NFC Playoff Predictions

After running through our AFC predictions up to the AFC Championship game, it’s time to take Matt Miller’s NFC regular season predictions into prime time. Here is how the seeding broke down in the NFC:
1. New Orleans Saints (14-2): NFC South Champs; head-to-head victory over Vikings
2. Minnesota Vikings (14-2): NFC North Champs
3. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4): NFC East Champs by virtue of better division record than Cowboys
4. Seattle Seahawks (11-5): NFC West Champs
5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4): 2nd place, NFC East; top NFC Wild Card
6. New York Giants (9-7): 3rd place, NFC East; lower wild card
In total, the three teams on this list who didn’t make the playoffs last year are the three teams in the top seeds. The Saints finished 7-9 last season, and the Vikings and Eagles both finished at 8-8. This season, they combine for just eight losses. Here is how the playoffs might look from this field of teams:
Wild Card Round:
Philadelphia Eagles (3) lose to New York Giants (6): The defending Super Bowl champs once again slide into the playoffs, but they won’t duck out so quickly. With a still fierce pass rush, the shaky Philadelphia line will have trouble protecting Donovan McNabb. This game would showcase a lot of young talent, though, and it could be a new great divisional rivalry in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks (4) lose to Dallas Cowboys (5): The Cowboys are not a bad team at the five seed, they just are stuck in a stacked division. The Seahawks, on the other hand, are in one of the least competitive divisions in the NFL. Tony Romo will have to finally get over his playoff jitters, and with the help of 20 carries from Marion Barber III and a vastly improved secondary, he will. The Cowboys have too much talent, and the Seahawks lose their last game with coach Holmgren.
Divisional Round:
New Orleans Saints (1) defeat New York Giants (6): The Saints improved defense is enough to take the Giants out of the playoffs. In what would feature two of the best running back tandems in the game, McCallister-Bush and Jacobs-Bradshaw, the edge goes to the offensive firepower of the Drew Brees-led Saints.
Minnesota Vikings (2) lose to Dallas Cowboys (5): The Vikings are the surprise team of this season, led on the ground by first-year star Adrian Peterson. The Cowboys have a fierce front seven on defense and one of the best offensive lines in football, so they have the ability to neutralize the strengths of the Vikings. With a ball-hawking secondary, Tarvaris Jackson could be in for a rough day.
NFC Championship Game:
New Orleans Saints (1) lose to Dallas Cowboys (5): This would be an exciting playoff game featuring two of the best quarterbacks in the game in Romo and Brees. They both lead awesome aerial attacks that are supplemented by strong running games. The Cowboys, however, have the ability to apply pressure to the quarterback and have valuable, talented depth in the secondary. In an offensive onslaught, the Cowboys make it back to the Super Bowl.
So the Mocking the Draft Super Bowl will feature the Dallas Cowboys versus the Indianapolis Colts in Tampa. Check back in a few days to see who takes home the Lombardi trophy.