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NFL teams in hunt for playoff spots
Source: Agencies |
December 26, 2010, Sunday
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WITH just four of the 12 playoff positions secured, 20 teams head into the penultimate round of National Football League action still harboring hopes of making the postseason.
The playoff picture will become a lot clearer after the Christmas weekend games.
The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have all booked their places in the playoffs but seven of the eight divisions have yet to be decided and three divisions, the AFC North, AFC South and NFC West, have two teams tied at the top.
The New York Giants (9-5) at the Green Bay Packers (8-6) has both teams, barring a total slump by the New Orleans Saints, fighting for the same NFC wildcard slot.
If the Giants win they grab the slot while the Packers, who have suffered back-to-back defeats, are just a game behind the Giants. The Packers know a victory will at least put their playoff chances in their own hands.
The Giants have fond memories of Lambeau Field - last time New York played at the time-honored stadium, they won with an overtime field goal to clinch the NFC title.
Tom Coughlin's team could do with some positive vibes after last week's agonizing performance in letting the Philadelphia Eagles come back to win from a 10-31 deficit in the last eight minutes.
The Packers were widely seen as favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year but now find themselves scrambling to keep their season alive.
Head coach Mike McCarthy is well aware of what is on the line tomorrow.
Very good team
"It is clearly already a playoff game for us. Everybody understands the importance of this win. We feel very confident since we are at home. The Giants are a very good team but we need this win. We have to get to nine wins and it needs to happen this week," he said.
The Eagles, whose season has been inspired by the brilliant comeback of quarterback Michael Vick, can secure the NFC East title if they win at home against the Minnesota Vikings tomorrow.
The defending champions Saints are looking to avoid a second defeat to Atlanta and to secure a playoff position of their own when they travel to the Georgia Dome.
The New York Jets (10-4), still reeling from their recent mauling at the hands of the Patriots, are at Chicago (10-4), which is looking for a top seed in the postseason. New York quarterback Mark Sanchez has a sore throwing shoulder and may not be able to play.
The NFC West, bizarrely, does not feature a single team with a winning record with St. Louis (6-8) and Seattle (6-8) tied for the lead.
The Rams are at home to divisional rivals the San Francisco 76ers, who, despite a 5-9 record, are still in the hunt while the Seahawks visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another team still in the wildcard chase.
A few games have no meaning whatsoever in the playoff races: the Dallas Cowboys at the Arizona Cardinals, plus the Houston Texans at the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions at the Miami Dolphins.
The round began on Thursday with the Steelers accounting for the Carolina Panthers 27-3. The Steelers can seal the AFC North division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs if the Cleveland Browns upset the visiting Baltimore Ravens.
The playoff picture will become a lot clearer after the Christmas weekend games.
The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have all booked their places in the playoffs but seven of the eight divisions have yet to be decided and three divisions, the AFC North, AFC South and NFC West, have two teams tied at the top.
The New York Giants (9-5) at the Green Bay Packers (8-6) has both teams, barring a total slump by the New Orleans Saints, fighting for the same NFC wildcard slot.
If the Giants win they grab the slot while the Packers, who have suffered back-to-back defeats, are just a game behind the Giants. The Packers know a victory will at least put their playoff chances in their own hands.
The Giants have fond memories of Lambeau Field - last time New York played at the time-honored stadium, they won with an overtime field goal to clinch the NFC title.
Tom Coughlin's team could do with some positive vibes after last week's agonizing performance in letting the Philadelphia Eagles come back to win from a 10-31 deficit in the last eight minutes.
The Packers were widely seen as favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year but now find themselves scrambling to keep their season alive.
Head coach Mike McCarthy is well aware of what is on the line tomorrow.
Very good team
"It is clearly already a playoff game for us. Everybody understands the importance of this win. We feel very confident since we are at home. The Giants are a very good team but we need this win. We have to get to nine wins and it needs to happen this week," he said.
The Eagles, whose season has been inspired by the brilliant comeback of quarterback Michael Vick, can secure the NFC East title if they win at home against the Minnesota Vikings tomorrow.
The defending champions Saints are looking to avoid a second defeat to Atlanta and to secure a playoff position of their own when they travel to the Georgia Dome.
The New York Jets (10-4), still reeling from their recent mauling at the hands of the Patriots, are at Chicago (10-4), which is looking for a top seed in the postseason. New York quarterback Mark Sanchez has a sore throwing shoulder and may not be able to play.
The NFC West, bizarrely, does not feature a single team with a winning record with St. Louis (6-8) and Seattle (6-8) tied for the lead.
The Rams are at home to divisional rivals the San Francisco 76ers, who, despite a 5-9 record, are still in the hunt while the Seahawks visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another team still in the wildcard chase.
A few games have no meaning whatsoever in the playoff races: the Dallas Cowboys at the Arizona Cardinals, plus the Houston Texans at the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions at the Miami Dolphins.
The round began on Thursday with the Steelers accounting for the Carolina Panthers 27-3. The Steelers can seal the AFC North division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs if the Cleveland Browns upset the visiting Baltimore Ravens.
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