As many of us Bears fan are aware, the Green Bay Packers are currently the number one seed in the NFC and their schedule looks like the may able to keep that position and possible end up with 13 to 14 wins. Up to week 9, the Packers have had a fairly easy schedule considering they are the reigning NFL champion. There schedule doesn't get dramatically harder but they do face a few quality teams in the second half of the season. The Packers still have to face Detriot twice, the Bears once more and sprinkled between are the Buccaneers and the Giants who could give Green Bay some trouble. I predict the Packers will split with the Lions, lose to the Giants because of their pass rush and get beat in their final game against the Bears leaving them 13-3.
To many people’s surprise, the San Francisco 49er are 6-1 and are currently the second seed in the NFC. It doesn't hurt that they play in the NFC west, where we can assume every year there is only going to be one team from the conference making the playoffs. But as I look through the remainder of their schedule, I only see three tough games left which are played against the Giants, Ravens and Steelers. Worst case scenario is they lose those three game and possibly another one to a division opponent late in the season and end the season 11-5. I see the 49ers either being a second or third seed in the playoff and being a very tough opponent for whomever they place.
Entering the Season, the NFC East was touted as the toughest division in not only the NFC but maybe even all the NFL. Many football analysts dubbed that the Philadelphia Eagle were the team to beat and possibly the Giants would make it in as a wildcard team. However, that is why they play the games in the NFL and the tides have changed. The Giants are current leading the division and have done so somewhat quietly at 5-2. However, the second half of their season is incredibly difficult. They still have divisional games against the Eagles, the Redskins and Cowboys along with games against the Patriots, Jets and Green Bay. You have to assume that the remaining four division games are going to be close ones and that the Giants possibly go 2-2 in them. With the toughness of the remainder of their division, I think the Giants will go 10-6 at best and may not even win the division if the Eagles build on the game they played against Dallas. So whoever wins this division will be at best 10-6 and probably a four seed.
Coming off an astounding lose to the St. Louis Rams, the Saints head into the second half of the season at a 5-3 record. After the game against the Packers, I figured the Saints would be the second seed in the division and would put up quite a good fight if they played the Packers in the playoffs. And after looking at their schedule they could still possibly do that. Even though they still have two games left against the Falcons, and games against the Giants and Detroit, I can still see the team going 11-5 or 10-6. They do play in a very talented division, but I think they just have to many weapons on the offensive side of the ball and are going to be angry for the next few weeks about their bad lose the Rams. Look for them to finish at 11-5 and challenging the 49ers for the second seed in the NFC
At the beginning of the season the Detroit Lions were the "sexy" pick as a team to make the playoff and to this point they haven't disappointed. Even though the Lions just loss two games before beating the Bronco's, they still look like one of the most physical defenses in the NFL and it doesn't hurt that they have a wide receiver named Calvin "Megatron" Johnson playing every week. All this success and winning is very new for the Lions so it should be interesting to see how they handle it as they head into the final stretch of the season. Even though they are 6-2, they still have games against our beloved Bears, the Packers and the New Orleans Saints. We all know they probably won’t win the division over the Packer, barring anything short coming of a miracle and the Packers collapsing. However, this team still has the potential to go anywhere from 12-4 to 10-6. I personally believe that they will be in the 10-11 win range and will be a very tough opponent for anyone that has to play them in the first round.
Finally we get to the Chicago Bears. The season started off pretty rough but things have been getting better as the season has progressed. We all know the team has been progressing as a whole and we have no reason to assume that won’t continue coming off the bye week. Even though the Bears next two games are against the Lions and Eagles, the Bears basically control their own faith. They do play the Packers in week 15, but you have to assume the Packers may start resting players at that time to be healthy for the play offs. The Bears have very winnable games after Detroit up to the Green Bay game and could possibly end up going 11-5 or 10-6. One of the most important things is if the Bears beat the Eagles, they will hold the tie breaker over bubble teams such as the Eagles, Falcons and Buc's. It is very important that the Bears come out every week and take care of business because if they get hot at the right time and make it to the playoffs, it’s any ones game to win. Look for the Bears to continue to come out and pound the ball and play the kind of football Bears fans are accustoming to seeing. I am predicting that the Bears over take the Lions for the fifth seed and potentially end up back in the NFC title game for a chance at the Super Bowl. So until next time fans, Bear Down Chicago.
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