Redskins Capital Connection podcast co-host Mark Phillips brings you this article breaking down the NFC Playoff picture going into week 15 of the season, and how it needs to break for the Redskins to have the best shot at making the post-season!
Hello fellow Redskins fans and playoff scenario geeks! It’s all much simpler now than it was 2 weeks ago when I did this. Only the division matters now.
- If the Redskins win out, they win the division which removes the wild card from any consideration.
- If the Redskins lose even one game that makes it almost mathematically impossible to get a wild card spot.
A 2-1 finish would mean 8-8 and either the Seahawks or Minnesota would have to lose out, Tampa would have to lose once and Atlanta would have to lose twice in that scenario for the Redskins to be a wild card team. So as I have said, only the division matters.
That said, this week shapes up to potentially be a good week for the Redskins. They actually have the most favorable matchup of all 4 NFC East teams. Let’s take a look at each game and examine the playoff impact to each team and how these games affect the Redskins…..
- N.Y. Jets @ Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys still have a pulse, thanks to the Redskins, but they are basically done. The feeding tube needs to be removed, the life support machines need to be turned off. Best case Dallas finishes 7-9 and with Philly and Washington both with 6 wins and playing each other it looks bleak for the Cowboys. The only way I see them making the playoffs is winning out, Philly losing out, Washington beating only Philly and the Giants beating Philly in the finale but losing their other 3 games. Not gonna happen. Throw in the fact that they are facing a Jets team that is in a 3 team scrum for 2 playoff spots in the AFC and I think the stake is driven into the Cowboys heart on Saturday night. - Carolina @ N.Y. Giants
I love the Panthers this year and I would favor them in this game but New York is where undefeated seasons go to die. The Patriots were 18-0 when they lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos went into the Meadowlands at 13-0 in the late 90s and left 13-1 after playing a below average Giants team. I can’t explain it but the Giants just seem to do well in these kinds of game. That said Carolina has won 4 of their last 5 games by at least 17 points. They are rolling and it would be a pretty big upset if the Giants beat them. As I write this the Giants have yet to play their week 14 game against the Dolphins but no one should be shocked if the Giants lose to the Dolphins then beat the Panthers. It’s just who they are. The Giants have the toughest remaining schedule of all NFC East teams (Car, @Min, Phi) and if they lose one of their next two against Miami or Carolina they are likely dead as far as the playoffs go because either Washington or Philadelphia is winning in week 16 since they play each other. - Arizona @ Philadelphia
While the Giants are playing the team most consider the best in the NFL this week the Eagles are playing arguably the 2nd best team. Arizona has an additional 3 days to rest since they played Thursday night last week. Philly deserves credit for winning back to back games that I expected them to lose based on the fact that teams were literally walking into the end zone against them leading up to those games. However it is one thing to beat a wounded Patriots team and an average Bills team that had to be distracted by LeSean McCoy’s antics last week but it is entirely different to beat a Cardinals team that is clicking and healthy having won 7 straight. Even if the Eagles lose this game though they still control their fate because they play the Redskins and Giants in their final 2 games. They can still win the division even with a loss this week. The Eagles are the only other NFC East team besides the Redskins that is assured of winning the division if they win out. - Buffalo @ Washington
If the Giants lose on Monday night the Redskins can still win the division even if they lose this game. Additionally even if the Redskins win this game and both the Eagles and Giants lose this week the Philly game is vital to win the division. If the Giants lose to Miami and Carolina and the Redskins beat Buffalo and Philly the following week believe it or not the Redskins are division champions before week 17 games are even played. Of course the simplest scenario is just to win out. Do that and none of the rest matters.
The Round Robin
Long time listeners to my radio show in Richmond, Virginia would be familiar with the annual round robin. For years the Redskins were perennial basement dwellers in the NFC East. I also noticed the Lions, Rams and Bucs occupied similar annual placement in their divisions. So it seemed the Redskins played these teams every year based on the NFL scheduling formula. As a result myself and co-hosts, Max and Harvey, created the round robin for the series of games played every year by the teams that finish last in the 4 NFC divisions. We actually played it up a lot and made a big deal about it.
Hey, any port in a last place storm.
The Redskins have been participants in 6 of the last 7 round robin’s. This year the lucky participants were the Redskins, Bears, Buccaneers and Rams. With this week’s win the Redskins actually for the first time I can remember swept the round robin rendering the two remaining round robin games meaningless. This Thursday’s Rams-Bucs clash is strictly for round robin pride. The Bears could have grabbed control of the round robin had they beat the Redskins based on their earlier win over the Rams. With the loss the week 16 Bucs-Bears game is also for pride.
Playoff Update for the NFC
Carolina has clinched the NFC South and has a 1st round bye. They clinch #1 seed with a win and an Arizona loss.
Arizona clinches the NFC West with a win this week or a Seattle loss. They clinch a 1st round bye with a win and a Green Bay loss.
Green Bay clinches a playoff spot with a win. Cannot clinch NFC North title this week in any scenario.
Seattle clinches a playoff spot with a win and losses by any 4 of the following teams… WAS, PHI, NYG, ATL, TB.
Minnesota clinches a playoff spot with a win and losses by any 4 of the following teams… WAS, PHI, NYG, ATL, TB.
No other teams have a clinching scenario this week.
San Francisco and Detroit have been eliminated from the playoffs.
Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans and St Louis are eliminated with either a loss this week of wins by both Minnesota and Seattle.
Atlanta is eliminated with both a loss and win by Seattle.
Tampa Bay is eliminated with a loss and wins by Minnesota and Seattle.
N.Y. Giants are eliminated with losses to Miami and Carolina and wins by both Washington and Philadelphia.
Washington and Philadelphia can neither clinch a playoff spot or be eliminated this week.
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