Forget the result of the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks are the team to fear in the NFC playoffs. Just two years after making the playoffs with a pretty abysmal 7-9 record, Pete Carroll has crafted a team who can genuinely be feared on both sides.
Their defence has been resolute. They rank 5th overall in pass defence, and 11th overall in run defence. They've registered 36 sacks on opposing quarterbacks, 17 interceptions (including 2 pick sixes) and forced 20 fumbles (with one returned for a touchdown). Their offence has been led by an unheralded third round rookie by the name of Russell Wilson. The 75th overall pick out of Wisconsin (who had previously played college baseball at NC State) was seen by many as undersized and unlikely to make an impact on the NFL. His numbers, 2,868 yards passing with 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions, and 431 yards and 3 touchdowns rushing come close to those of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the first and second overall picks, and Wilson has to be in with a shout of winning the Rookie of the Year Award. Marshawn Lynch has ably assisted with close to 1500 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns (as well as 180 receiving yards with two further touchdowns), but it's been an incredible rookie year from Wilson.
The Seahawks downfall may be that they will more than likely only have a wildcard spot, and won't be at home in the playoffs. Seattle are a perfect 7-0 at home, but faltered on the road with a 3-5 record. They need an unlikely Arizona win in San Francisco next week to win the division, but if they can take their home form on the road in the playoffs, Seattle could be an unlikely shout for the Super Bowl.
Houston shut down Adrian Peterson and restricted him to just 86 yards as his quest for the NFL rushing record faltered. They failed to shut down Christian Ponder though, and the Vikings now have their destiny in their own hands. Win at home against a Green bay side who have already tied up their own playoff berth and Minnesota will make their first return to the playoffs since their overtime loss to the Saints in the 2009 NFC Championship when Brett Favre ran the show. The Vikings defence brutalised Arian Foster, restricting him to 15 yards on ten carried, and held the Texans to just 34 rushing yards in total. The Texans were held to just 187 overall yards and failed to score a touchdown for the first time in over six years. They can still clinch the #1 seed in the AFC with a win next week, but this trouncing will be much more worrying than their previous losses this year. Going back to Minnesota, they will be in buoyant mode in the Metrodome next week. Green Bay need a win to clinch a first round bye, but can the chance to make the playoffs in front of a home crowd, and the possibility of Peterson breaking the rushing record, anything could happen. It promises to be a great game.
The NFC East picture is a little more settled than it was before the weekend. Dallas' visit to Washington next week is in primetime for a reason. It's a straight shootout for the division title. Dallas' home loss to the Saints doesn't change the fact that they must win at FedEx Field to win the division. A win or tie is good enough for the Redskins to win the division and claim the #4 seed. Their win at Philadelphia was more laboured than they would have liked, but at 9-6, they hold the cards in the division. The Giants capitulation in Baltimore means that they will only clinch a playoff spot if Dallas, Minnesota and Chicago all lose next week, and they themselves topple the Eagles. All eyes will be on what is set to be a thrilling regular season closer in Landover next Sunday night.
The Chicago Bears are still in the playoff hunt, and they know that a win over the Lions, coupled with Green Bay beating Minnesota will put them in the playoffs. It's out of their hands, but fingers will be crossed at Soldier Field.
Over in the AFC, it's almost all tied up. The Colts and Bengals tied up the wildcard berths and Baltimore claimed the last remaining division in the North. All that's left to play for is home field advantage and the first round byes. Houston will clinch the #1 seed with a win over Indianapolis, with Denver waiting in the wings to steal it if they should lose. Denver need to win or hope the Patriots lose to get the first round bye. The Pats can still clinch the #1 seed if they win and the Texans and Broncos both lose. Other than those three, it's a lot of dead rubbers in the AFC this coming week.
I'll preview Week 17 on Friday. Have a great Christmas.
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