The NFL season has picked up steam. Most teams have had their bye weeks, and are now focused on making the playoffs—and are trying to beat any team that stands in their way.
Division Leaders
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 3-5-1
Next game: November 22nd @ Cleveland
Normally, a 3-5-1 record would be good for close to last place in an NFL division. But this is not just any NFL division. This is the NFC East, where the Philadelphia Eagles are in prime position to take the division, with a one-game lead over the 3-7 New York Giants. Even still, Philadelphia has a rough schedule coming up, with games against the Packers and Seahawks within the next three weeks. That being said, as long as they win three or four of their next games, they should be division champs.
NFC North: Green Bay Packers
Record: 7-2
Next game: November 22nd @ Indianapolis
After a close win against the Jaguars combined with a Chicago loss, Green Bay widened their division lead over the field to 2.5 games. While anything is possible in the NFL, this division so far looks to be the most out of reach for teams not named the Packers. A victory in the November 29th division matchup against the Bears, who are in second place at 5-5, could put the division away for good.
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
Record: 7-3
Next game: November 22nd vs. Atlanta
In contrast to the one-horse race NFC North, the division-leading Saints actually hold a precarious 0.5 game lead over the second-place team, Tampa Bay. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest that the division lead could change hands every week, and expect the Saints to be on upset alert as they play the Falcons, a team with a high powered offense coming off a bye week. Not only that, but New Orleans has lost Drew Brees under center, as the Hall of Fame QB is sidelined a few weeks due to chest issues. The NFC South may be the most exciting playoff race in the coming weeks.
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and LA Rams
Record: 6-3
Speaking of close division races, how about the NFC West? Three teams are tied at the top at 6-3. Even the last team, the 49ers, are only 2.5 games behind at 4-6. The division could have a leader this coming week, however, as Arizona and Seattle play each other on Thursday Night Football at CenturyLink Field. Meanwhile, the Rams play another team vying for the top spot in their division, as they face off against the Buccaneers on the 22nd. This race could (and probably will) come down to Week 17, where the three teams play division opponents once again.
In The Hunt
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0.5 Games Back
Despite not leading their division, Tampa Bay is in a great spot. They are only half a game back of New Orleans, who are now forced to start former Bucs QB, Jameis Winston, for the foreseeable future. While the Bucs were walloped by the Saints the last time they played, and they have to face the Rams and Chiefs in the coming weeks, their schedule after that does not contain a single team with a winning record. It appears as if once again, Tom Brady will make the playoffs.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
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