Visual evidence on playoff scenarios
Posted by on December 29, 2009 – 9:36 amThanks to VP of media relations Mark Dalton, here is a handy-dandy chart sorting out the Cards’ possibilities (and the whole NFC’s possibilities) for the playoff picture:
| Week 17 possibilities | Seed 1 | Seed 2 | Seed 3 | Seed 4 | Seed 5 | Seed 6 | ||
| MIN over NYG | DAL over PHI | AZ over GB | NO | MIN | AZ | DAL | PHI | GB |
| MIN over NYG | DAL over PHI | GB over AZ | NO | MIN | DAL | AZ | GB | PHI |
| MIN over NYG | PHI over DAL | AZ over GB | NO | PHI | MIN | AZ | GB | DAL |
| MIN over NYG | PHI over DAL | GB over AZ | NO | PHI | MIN | AZ | GB | DAL |
| NYG over MIN | PHI over DAL | AZ over GB | NO | PHI | AZ | MIN | GB | DAL |
| NYG over MIN | PHI over DAL | GB over AZ | NO | PHI | MIN | AZ | GB | DAL |
| NYG over MIN | DAL over PHI | AZ over GB | NO | *AZ | DAL | MIN | PHI | GB |
| NYG over MIN | DAL over PHI | GB over AZ | NO | DAL | MIN | AZ | GB | PHI |
Tags: Cowboys, Eagles, Packers, playoffs, Vikings
Posted in Blog | 23 Comments »
By will on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
what does the asterisk next to az mean
By Chuck on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
NOW THAT MAKES SENSE
By darrenurban on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Will –
Just that it would give them a bye.
By Ditship on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
I would think this was all crazy talk about us having the 2nd Seed but then I thought it was crazy talk that I would be sitting in the stands for the NFC Championship against the Eagles last year.
By Ottis Anderson Fan on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
As long as Philly loses, they will be a road team. I don’t think any team wants to travel to the east coast and play Philly outside in January. That’s a big homefield advantage for the Eagles, especially when the other teams (except GB) are dome teams.
No doubt the Cards can beat Philly, but having to beat them in sub-freezing temps (when the Cards are used to the desert) just makes the chore that much harder. Go Dallas!
By Kenny on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
It certainly would be tough to play on the road against the Eagles, but they said the same thing last year about the Panthers.
By Jim robinson on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Ive been a cardinal fan since 1960
By Tut on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
* means bye
By Dave on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
So if the Vikings win, the Packers will come to Arizona again for the Wild Card game – so each team will have reason to play vanilla and rest starters.
But if the Giants win, the Cardinals will have every reason to play all-out, with a #2 or (at worst) #3 seed on the line – while the Packers will STILL have little incentive to win. By winning, they’d just force another game against the Cardinals, while the alternative would be to go to a reeling Vikings team, or a Cowboys team with a reputation for choking in December and January.
…dave
By Joe-B on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Gotta thank the Bears and Jay Cutler for giving us the chance to go for the #2 seed when almost nobody expected them to win.
By WarnerFan13 on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
I think that this looks great Darren, thanks a bunch. The thing I’m excited about is last year and fate. I think it was meant to be so to speak. Hopefully I’m not jinxing it but Vikes lost last night. Dallas has something to prove after last year’s debacle and I think Whiz will consider all of that. Since the Vikes play early I think that outcome will be the key to resting starters and going after the 2 seed. I feel good about our chances this year although I will concede that no one wants to go to Philly and deal with that, but I am confident that our team can show up and take on anyone, anywhere, anytime. I feel great about us and the superbowl this year.
By Joe on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Good job, Mark Dalton. Thats as clear as I’ve seen it presented, but…
correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe a tie game last year by Philly helped to decide the playoff picture and you havent figured in any ties here.
I do understand its too crazy to think about all that, but it is possible the end of this crazy season could get even crazier yet.
By darrenurban on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Joe –
A tie between Dallas and Philly would mess with things, yes. I’m thinking it won’t be a tie. Besides, Donovan McNabb doesn’t believe in them anyway ….
By Tim in NJ on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
If Minn beats NYG- the Cardinals should treat Week 17 as their “bye” week and rest most of their stars. I think they would still get the win as Green Bay will surely be resting their stars as well as they have really NOTHING to play for.
Happy New Year!
~Tim in NJ
By Ottis Anderson Fan on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Dave,
Actually, the Cards can still win the third seed if the do Vikings win their game. Dallas would then need to win and of course, Arizona. In either case, the Packers are going to have to play all of their playoff games on the road.
The dilemma for Whiz is that the Dallas/Philly kickoff is at the same time as the Cards/Packers game. So Whiz will have to decide on just how much he wants to risk injuries and how much of the playbook to pull out to secure a #3 seed instead of a #4 seed. The game is likely going to be touch-and-go with a lot of scoreboard watching. Whiz did say he’d play for the #3 seed though.
I’m sure Whiz is lamenting the decision by the NFL to move the Dallas/Philly game to a late start time.
It’s going to be a very interesting Sunday! I’m just so glad we will be in regardless of the outcome.
By Joe on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Darren -
True dat — I stand corrected. That was hilarious last year — after playing a dozen seasons in the NFL, Donovan still doesnt believe in ties.
By adam gutierrez on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
The cardianls org. should have done somethin special for warner record he set with two teams he has had a very successful career and hasn’t been as recognized as much a favre. With the second touch down this past Sunday the org. Should have stop and recognize him better yet he should have been a standin ovation
By dan "the muscles" on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
The Cardinals should be worried about Playoffs.
The last few week the whole team has looked off.
Yes they won but WR running wrong routes and warner missing ,like I said they look off.
By spitfire772 on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Dan, do you know what you’re talking about? Did you watch the game on Sunday? Also, EVERY team has its issues right now. Saints, Vikings look vulnerable. Cowboys and Eagles are hot, but the Cowboys still can choke in December and the Eagles have a very suspect defense. Cards will be scoreboard watching for the entire game and the Vikes/Giants game at 11:00 A.M.
By spitfire772 on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
I also wanna thank Jay Cutler for FINALLY stepping up and also MR. FUMBLE– Adrian Peterson. He’s a great RB, but I almost saw that fumble coming when Hillenmeyer was trying to punch the ball. He suceeded on the 3rd punch and the Vikes suffered as a result.
By Joe2 on Dec 29, 2009 | Reply
Lets analyze Mark’s chart here a little bit.
Min, Dal, Phi, and AZ all have a lot to play for, especially Dal and Phi cuz they can bounce all the way from 6 seed to 2 seed, but what does Green Bay have to play for? Nothin.
In every scenario where they beat AZ, then they just come right back again a week later to play us.
They have more motivation to lose this game than to win it cuz I think they would rather play Min or Dal rather than to have to beat us two times in a row.
By Mario on Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
Cards do NOT want the #3 seed if Minnesota loses and Philly gets the #2 seed. A second round trip to Philly spells disaster.
By Mark Hay on Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
Comment that Packers will definitely play all their games on the road is wrong. They own tiebreaker over Dallas by virtue of head-to-head win, so if things stay as current, with Dallas NOT the East champ, Dallas is 6 and GB 5, so if they both win 2 games, the Cowboys have to come see us in Lambeau! Maybe not as sweet as knocking Favre out of playoffs ourselves, but if Dallas does that and we can get them, sweet enough.