr, keep playing the starters. Otherwise, pull em. Arizona will do the same.

by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 29, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions

Most of them will start but I can’t see them playing too much. Maybe a quarter with a very vanilla offense (lots of runs and base plays)

by TrevorR on Dec 29, 2009 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert

put up a very similar thing here: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/8150/every-nfc-playoff-scenario-for-week-17

There are 8 possible scenarios for seeding based on the outcomes of the Dallas/Philly game, the AZ/GB game, and the MIN/NYG game.

6/8 have us playing in Arizona.
1/8 have us playing in Minneapolis.
1/8 have us playing in Dallas.

It’s practically meaningless, but 6/8 of the scenarios have us winning the 5 seed, and 2/8 have us grabbing the 6 seed.

88-74 - Giants Series Record: 28-18-5, 19-7 at home.

Adopted Giant: Daryl "Dealio" Maday - Not reassigned after all. Still a mediocre AA pitcher.

by rhys on Dec 29, 2009 12:14 PM CST reply actions

He must read APC :)

Looking to buy: General Manager Deputy Badge

by Bush League All Star on Dec 29, 2009 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

I don’t think the Vikings will lose against the Giants since it’s meaningless to NY. But again, the Panthers and the Bears had nothing to play for either. If the Vikings win, we play in Arizona regardless of the outcome of GB-ARI or DAL-PHI.

by Rodgers_for_MVP on Dec 29, 2009 12:18 PM CST reply actions

It's a pride game for NY

It would be meaningless if the Giants had their division locked up, as was presumed at the beginning of the season when everyone was looking at the schedules. But now the Giants are playing for pride, which is almost more dangerous than one playing for a playoff berth (see Panthers, Carolina and Buccaneers, Tampa Bay)

by Danwood on Dec 29, 2009 4:41 PM CST up reply actions

Vikes are at home

And I think they run the GIants out of the Metrodome. Vikes are a different team at home. I still think we get the #2 seed, because I like the Cowboys at home this weekend.

I can’t believe I’m cheering for the friggin’ Cowboys.

"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."

--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre

by Ted Glover on Dec 30, 2009 5:16 PM CST up reply actions

I didn't want this to get burried but I went on WCG to thank them for the win (probably stupid on my part)

and get this response:

And as a Bears fan I just want to assure you that our hatred for the Packers has not waned. You are still vile, filthy swine and we still hope for horrible, dreadful things to happen to you. We’ve just been a bit distracted by our own incompetence and by the excessive fellating of your ex-qb and his new team by the media. Once the sickening Favre-love calms down and we regain our composure, we will be back to insulting you and your bloated, cheese-stuffed womenfolk on a more consistent basis. Oh, and thank you for the kind words about Jay.

Get out of my dreams and into my Chuckie Carr
-Molitorfan 12/23/09

by Michael M on Dec 29, 2009 12:29 PM CST reply actions 1 recs