Sizing up the NFC

I hate to look past Dallas at this point, because if we don't win, we're probably not in, and then all this discussion will be for naught. But if we do get in, check out our chances in this NFC field:

Tampa Bay is 5-0 against the NFC South this year. They're 4-6 against everybody else. Kind of obvious that the biggest reason they're headed to the playoffs is their weak division. Plus, we totally had them on their field this year.

Seattle is 5-1 against the NFC West this year, but only 5-4 against everyone else. Again, only a solid team playing in a weak division.

The New York Giants are not the same team now that went on the six-game winning streak to jump out to a 6-2 start. We showed that by pounding them 22-10 in their house. Coughlin's career is starting to look like a poor-man's Marty Schottenheimer career. Strong regular season, wilts down the stretch and in the playoffs.

The Green Bay Packers are definitely a formidable team, and we'd have to play them in Lambeau where they hold a huge homefield advantage. But we almost beat them this season, in Green Bay. And we're built to be a cold-weather team. We can run, and we can stop the run now.

The Dallas Cowboys are the most complete team in the NFC, it seems to me. If Owens is healthy, our secondary would have its hands full. Last time we played them, Owens torched us for multiple big plays. Except now GW will have a chance to use his adjusted scheme, with Landry playing free safety. Against Dallas the first go-round, GW had not yet adjusted his secondary scheme and TO went off. I doubt he lets Owens do that again. And with these Dallas/Washington games, the teams both get up for the fight. Though a healthy Cowboys squad probably has us outmatched, we would give them a game, and I'd take our coaching staff in a battle of wits over the Dallas staff.

So we're not in the playoffs yet, but can't you see a scenario here in which we could be playing in the Super Bowl, with the way we're playing right now? One tough stat for us is the fact that since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, only one team has won the Super Bowl with a 10-6 record during the regular season (1988 49ers, and they had someone named Montana). And we're not even 10-6, we're a 9-7 team if we beat Dallas on Sunday. Only one team has even made the Super Bowl with a 9-7 record (1979 LA Rams). They lost to the Steelers. So based on history, the odds of making it at 9-7 are long indeed.

But it has happened. Let's get in, and then dare to dream!

If we don't lose anymore key players to injury and make the playoffs we can play with any of them and beat them. Our intangible is our coaching staff. We had GB and Dallas on the ropes, we beat ourself s in those games.

I hate to look past Dallas at this point, because if we don't win, we're probably not in, and then all this discussion will be for naught. But if we do get in, check out our chances in this NFC field:

Tampa Bay is 5-0 against the NFC South this year. They're 4-6 against everybody else. Kind of obvious that the biggest reason they're headed to the playoffs is their weak division. Plus, we totally had them on their field this year.

Seattle is 5-1 against the NFC West this year, but only 5-4 against everyone else. Again, only a solid team playing in a weak division.

The New York Giants are not the same team now that went on the six-game winning streak to jump out to a 6-2 start. We showed that by pounding them 22-10 in their house. Coughlin's career is starting to look like a poor-man's Marty Schottenheimer career. Strong regular season, wilts down the stretch and in the playoffs.

The Green Bay Packers are definitely a formidable team, and we'd have to play them in Lambeau where they hold a huge homefield advantage. But we almost beat them this season, in Green Bay. And we're built to be a cold-weather team. We can run, and we can stop the run now.

The Dallas Cowboys are the most complete team in the NFC, it seems to me. If Owens is healthy, our secondary would have its hands full. Last time we played them, Owens torched us for multiple big plays. Except now GW will have a chance to use his adjusted scheme, with Landry playing free safety. Against Dallas the first go-round, GW had not yet adjusted his secondary scheme and TO went off. I doubt he lets Owens do that again. And with these Dallas/Washington games, the teams both get up for the fight. Though a healthy Cowboys squad probably has us outmatched, we would give them a game, and I'd take our coaching staff in a battle of wits over the Dallas staff.

So we're not in the playoffs yet, but can't you see a scenario here in which we could be playing in the Super Bowl, with the way we're playing right now? One tough stat for us is the fact that since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, only one team has won the Super Bowl with a 10-6 record during the regular season (1988 49ers, and they had someone named Montana). And we're not even 10-6, we're a 9-7 team if we beat Dallas on Sunday. Only one team has even made the Super Bowl with a 9-7 record (1979 LA Rams). They lost to the Steelers. So based on history, the odds of making it at 9-7 are long indeed.

But it has happened. Let's get in, and then dare to dream!

That would be awesome - I would say as long as injuries don't continue to mount - especially if Collins went down we have a shot in every game. I think you hit the point that in the NFC it is wide open and as long as you don't have to go through New England or Indianapolis you have a shot to get to the big game.

Schneed, correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Oakland Raiders were 9-7 when they Philly in the Super Bowl. Too lazy to look it up right now.

Anyway, I've pondered the same thing about the possible scenerios that could land us in the Super Bowl or at the very least playing for the NFC championship.

As far as Green Bay goes, I think they actually got a little better since we last played them. Their running game has improved some.

My only worry about Seattle is playing them in Seattle. They have been excellent at home during the Holmgren Administration. Their defense is 5th in points allowed (16.5) and are ranked 14th overall. However, they've only played 2 playoff bound teams (W v. Tampa, L at Pittsburgh), and play in an incredibly weak NFC West. They are vulnerable.

...correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Oakland Raiders were 9-7 when they Philly in the Super Bowl. Too lazy to look it up right now.
Oakland was 11-5 that season (1980)

Schneed, correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Oakland Raiders were 9-7 when they Philly in the Super Bowl. Too lazy to look it up right now.

Anyway, I've pondered the same thing about the possible scenerios that could land us in the Super Bowl or at the very least playing for the NFC championship.

As far as Green Bay goes, I think they actually got a little better since we last played them. Their running game has improved some.

No, the Raiders were 11-5 that year when they beat the Eagles. I was looking at this page on Pro Football Reference (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/), real handy summary of all the Super Bowl teams.

Yeah Green Bay is a better running team now than they were back then. But if we can shut down Minnesota, I think we can shut down GB. Of course Favre/Driver/Jennings are much better through the air than Minnesota. GB would be a challenge, but I think we can run on them with more success than we did earlier this year. We'd probably go 3 yards and a cloud for most of the game, and then wear them down in the end.

No, the Raiders were 11-5 that year when they beat the Eagles. I was looking at this page on Pro Football Reference (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/), real handy summary of all the Super Bowl teams.

Yeah Green Bay is a better running team now than they were back then. But if we can shut down Minnesota, I think we can shut down GB. Of course Favre/Driver/Jennings are much better through the air than Minnesota. GB would be a challenge, but I think we can run on them with more success than we did earlier this year. We'd probably go 3 yards and a cloud for most of the game, and then wear them down in the end.

Good point, if we shut down Minni then we should be able to handle the Pack. I guess it's worth pointing out that our defenes has tightened up a little since then too.

For some reason, I thought Oakland was a wild card team one year they went to the Super Bowl - I'm losing it.

It is not necessarily measureable, but surly exists.
These Skins are playing with Fire, Emotion, like a "team" with the KILLER instinct they seemed to lack early on

It is not necessarily measureable, but surly exists.
These Skins are playing with Fire, Emotion, like a "team" with the KILLER instinct they seemed to lack early on

I read in the Post that Portis and Moss are much more vocal in the locker room since Sean's passing. Appearantly everyone has noticed it.