NFC Post-Season Preview: Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans and Seattle Rule NFC

For starters, if you picked the Cowboys to rule the NFC East you are either A. a total liar, since you really, REALLY didn't believe Drew Bledsoe would be riding the pine in Big D; B. a fraud, since Terrell Owens does not have more yards or touchdowns than compadre Terry Glenn, yet you put T.O. on your fantasy football team anyway, because you just had a feeling; and C. an absolute optimist like me, a fan whose hopes have been crushed for many a year, including the moment when Joe Montana found Dwight Clark in the corner of the end zone with 56 seconds left.

Now Tony Romo, a little known quarterback out of Southern Illinois and Marlon Barber, the shifty running back who has supplanted Julius Jones much the way that Romo outed Bledsoe, lead Dallas into a new era. The Cowboys have basically ruled the roost from beginning to end this season, though the New York Giants are closing the gap. The Philadelphia Eagles fell out of the tree once Donovan McNabb went down with a season-ending knee injury, though by grace of God and some decent quarterbacking from Jeff Garcia are still at .500 and we don't even want to talk about the Washington Redskins, who should just kick Joe Gibbs to the curb, though they won't because he is a Hall of Fame coach in his golden years.

Below is a list of teams in the East who still have a shot at making the playoffs, because in the NFL this year, one thing is certain: It's nothing like it was last year and many teams are still in the hunt, including at least four .500 teams and even five who are sub-.500.

NFC EAST (OR THE NFC LEAST)

Dallas (8-5)

The 'Boys have nearly punched their ticket into the playoffs. Now the only question is whether or not they have the cojones to beat an inspired New Orleans Saints team on the kind of high one can only get from having lost nearly everything in a catastrophe and recovering your dignity, civic pride and TEAM. That's putting it mildly, yet the Pokes then have to play at Atlanta before coming home to play Philadelphia in what should be a barnburner in Big D when Garcia and the Eagles come to town to deflate T.O.'s ego and likely secure a wildcard spot. But by then Dallas could have the division locked up and the key to home-field advantage, at least for a game.

New York Giants (7-6)

The G-men have struggled through most of the season, though the prognosis at the beginning was supposed to have been positive. It has not been, largely because of an ineffective passing attack and the announcement that longtime Pro Bowler Tiki Barber would be retiring. Both were not welcome news to an organization that has long relied upon Barber's slashing carries through opposing backfields and a vertical passing game that seemed to improve under the younger Manning. But Eli is seemingly going more his father's way, leading an inept bunch to Meadowlands mediocrity, as opposed to brother Peyton. But this is not a done deal in terms of New York not making the playoffs as they did last year. They are still mathematically in the thick of it at 7-6, and they won at Carolina, thus creating a rift in the race. After that the scheduling gods were cruel to be kind, lining up home dates with the Eagles and Saints. With that kind of run the G's could be done by week 17 and the stage set for the playoffs.

Philadelphia (7-6)

The Eagles have seemingly found their Philadelphia freedom in the capable hands of Jeff Garcia, the much-aligned but former MVP 49ers QB who threw for more than 300 yards last week and backed it up with a solid performance this week at Washington. But dates with playoff implications thereafter, at the Giants and at Dallas will likely determine the playoff race in the conference by week 17. For Philadelphia, this was supposed to be the year that the team forgot about T.O. and focused on D-Mac. Instead it has been a year filled with injuries and unthinkable setbacks, including a 31-13 whipping put on by the lowly but improving Tennessee Titans. The last four weeks hold the key to Philadelphia' season and something tells me Garcia is gunning for a bigger paycheck (and starting job) elsewhere, so you will see his best on every down until the medics pull him off the turf. That's his and the Eagles M.O., as opposed to the T.O. who had to go.

OUT

Washington (4-9)

Chicago leads a woeful bunch in the NFC North and has roared to a 10-2 start, ahead of such non-contenders like Minnesota, Green Bay and Detroit. Before I get a bunch of ranting e-mails from angry Packers fans telling me that Brett Favre is still going to lead the Pack to the Super Bowl, let me remind you that two weeks ago B.F. threw three passes right into the waiting hands of Seahawk defenders, including two which seemed more like the D-backs were running post routes to actually catch up to Brett's rocket balls thrown long past his intended receivers. There is little reason to believe that anyone can catch Chicago for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs at this point, although Seattle seems in all likelihood to be the only team capable of doing so in the NFC. The Bears defense, along with a steady but not spectacular offense has led the charge all season, and included in the Bears triumphs was an absolute mauling of the Seahawks, the defending NFC champs several weeks ago. Couple with that a cream-puff end of schedule and you have the recipe for disaster for opponents up until the Bears actually have to play somebody. At that point, whether it's Dallas, New Orleans, Carolina, or Seattle the Bears will show their many weaknesses on the offensive side of the football and fade like they did last year. The adage that defense wins championships may be true, but Chicago's offense is about as nasty as my mom's chicken soup surprise (or turkey soup surprise), which made me contemplate how wrong I was to think I could actually leave her house without wishing I had more toilet paper or more Pepto-Bismol.

NFC CENTRAL (THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO, EVEN IN A DOME)

Chicago (10-2)

If Brian Urlacher, the venerable All-Pro linebacker/Mr. Everything were actually physically able to do everything in the way he had at his alma mater New Mexico, it's entirely possible Chicago would be able to take it all. But when you have a quarterback whose passing rating actually measured ONE POINT not too long ago and whose former college coach probably had some acid indigestion just watching this atrocity unfold, since dat ol' boy never threw more less than 300 a game and scored at least 30 by the half, you would be ready to do a swanee off of the Sears Tower, too, or throw your name into the hat for "Next Bears QB". Though 'Da Bears have already clinched their division, hereby informing all comers that the road will go through the Windy City, they will still have to play inspired ball not to lose home-field advantage to either the now-healthy Seahawks or the new-and-improved Cowboys. And after their signal-caller put up that kind of performance, any letdown is possible.

Minnesota (6-7)

Amazingly enough the Vikings are still alive for a playoff spot, further illustrating the point that this season is completely and totally bizarre and waiting for some guy like Tarvaris Jackson to come along and rescue the hopes of all Minnesotans from the freezing temperatures and hockey dreams of 15 minutes ago. Jackson has a unique name but he will still not start and so Brad Johnson was called upon to resurrect this team from the murky depths of some lake of despair--and he did! But it won't happen the whole year and so fans will be left to contemplate the loss of some guy named Daunte, you know, that player who actually GAVE you a chance at the postseason. Though the schedule is not breathtakingly painful, the Jets, Packers and Rams aren't exactly easy. See you next year.

OUT

Green Bay (5-8), Detroit (2-11)

But perhaps the biggest surprise of the season has been the New Orleans Saints, the team that has returned to the Big Easy after the region experienced all that Katrina offered, including the scores of displacements, destruction and even death. Though I predicted that the Saints with new quarterback Drew Brees and coach Sean Payton, a Bill Parcells disciple, would be tops, I did not honestly believe they would have been the best team record-wise in the NFC for the first few weeks of the season. For Hell sakes, they lost Joe Horn early in the season, only to be replaced by a guy named Devery Henderson. The Saints fell back to Earth of late, however their schedule toward the playoff push is favorable and they have a built-in homefield advantage unlike any other team in professional sports. If the Saints were to hold their slim one-game lead in the NFC South over Carolina and get just one game in the Superdome in the playoffs that could spell major trouble for any opponent and New Orleans could become the story of the decade. That's just how underrated and good this team is. But they have a horrific end-of-season schedule that includes the likes of Dallas, the Giants and Carolina with only Washington as the easy victory.

THE NFC CENTRAL (SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE)

New Orleans (9-4)

Bill Parcells disciple Sean Payton has resurrected the hopes of a community and a region that lost so much by bringing in All-Pro QB Drew Brees from the Chargers and solidifying the team through free agency. And even with several top Saints receivers on injury status throughout the season and with linebacker Hollis Thomas now serving a four-game suspension for a banned substance, New Orleans has experienced a memorable year to remember for what may be a lifetime, as predicted earlier. Again it's amazing what the human spirit can accomplish when everything seems lost and this year's bunch, a ramshackle collection of free agents and role players, has defied odds to get to where they are, two games above both Carolina and Atlanta. Several key games with huge playoff implications are next, however, including the tilts with the Giants and Carolina to close out the season.

Atlanta (7-6)

With the news that the Oakland Raiders may already be discussing pursuing Falcon QB/RB/WR/OL/P/K Michael Vick the fact remains that you really don't know which Mike will be showing up. It could be the Vick whose heroics lifted his team to an improbable victory in snowy Lambeau Field, upsetting the balance of the universe and the spirit of Curly, or the Vick throwing improbable interceptions and later running for his life, though it's been for positive yardage on most occasions. And while the Falcons have had offensive success (more than 4,000 yards) they will have to face Dallas, Carolina and Philadelphia in the last three weeks of the season. Therefore the road is probably too difficult for Atlanta, though if the Falcons were to make it into the playoffs they would be the team nobody would want to play. The chances of that happening are highly unlikely, in part to a weak defense and a streaky Mike whose time in Hotlanta is coming to a screeching halt.

Carolina (6-7)

The Panthers are not exactly turning heads at the moment, yet they are throwing helmets (uh-hmm...Keyshawn Johnson) and interceptions by the bucketful. Though the defense is as stingy as ever, the Carolina running game is as anemic as Michael Jackson's complexion. And that will be their undoing in this playoff run now that No. 1 QB Jake Delhomme may be out for the next few games. Because Chris Weinke will not be able to shoulder the load carried by Delhomme and neither will their stable of mediocre backs. And after the Panthers play the Steelers, Falcons and Saints, all of which are in playoff contention, they will be lucky to finish 8-8.

OUT

Tampa Bay (3-10)

But the team that should hold the championship trophy at the end is the Seattle Seahawks, a team that is yet to showcase the dominance they displayed last year. Yet there have been glimpses of it, as Shaun Alexander ran for 200 yards vs. Green Bay in the Seattle snow three weeks ago and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is healthy again. Despite not having the two Pro Bowlers in the lineup for half the season, Seattle has still managed a 8-5 record, tops in the NFC West, three games ahead of both the 49ers and St. Louis and has a favorable schedule toward the end of the season, though San Diego comes knocking. Between those it's easy city, with San Francisco and Tampa Bay. And for that reason the Seattle Seahawks will become the first team to return to the Super Bowl since the New England Patriots did it in 2005, though the Pats won two in a row and Seattle is looking for their first Super Bowl title in their existence.

THE NFC WEST (OR THE NFC BEST)

Seattle (8-5)

The Seahawks started out the 2006 campaign in solid fashion, winning their first three games. But by the time November rolled around the Hawks were looking at a record of 5-3, with some tough games remaining. True to form, Seattle has forged ahead despite suffering some key blows in the offensive backfield and roaring to a 4-1 month. The Hawks are now three games ahead of both St. Louis and San Francisco and failed to clinch their division at Arizona. The Hawks should be looking at possibly 11-5 if San Diego does not play like they have of late. The matchup with the Chargers could be a preview of the Super Bowl, an amalgam of West-Coast offense and Shaun versus Marty-Ball and Tomlinson.

St. Louis (5-7)

The Rams are the other team in the NFC that few want to play come playoff time. St. Louis came into their bye week 4-2, but it has been downhill since. Only a 20-17 win over San Francisco has prevented the Rams from losing six straight, yet QB Marc Bulger has thrown for more than 3,500 yards and 16 TD's and Steven Jackson has amassed yet another 1,000-yard rushing season. If there is a team to fear from an offensive standpoint, it is the Rams. On the defensive side, however, there is cause for concern. In five games the D has allowed more than 30 points. But the next four opponents are not exactly offensive worldbeaters and only Chicago has a good chance of beating St. Louis, who may have a shot at winning their last four games and making it in the playoffs as a wildcard. This is because outside of their game with the Bears, only Washington, Oakland and Minnesota remain. If Bulger's abhorring of his compatriots actually works, the Rams may well see their way into the playoffs.

OUT

Arizona (4-9)

Next: The AFC Postseason Preview: Logjam at The Top