Wild-card scramble: Who has the edge?

Share

Back when the Bears were the team scoring 50 points in a gamein Tennessee, long before the Seattle Seahawks made that point total weekly occurrencethe question was whether the Bears would have a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Now it is who else has to lose games to let the Bears squeak into the postseason. Because the first casualty of Sundays 21-13 Green Bay win was the Bears control over their own destiny. If they kept winning, it didnt matter what others did, because the Bears had a lead.

Now they dont. But they arguably have a better course through the minefield of two final games than the teams they find themselves chasing, some of which play each other. All of which presupposes the Bears winning on the road against Arizona and Detroit, two teams with a combined 19 losses.

Seattle is the biggest hurdle because of having beaten the Bears. As for the overall:

Wild-card team
Remaining opponents
RecordsSeattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers
10-3-1St. Louis Rams
6-7-1Comment: Few teams are playing better than Seattle right now, winners of three straight and five of their last six. Head-to-head tiebreak edge on Bears.

Wild-card team
Remaining opponents
RecordsMinnesota Vikings
@ Houston Texans
12-2Green Bay Packers
10-4

Comment: The toughest finishing stretch, although both opponents may be resting their firepower with positions clinched.

Wild-card team
Remaining opponents
RecordsWash. Redskins
@ Philadelphia Eagles
4-10Dallas Cowboys
8-6

Comment: Dallas is a blood feud but Washington has won five straight and put up 30 in four of the five.

Wild-card team
Remaining opponents
RecordsDallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints
6-8@ Washington Redskins
8-6

Comment: No one really likes playing the Saints even after losing three straight before dismembering Tampa Bay. Washington in D.C. will be difficult.

Wild-card team
Remaining opponents
RecordsNew York Giants
@ Baltimore Ravens
9-5Philadelphia Eagles
4-10

Comment: The Ravens are slumping with three straight losses and getting scored upon. The Eagles should just forfeit.

Contact Us