Bears have a one game lead over these three teams for the last wild card spot. Bears have the tie breaker over the Cowboys. They won't have it over the Redskins (Redskins will have a better NFC record). Vikings can't do it.

Leader:
Chicago Bears (8-5)
Remaining opponents: Packers (9-4), at Arizona (4-9), at Detroit (4-9)

Looking In:
Washington Redskins (7-6)
They've split their season series with the Giants and have a chance to sweep Philly and Dallas on the year, putting them in good shape in the case of an NFC East tiebreaker.
Remaining opponents: at Cleveland (5-8), at Philadelphia (4-9), Dallas (7-6)

Dallas Cowboys (7-6)
They'll need to keep winning and hope for some help along the way.
Remaining opponents: Pittsburgh (7-6), New Orleans (5-8), at Washington (7-6)

Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
The Vikings don't face a losing team again.
Remaining opponents: at St. Louis (6-6-1), at Houston (11-1), Green Bay (9-4)

Getting a gut feeling that the Skins will get in.

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-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

I just hate people talking about it without actually looking at the scenerio. So I just thought I'd present it to everybody. As bad as it looks, Bears still have a great shot.

Thanks. I was just thinking this morning, I wonder what the playoff scenarios look like for the teams battling for that last spot. I started to look it up, but I thought to myself, no Beardown will take care of it for us.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Just figuring it out. One win over Arizona might be all it takes. Then I figure the Redskins will have to lose to the Cowboys in the final week, giving the Cowboys a 9-7 record, leaving the Skins at 8-8. Bears get in at 9-7 cuz they have that precious tie breaker over the Cowboys. So, what I'm saying, the Bears will go into the playoffs losing 6 out of their last 8 games.

If the Bears finished tied at 9-7 with a handful of other NFC teams, the only tiebreaker I see is the one over Dallas. Other than that, they're not getting in.

Bears will be the 6 seed. It means they play the 3 seed which will either be the 49ers, Packers or Giants.

I thought you couldn't have a division matchup in the first round?

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You would be wrong. It pretty much happens every year. It's straight seeding. Division matchups don't matter.

...And on the road to boot.

That's only in baseball, Frank. You never heard that deal about teams sweeping an opponent in the divisional series, only to lose them that same team in the playoffs?

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Bears got this.

You guys are a bunch of negative Nancy's here.

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As someone pointed out on the Waddle and Silvy show earlier, that gift that the replacements refs gave the Seahawks can hurt the Bears more than the Packers in the end.

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Here's the simple way to look at it. A combo of 1 more win by the Bears and 1 loss by the Cowboys, eliminates the Cowboys. That will happen. Vikings will need to go 2-1 and have the tiebreaker over the Bears. That won't happen.

So it's Bears vs Redskins. If the Redskins go 2-1 to the Bears 1-2, Bears are out. Got it? Good.

I sure hope you're right. I'm perusing StubHub now for Redskins/Browns tickets. Road trip!

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-- source

Also, let's not just assume the Seahawks have the 5th seed on lock, either....they have an away game at the Bills (in Toronto) and the Bills can have a fairly decent offense when they want to. And after that, it's SF, who will be looking at trying to keep that 2nd seed.

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The Redskins are playing awfully good football right now. Even if Robert Griffin III (knee) doesn't play, I think backup Kirk Cousins might be good enough to get the win over a beatable Browns' team in Cleveland.

100% agree. They play St. Louis last. They're 4-0-1 in the division. I was laughing weeks ago when Terry and others (but mainly at Terry) were saying the NFC had 5 playoff spots already locked up. It's the friggin' NFL. Shit can change very quickly.

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-- source

And....the Giants next two games are on the road....at Falcons, and then at Ravens.

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True. If the Seahawks go 0-3 to the Bears 1-2 the Bears could get in that way as well. It would be Bears and Redskins as the WILD CARD Teams. I just don't see the Seahawks losing 3 straight. But you're right. That's a tough schedule for them.

The Browns are a sneaky good football team. The Redskins need RGIII to win that game.

Guys, according to ChicagoBears.com's Larry Mayer, the Bears would rematch the Packers at Lambeau if the season ended today. YIKES!

Wait. Seahawks finish the season at home against the Rams. I think they got that one.

Agree shark...I am pulling for the skins to win out n bears to lose out...I would rest rgiii next week n win with cousins.

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If the Bears lose that game in 2 weeks at bumbling, stumbling Arizona, regardless which of the "Three Stooges" Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt starts at QB, these Bears don't deserve to be in the NFL Playoffs. I'm not sure which of the 3 Cardinal Stooges would be Moe, Larry and/or Curley, but it would be just an embarrassing as the last 4 out of 5 have been.

Not sure why people are penciling in a Redskins victory with Cousins playing. RGIII is the Redskins offense. They're an entirely different team with Cousins. Don't be fooled by one drive yesterday. He didn't look very good against Atlanta. And Cleveland has won three straight.

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-- source

It is not the one drive...loved him coming out...he will be a good starter for years on another team.

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Bears are currenly 3 point dogs against the Packers. They'll be favored by 3 or 4 at Arizona and they'll be 3 or 4 point dogs at Detroit. I know Detroit has a shit record but their offense is good enough to be favored in most home games. Certainly against the Bears. That team always has the capability to put up 28. Especially in that dome.

Redskins will be a pick at Cleveland if RGIII plays. Maybe even a slight dog. They'll be 4 or 5 point dogs if he doesn't play. Redskins will be 4 or 5 point favorites at Philadelphia. Redskins will be 3 point favorites at home against the Cowboys.

Browns are a very tough game for the Redskins in Cleveland with RGIII. I can't see them winning it without RGIII. That Browns defense is top 10. Their offense has been putting up points in recent weeks. And the Redskins defense is one of the worst in the NFL.

Rams

It'll be fun to see the Bears sweating it out to make the playoffs by the skin of their teeth for the right to get their fucking teeth kicked in no matter who they play in the first game. Unless of course they are due to play the worst playoff team in the history of the game again.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.