NFC: It is Getting Clearer

The current NFC playoff picture:

Sunday, the Packers moved into 1st place while the Saints fell to 2nd. Since Green Bay beat New Orleans head-to-head, the Packers clinch the sole first-round bye by winning out. With the Panthers, Titans, and Bears remaining on the Packers' schedule, it's more likely than not that Aaron Rodgers is resting on Wild Card weekend. 

The Cardinals (7-6) bumped the Vikings (6-7) out of the 7th seed and can likely hold on with two more regular-season victories.

Finally, the Football Team moved into 1st in the NFC East this weekend. Washington has a one-game lead over the Giants and a two-game advantage over the Eagles and Cowboys. New York has the hardest remaining schedule (.541) in the NFC East by quite a bit. Thus, fans of the Football Team should be casually optimistic.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, the current 3-6 matchup is fascinating. While the Rams would be favored, the Bucs are the more dangerous team. If Tampa ever clicks on both sides of the ball -- and it can -- it will end up one of the most dangerous Wild Cards teams in recent memory. 

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Green Bay is beginning to separate from the NFC. The Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers who is back to his former self, have all the momentum right now. I said it last week: this is the Super Bowl bet to make.

Like all top teams this season, Green Bay has a major flaw. They have trouble stopping run-first teams. But this concern still isn't much of a threat. In the NFC, there isn't a San Francisco of last season.

Baltimore is best equipped to expose Green Bay's weakness in the AFC. Luckily, the Ravens might not make the playoffs. Even if they do, a top-ranked AFC team will take care of them long before they could think about a Super Bowl run. 

Week 15 has four key matchups to watch for NFC seeding: Seahawks-Football Team, Eagles-Cardinals, Chiefs-Saints, and Browns-Giants.