Partial NFC Playoff Picture

by **Tony** Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:12 pm

1.Rams 11-1

The Rams have been cruising this year going off on a tear and seem to have no desire to let off the gas with key games coming up to decide their spot in the standings. The only thing playoff related the Rams can lose is their seeming guaranteed bye. It would be nearly impossible for the Rams to even lose out and miss the playoffs. In fact it IS impossible for them to miss the playoffs. The Rams can lose out their next 4 games and ANY team “in the hunt” could win out and not even have the blessing of a possible tiebreaker – The St Louis Rams will have a happy 1 game lead on them. This is tossing out the window the fact that the Rams cannot lose the division to anyone leaving little doubt about their playoff status. It can official be said that the Rams have CLINCHED their division. The Rams are the first and only team so far to clinch their division although this week coming up the bears look to become the second team to hold complete control or at least the path to it. It should be noted that the current 6th seed in the NFC has the chance to play spoiler on a bye for the Rams and this matchup should be watched closely although as stated it means little else if it even gets to that point by the same token the Rams very may well play the playoff spoiler for this team if the race gets tight enough. All this comes off the heels of a 6-10 season in which longtime Rams Quarterback Sam Bradford had a less than stellar year disappointing members of the coaching staff and fans across the country who thought it might well have been his time after battling back from injuries that plagued him in his earlier years prior to the NFL-MFL merger. This season he has quieted all his critics nearly doubling his production through these 12 weeks in addition to the obvious of taking of his team to #1 in the NFC. Rumors are swirling in the NFL that Bradford could take as many as 20 First Place votes if the voting were to end today and maybe getting his team over the hump and clinching a first round bye might just get him the swing votes he needs. We will keep an eye on the Rams as we close the season out for a certainty.

2.Bears 10-2

The Bears, the Bears. Let’s look at da Bears. What can we say about the Bears? They are a suprising team. Why are they a suprising team you ask? They went to the Super bowl! Well let’s just look at that Super Bowl. In this Super Bowl the Bears scored one touchdown, a single defensive touchdown courtesy of their veteran signal caller Brian Urlacher. Urlacher is gone people, he may never be coming back and even if he does it may not be with this Bears organization. Urlacher is what got them to the Super Bowl last year, he was what made that team tick even in a losing effort in the biggest moment of their season. The Bears were hot on the phones for his replacement, but still fell short both in courting free agents and landing a trade for a replacement. What has happened is quite amazing though. This team has shown resiliency under its coach and while regressing terribly on the offensive side of the ball it has come back on defense with an absolute vengeance. The defense led by Julius Peppers – injured earlier this year- with 7 sacks and Charles “Peanut” Tillman with 9 interceptions have kept the Bears in games taking the place of the offense and reaching 12th in total defense. All this comes after the largest part of their team for the better part of a decade is gone. Yes, this is amazing and this is what makes them the FAVORITE to win the Super Bowl should they continue to play this way. This team had no expectations and has taken this mentality to a 10-2 record edging a slight lead in their division. The Bears have been tested all season, but these 4 weeks are what will make this a Cinderella season or a bust. Next week the Bears play their buddy in the division the Green Bay Packers. If the Packers beat the Bears the division – and the first round bye currently held - is tossed into a sudden frenzy and the final 3 weeks become so key for each football team. Currently the bears with a win next week effectively lock their division and the first round bye down. After the packers their schedule is against the bottom of the NFL including the MFl’s only winless team and two teams playing under .500 ball. Even losing versus the Packers the Bears can right the ship with their frenemies in the NFC who are taking on the Packers the notewortiest being the Panthers. If the Packers can’t close the season out by winning 4 games they will have to content themselves with being the wildcard. The bears need to do a lot of things badly to miss these playoffs without a division crown, first round bye, and a winning streak heading into the postseason.

3.Panthers 8-4
The Panthers are heading into the hot part of their schedule with a challenge of three playoff bound or in the hunt teams in a row to close out this 4 game stretch in which their division is still wide open. In fact coming in two weeks is an absolutely key game in that of the one against the Falcons. The Falcons are in the hunt for a wildcard, but hold eyes on the division the Panthers currently lead. Currently the Panthers are riding a 3 game emotional high in which their offense has stepped their game up at the quarterback position with Cam Newton and their 6th ranked rushing offense. Cam has thrown zero picks in his last three games, settling down from his previous 9 games when he threw 17 interceptions. This isn’t a one man show though and as mentioned the Panthers have the 6th ranked rushing attack. Teddy Watkins , Mike Tolbert, and Jacob Hester from the Panther’s Committee at running back are expected to help control the tempo of the game for these Carolina Panthers and keep opposing teams offenses on the sidelines as the clock ticks down on their loss. Panthers fans hoped to be in this position last season, but sadly their season soured and they missed the playoffs finishing 7-9 on the season watching the playoffs on their couches. This season is the season of redemption with the team seemingly turning the corner and stepping up to the brink of the heavy hitters club. Remember, the Panthers can lose out and not even have a prayer to get a wildcard spot without some miracles happening with regards to other teams records. Essentially for every game they lose they must see all other teams, Falcons especially, in the hunt lose and hope they can win at least one game to right the ship before their season comes crumbling down. This is irrespective of the fact that if their division crown comes into question they have a huge challenge to get the 6th seed in the NFC that is staring down the soul of every in the hunt team. Just look at the record of the 49ers; 7-5. At 7-5 the 49ers are looking to make some noise and reach the playoffs and they may well with their remaining schedule. Right now all they, being the Panthers, need to do is keep calm and maintain the status quo and if the Panthers cannot sustain and do it they may well have as disappointing a season as last if not more disappointing with respect to where they were and what they could have done. The Panthers are in a spot where they must tread carefully and how the Panthers close put their season will decide how their coach’s legacy will be defined without a quick turnaround before his contract ends. This playoff hunt will be vindication or a damnation of what this team has seen happen. Stars were traded, free agents brought in, and expectations set high. Advancing to the playoffs is just the beginning. The season is really just starting for this team. Stay tuned in and see what develops, us at MFLESPN certainly will.

In the Hunt
Falcons 6-6
Oh the Falcons. What a team. Big moves galore and what to show for? This team has taken a step forward from its previous season already a single game from tying it’s previous season’s record. That isn’t really an issue, but the decisions made by the powers that be have not yet made this team playoff worthy. On the outside looking in with their playoff picture things aren’t looking good for these Falcons whose owner and coach propped them up on pillars of sand on the beach with team expectations. This team is no stranger this season to high risk, low payoff trades and it rolled the dice this season on a trades one of which involved sending picks and previous free agent acquisition Dunta Robinson in a landmark deal for a top end corner back in Nnamdi Asoumga. This trade has not passed the litmus test for effectiveness with Nnamdi not adjusting at all to his surroundings and may well have cost his team key games in its race for the playoffs. Rumors are swirling around the MFL that Nnamdi is seeking out of his contract whether through unconditional release or a trade to any interested team with the cash to pay him. Retirement has not been ruled out yet and Nnamdi’s agent is keeping him quiet as the season plays out. What is known is that the Falcons have had meetings regarding his status and whether these were in-house discussions or conference calls with teams on the phone it is yet to be seen. This trade was only made possible by another high profile move that sent #1 receiver and mentor to the younger WRs Roddy White to the Seattle Seahawks. Another cornerback shipped out was former pro bowler Asante Samuel who was moved in a deal for troubled WR Dez Bryant who lasted a total of 2 games with the Falcons eventually finding himself dumped for picks in the upcoming draft. Even with these distractions, even having to put aside the changeovers on offense the Falcons have rallied well enough to be where they are being led by an offense that shares the ball whether it be passing or rushing. Matt Ryan and his offensive co-ordinator in hotlanta have found a vibe for this offense that focuses on fundamentals – a mental form of football not easy with the machinations of the media with regards to the team Nnamdi excluded. This was not easy to do especially with Michael turner being injured for so long in the season and that surely had an effect on the team. Perhaps it was a larger effect than all the changeover and ruckus. Maybe if he didn’t get injured we wouldn’t even be mentioning distractions or questioning ownership’s decisions, but he did and we are. Maybe it is enough that this team is at least in the conversation for the season. Maybe it isn’t. The season still needs to be played out, but the fans are going to be looking for answers after the season barring some strange happenings in the MFL from the ownership. It will be a good many years before real change is even discussed and the team may just excite us this coming season. Let’s hope they get it done. The MFL is better when the Atlanta Falcons are relevant late in the year.