The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants continue to zero in on a playoff berth. A Giant win either this weekend against Philadelphia or next weekend against Dallas would clinch the NFC East Division title for the Giants. New York last won the NFC East in 2005, making the playoffs during their 2007-08 Super Bowl run as a wild card. New York also could clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Dallas loss.
The Arizona Cardinals missed a chance to clinch the NFC West title last week, but they still need just a win this week or a San Francisco loss to claim a playoff berth. If the Cardinals win the NFC West, it will be the franchise's first divisional title since 1975, when the Cardinals played in St. Louis. Arizona has not made the playoffs since 1998.
If the playoffs began today, the New York Giants would be the #1 seed, Tampa Bay #2, Minnesota #3, and Arizona #4. Carolina would claim one wild card, while Atlanta would edge out Dallas for the other wild card.
Carolina, Dallas, Philadelphia, and the Giants face the NFC's toughest remaining schedules among the playoff contenders, while Arizona, Washington, and Chicago face the NFC's weakest remaining schedules. The NFC playoff picture looks this way, through Week 13's games:
Division Leaders
- NY GIANTS 11-1. With last week's win over Washington, the Giants closed in on the divisional title. However, New York does finish with one of the NFL's toughest schedules. Key wins: Redskins (twice), Cowboys, Cardinals. Key losses: None. Remaining opponents (30-17-1): vs Eagles, at Cowboys, vs Panthers, at Vikings.
- TAMPA BAY 9-3. First place is one the line this weekend as Tampa Bay travels to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers, as the two teams are tied for first in the NFC South. The loser remains in the hunt for a wild card. Tampa picked up a key division win last week, 23-20 against the Saints. Tampa won the first meeting with the Panthers, 27-3. Key wins: Falcons, Bears, Panthers, Saints, Vikings. Key losses: Saints, Cowboys. Remaining (24-24): at Panthers, at Falcons, vs Chargers, vs Raiders.
- CAROLINA 9-3. Last week's wild 35-31 win against Green Bay sets up the Panthers in a key game at home against Tampa Bay this week. Because Tampa won the first meeting 27-3, Carolina would be in trouble in the NFC South chase with another loss to the Bucs. Key wins: Bears, Falcons, Saints, Cardinals. Key losses: Vikings, Bucs, Falcons. Remaining (33-15): vs Bucs, vs Broncos, at Giants, at Saints.
- ARIZONA 7-5. With last week's loss to Philadelphia, Arizona missed a chance to clinch the NFC West. A win this week against the lowly Rams would clinch the divisional title for the Cardinals. Key wins: Cowboys, 49ers (twice). Key losses: Eagles, Redskins, Panthers, Giants. Remaining (18-30): vs Rams, vs Vikings, at Patriots, vs Seahawks.
- MINNESOTA 7-5. The Vikings throttled Chicago last week, 34-14, picking up a key split in the season series with the Bears. After a game against winless Detroit, Minnesota faces three playoff contenders to close the season. Key wins: Bears, Panthers, Saints, Packers. Key losses: Packers, Bears, Bucs. Remaining (26-22): at Lions, at Cardinals, vs Falcons, vs Giants.
Wild-Card Challengers
- DALLAS 8-4. The Cowboys have won three straight games since quarterback Tony Romo returned from injury. Dallas will be hard-pressed to keep that streak going against the NFL's toughest closing schedule. Key wins: Eagles, Packers, Bucs, Redskins. Key losses: Redskins, Cardinals, Giants. Remaining (34-13-1): at Steelers, vs Giants, vs Ravens, at Eagles.
- ATLANTA 8-4. The Falcons are still in the thick of the hunt for both a wild card and the NFC South title. If the playoffs began today, Atlanta would be in the postseason. Key wins: Packers, Bears, Saints, Panthers. Key losses: Bucs, Panthers, Eagles. Remaining (24-24): at Saints, vs Bucs, at Vikings, vs Rams.
- WASHINGTON 7-5. After losing to the powerful Giants to fall a game behind in the wild-card chase, the Redskins face another very difficult challenge this week, at Baltimore. Washington's closing schedule is weak, giving it a shot to sneak into the playoffs late. Key wins: Saints, Cardinals, Cowboys, Eagles. Key losses: Giants (twice), Cowboys. Remaining (19-27-2): at Ravens, at Bengals, vs Eagles, at 49ers.
- PHILADELPHIA 6-5-1. By defeating Arizona Thanksgiving night with an impressive performance, the Eagles remain in the playoff hunt. Because they lose nearly every tie-breaker now, they'll probably need to finish 4-0. Key wins: Falcons, Cardinals. Key losses: Cowboys, Bears, Redskins, Giants. Remaining (30-18): at Giants, vs Browns, at Redskins, vs Cowboys.
- CHICAGO 6-6. After a blowout loss at Minnesota, Chicago needs to play well down the stretch. Fortunately for the Bears, they do not face a team that's above .500 the remainder of the season. Key wins: Eagles, Vikings. Key losses: Panthers, Vikings, Bucs, Falcons, Packers. Remaining (20-28): vs Jaguars, vs Saints, vs Packers, at Texans.
- NEW ORLEANS 6-6. After the three-point loss to Tampa Bay last week, New Orleans is a longshot to make the playoffs. Key wins: Bucs, Packers. Key losses: Bucs, Redskins, Vikings, Panthers, Falcons. Remaining (23-25): vs Falcons, at Bears, at Lions, vs Panthers.
The Others
- Green Bay 5-7 (The Packers are two games out of first in the NFC North.)
- San Francisco 4-8
- Seattle 2-10
- St. Louis 2-10
- Detroit 0-12
