2009 NFC Playoff Picture Starting to Really Reveal Itself in Week 15 of NFL Schedule

The 2009 NFC playoff picture is much clearer than the AFC Playoff picture. The 2009 NFC playoff picture already has four teams that have clinched a playoff spot in fact. There are a couple of things that still need to be figured out though, because none of the seeds are set in stone yet. New Orleans, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Arizona have all clinched 2009 NFC playoff slots, but there could still be some shuffling amongst the higher seeds. That will make the last two weeks of the NFC season even more interesting for fans of playoff-bound franchises.

New Orleans is the #1 seed in the NFC playoff picture right now, posting a 13-1 overall record. Minnesota isn't too far behind them though, as they have an 11-2 record coming in to the Sunday night game against Carolina. It's been quite a successful season for Brett Favre, and could convince him to come back for another year with Minnesota.

If Minnesota can post a win on Sunday night, they will move within one game of New Orleans. Minnesota owns the tie-breaker against New Orleans, so if they end up tied at the end of the season, it will be the Minnesota Vikings with the #1 seed. It's also possible that the Philadelphia Eagles (10-4 so far) could catch up to the Vikings by the end of the season and take away that bye.

Sitting in the third seed is Philadelphia with their lead on the NFC East, and the fourth seed is the Arizona Cardinals with their win on Sunday to clinch the NFC West. The fifth and sixth seeds are Green Bay and Dallas, who are both 9-5 on the season now, and each team just needs one more win to clinch the 2009 NFC playoff berth.

The only team that can still qualify for the playoffs not in the top six are the New York Giants, which sit at 7-6 in the NFC East, and have three games to play that includes the Monday Night Football game this week. It's a tough task to ask of the Giants, but they put themselves in this position by blowing several games that should have been much easier for a team just a season from winning the Super Bowl.

2009 NFC Playoff Picture:

1. New Orleans
2. Minnesota
3. Philadelphia
4. Arizona
5. Green Bay (defeated Dallas this season)
6. Dallas

Dallas is only a game behind Philadelphia, and the two teams play each other in week 17 of the NFL schedule. Arizona could still move up to the #3 seed if things break their way and they win out, and there is still a chance that the New York Giants could make the playoffs if they finish 10-6 (currently 7-6) and get some help. Right now though, the top six teams in the NFC all hold their own destiny in their hands as they head towards the 2009 NFL Playoffs.

2009 AFC Playoff Picture

Sources:

www.nfl.com/standings