All Eight NFC Playoff Seeding Scenarios for This Weekend

by Christopher Gates on Dec 31, 2009 6:00 AM CST in NFL Comment 33 comments

As we've all heard by now, the six playoff teams in the NFC have been determined, and five of those six teams have no idea where they're going to be seeded. Some of those teams have limited possibilities, while a couple of others could fall anywhere between the #2 seed and the #6 seed, depending on this Sunday's action.

There are three games that are going to determine all of the NFC seedings. The only early game of the three tilts is our game against the Giants. The other two games that will determine the seedings are late games, and those games are Green Bay at Arizona and Philadelphia at Dallas. From this, there are eight different scenarios that could come about for the 5 teams that need seeds to settle into.

And, after the jump, I'll give you each and every one of those scenarios and what the results would be.

Scenario #1 - Minnesota beats New York, Philadelphia beats Dallas, Arizona beats Green Bay

2) Philadelphia Eagles
3) Minnesota Vikings
4) Arizona Cardinals
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Dallas Cowboys

Scenario #2 - Minnesota beats New York, Philadelphia beats Dallas, Green Bay beats Arizona

2) Philadelphia Eagles
3) Minnesota Vikings
4) Arizona Cardinals
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Dallas Cowboys

Scenario #3 - Minnesota beats New York, Dallas beats Philadelphia, Arizona beats Green Bay

2) Minnesota Vikings
3) Arizona Cardinals
4) Dallas Cowboys
5) Philadelphia Eagles
6) Green Bay Packers

Scenario #4 - Minnesota beats New York, Dallas beats Philadelphia, Green Bay beats Arizona

2) Minnesota Vikings
3) Dallas Cowboys
4) Arizona Cardinals
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Philadelphia Eagles

Scenario #5 - New York beats Minnesota, Philadelphia beats Dallas, Arizona beats Green Bay

2) Philadelphia Eagles
3) Arizona Cardinals
4) Minnesota Vikings
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Dallas Cowboys

Scenario #6 - New York beats Minnesota, Philadelphia beats Dallas, Green Bay beats Arizona

2) Philadelphia Eagles
3) Minnesota Vikings
4) Arizona Cardinals
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Dallas Cowboys

Scenario #7 - New York beats Minnesota, Dallas beats Philadelphia, Arizona beats Green Bay

2) Arizona Cardinals
3) Dallas Cowboys
4) Minnesota Vikings
5) Philadelphia Eagles
6) Green Bay Packers

Scenario #8 - New York beats Minnesota, Dallas beats Philadelphia, Green Bay beats Arizona

2) Dallas Cowboys
3) Minnesota Vikings
4) Arizona Cardinals
5) Green Bay Packers
6) Philadelphia Eagles

So, as you can see, the Vikings have a 25% chance of being the #2 seed (both of those scenarios include a win over New York, obviously), a 50% chance of being the #3 seed, and a 25% chance of being the #4 seed.

(HUGE thanks to Troy Newell over at TalkVikes for figuring this jumble out.)

It goes without saying that we're big Dallas Cowboy fans as of 3 PM on Sunday. Unless of course we lose, in which case. . .nah, screw it, we're not losing.

Later this morning, I'll be sitting down for a chat with the folks from Big Blue View (rather than the standard five questions). As soon as we get that knocked out, I'll have it up here for your viewing pleasure. Keep enjoying the last day of the decade, ladies and gentlemen!

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Good God

Why couldn’t we have just beaten the Bears…

by Grime on Dec 31, 2009 7:42 AM CST reply actions

My feelings exactly

Took a few days break with holidays and terrible loss at Chicago….Now reinvigorated for the playoff fight to come….no matter what happens, let’s just go out there and do our best….Who knows?

I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...

by vikingfanfrom afar on Jan 1, 2010 4:36 AM CST up reply actions

Or

The Cardinals, Steelers, Panthers. But especially the Bears.

by nlemke on Dec 31, 2009 8:19 AM CST reply actions

Gonzo - Good Work!

We should have a poll on the 8 Scenarios. My pick would be #4. Philly/Dallas is a toss-up and the Pack are hot right now. Should be an interesting weekend. Happy New Year!

"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Theodore Roosevelt

by DaRange on Dec 31, 2009 8:43 AM CST reply actions

What a cluster****

We have quite the variety of options. But look at what Philly and Dallas are facing. They could be anywhere from the 2 seed to the 6th. Regardless of the Viking implications, that is gonna be one hell of a game to watch.

by Jayrome007 on Dec 31, 2009 8:54 AM CST reply actions

Hmm, just noticed something else

Green Bay is the only team on that list that has absolutely nothing worthwhile to play for. Lets see how good Brandon Jackson, Matt Flynn, and James Jones really are.

by Jayrome007 on Dec 31, 2009 8:55 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, you're right.

If the pack wins, they know they play Arizona again the next week in AZ 100% chance.
If the pack loses they play AZ in AZ 50%, Vikings in Min 25% and Cowboys in Dallas 25%

Unless they want to avoid any chance of playing Minn or Dallas again in the first round or want a chance to avoid back to back trips to AZ they have absolutely nothing to gain. From a rivalry standpoint, they may actually have a small incentive to get a chance to play Minn again.

As a Cards fan as well as a vikings fan, I listened to the Pack’s coach who said they were playing to win period. Who knows if that’s really the truth.

If the Vikings win the early game the cards don’t have much to play for either.

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Dec 31, 2009 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

That's not true.

If they maintain the #5 seed, they could host the NFC championship game against the #6 seed.

That’s huge.

Really.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 31, 2009 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

Ya, I suppose thats possible but you’re really stretching it if you think that has a good chance of happening. Still not quite worth risking injury and fatigue to your starters by playing them this Sunday.

by Jayrome007 on Dec 31, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions

How weird is this

Despite not winning the division, the Packers still recieve a bye week (nothing to play for vs Cards) and the Vikings currently do not (still looking up at Philly for the #2). Sad but true.

by Jayrome007 on Dec 31, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

Hold My Nose

I will REALLY have to hold my nose and root for the stinking Dallas Cowgirls on Sunday. I never thought it would come to this!

by TexasViking on Dec 31, 2009 9:28 AM CST reply actions

Go Cowboys!

…unless the Vikings lose to New York first. Seriously. If the Vikings can’t summon enough character to win at home against a team with nothing to play for, they don’t deserve to back in to a # 3 seed.

by Midnight Rambler on Dec 31, 2009 10:23 AM CST reply actions

Go somewhere else

Almost everyone outside of Texas is sick of hearing about the whining Cowgirls. For the past 13 years all that football fans have seen is the soap opera that plays out weekly in the Dallas area during the pro football season. Give it a rest, shut your collective mouths and just play football. If Dallas wins, please begin to act like the team has won before. The Dallas Cowgirls and Dallas Mavewreaks have to two biggest A-hole owners in all of professional sports.

by TexasViking on Dec 31, 2009 10:52 PM CST up reply actions

13? Only 13.

I’ve despised the “Brokeback Mountain” boy’s for about 40 years.

"What is best in life?"
"To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."

by cryhavoc on Jan 2, 2010 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

Addendum

The media “just can’t quit those boys”.

"What is best in life?"
"To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women."

by cryhavoc on Jan 2, 2010 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

My pick:

Scenario # 3

by Midnight Rambler on Dec 31, 2009 10:25 AM CST reply actions

Is Dallas going to beat Philly?

i’m not sure what to think of either of those teams.

by Salty on Dec 31, 2009 7:24 PM CST up reply actions

That's the best summary of this mess I've seen anywhere all week.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Dec 31, 2009 11:30 AM CST reply actions

OK, nice to have that but still need to know

With what seed do they get a bye and home field advantage

by lorenzo4 on Dec 31, 2009 11:34 AM CST reply actions

1 and 2

"A bad day over here is better than a good day over there"~ Jared "The Mullet" Allen

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Dec 31, 2009 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

What about ties?

Just kidding.

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Dec 31, 2009 11:51 AM CST reply actions

But Donovan McNabb doesnt

know that games can end in a tie

"A bad day over here is better than a good day over there"~ Jared "The Mullet" Allen

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Dec 31, 2009 2:23 PM CST reply actions

they'll get the 2nd seed hopefully

if childress lets favre change probably half the plays!!

by leatherface49 on Dec 31, 2009 4:28 PM CST reply actions

Number 6

Scares the bejesis out of me…Green Bay in the first round the way we’ve been playing lately and the way the Packers O-Line is actually holding up better than the early season? If we’ve gotta play next weekend, I’d much rather take on Dallas.

by MAJTwister on Dec 31, 2009 4:51 PM CST reply actions

If we win our game, there is 0% chance we play the Packers

in the first round. If we win, we either (a) get the bye if Dallas wins OR (b) play Dallas in the 3 vs. 6 game, if Dallas loses.

So if we take care of business, we avoid any chance of playing the Pack. Hate to say it but I’d much rather avoid them for now. I like our chance against Dallas in the Dome.

by Ace991 on Dec 31, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

I'm with you on both of those

by Salty on Dec 31, 2009 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

We definitely need to win this week.

I don’t want to play the Packers neither. I hate to sound like a pessimist, but the Packers are the last team that I want to lose to in the PO’s.
Packer fans would hold that over our heads forever.
Defeating Favre and the Vikings in the PO’s definitely trumps the reg-season sweep we have on them.

Plus the Vikes need to win, and hope that the Cowboys win too. How embarrassing to lose the #2 seed, when it was staring them in the face for the last month….Go Vikes/Go Cowboys!

by chaosg on Dec 31, 2009 9:08 PM CST up reply actions

Just goes to show

how much one extra point can affect a season. I’ve got faith that the vikes can pull of the dome sweep sunday, but who knows about the cowboys… I’m really starting to hate this trend of relying on the cowboys the last game of the season.

by ortonhearsab00 on Dec 31, 2009 5:29 PM CST reply actions

Tell me about it.....

I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...

by vikingfanfrom afar on Jan 1, 2010 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

Oh boy

So alot of praying for the Vikes, praying for Dallas (HUUUUUUUUURL), and plenty of rolaids on hand to offset the heartburn. Depending on how the game turns out, I better get the foyer closet redone by late tomorrow so I accidently don’t do unneeded demolition just incase the worse senario takes place.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"You men are only risking your lives, while I am risking an almost-certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor!"
"We have clearance Clarence. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"

by VikesFaninNM on Jan 1, 2010 11:39 AM CST reply actions