The top 7 teams in the NFC all won in week 13 so the Bears didn't gain on anybody. But they kept pace and another game is off the schedule. Right now the Packers are out of the playoffs.

One thing we have to root for is the Giants to win the East cuz the Bears lose a tie breaker to them in a wild card battle, while the Bears have it over the Eagles.

The Packers are gonna beat Detroit this week so they'll be 4-1 in the division and done until the Bears game. Bears have to beat the Vikes or else the Pack will win the tie breaker for the division if the Pack beat us on the last game.

The loser between the Falcons and Saints are fighting for a wild card. I think right now we lose tie breakers to both cuz we have a worse conference record than either of them.

I think if we go 2-2 and finish with 11 wins that should get us in. The Viking and Packers are more important games than the Jets and Pats since they are division/conference games.

The Packers still have to play at Giants and at Pats.


Edit: NVM, I see what you are saying.

Last 4 games of the playoff contenders:

Bears (9-3)
Patriots
@ Vikings
Jets
@ Packers

Packers (8-4)
@ Lions
@ Patriots
Giants
Bears

Giants (8-4)
@Vikings
Eagles
@ Packers
@ Redskins

Eagles (8-4)
@ Cowboys
@ Giants
Vikings
Cowboys

Falcons (10-2)
@ Panthers
@ Seahawks
Saints
Panthers

Saints (9-3)
Rams
@ Ravens
@ Falcons
Bucs

Bears need to win more games than the Packers.


I really don't see that as being a problem though. I think the Bears win this week, and then NE whoops the Packers because they are frustrated from losing to the Bears.

_________________

_________________

I listed 6 teams above. Keep in mind, somebody has to win the west. But obviously nobody makes the wild card from the west. Bucs are out of it with their 7 wins. So only 5 of the 6 teams I listed can make the playoffs. Looking at the schedules and current records, I think the Bears are in. Giants or Saints will be out.

There are 3 matchups down the stretch where the Bears are guaranteed to pick up a half game on one of these contenders.

Giants @ Packers
Eagles @ Giants
Falcons @ Saints

When you consider that we're one game up on the Giants, Packers and Eagles it's huge knowing one of those teams has to lose at least one more game. Giants could lose twice in these matchups. You'd love for the Falcons to beat the Saints since the Saints have 9 wins to the Falcons 10. It's at Atlanta and the Falcons never lose at home.

That's it. I've convinced myself. Bears are a lock to make the playoffs.

There are 2 teams you forgot to mention. They are the Seahawks & Rams, who are tied for first in the rotten NFC West at 6-6 after those two teams won their games yesterday. As bad as the NFC West is, two things to consider. The "winner" of that awful division, according to the George Stephanopoulos-looking Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on NBC Sports' postgame of the Steelers/Ravens' game, gets a home playoff game and likely keeps one of the above .500 teams out of the playoffs entirely.

I did mention it. I said somebody has to win the west but nobody from that division is competing for a wild card. So you don't even think about them.

Like I said, the 6 teams I listed are fighting for 5 spots.

I stand corrected...A plus .500 team or two is still getting screwed thanks to the Rams or Seahawks. In fact, if the Rams end up winning that awful division, Steve Spagnuolo's the NFC Coach of the Year.

Whats crazy is that you actually could have a 10-6 team that has to play a road playoff game against a team who is 8-8 or 9-7

Wow

_________________

By the way, why does Trent Dilfer hate the Bear so much?

Florio also mentioned something last night about possible re-seeding come playoff time. That doesn't seem fair for a plus .500 team possibly having to go to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis or Qwest Field in Seattle. It could actually happen the way it's set up right now.

Probably has something to do with his time as a Tampa QB

_________________

Patriots are done, they'll lose the rest of their games. "hair plugs"

I think the Patriots win tonight in their rematch vs. the Jets. The "Monday Night Football" game tonight that Moe, Larry & Jon Gruden will have on ESPN HD this eve is actually something rare. It's only the fourth time since "MNF" started in 1970 where the two teams involved have similar 9-2 or better records. Needless to say, it'll be a far cry from that piece of monkey crap that the 49ers & Cardinals played a week ago.

Don't start.