Coming into Week 17, there was only one NFC Wild Card spot up for grabs. The Minnesota Vikings, with their new $84 million quarterback Kirk Cousins, could win at a home against the Chicago Bears and secure their spot. If they lost, then it would open the door for the Philadelphia Eagles to make a return to the postseason. The Vikings controlled their destiny so, of course, they blew it and the NFC field was officially set at around 7:30 p.m. EST.
Here’s the NFC bracket for the upcoming weekend.
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (-2.5, O/U: 43)
Both these teams entered the final week of the season with pretty much nothing to play for and both found themselves in battles for pride.
Related: NFL Betting | Wild Card Weekend Odds
The Seahawks, win or lose, were a Wild Card team and still decided to go all-in against the Arizona Cardinals. A challenge which the Cardinals, and head coach Steve Wilks, in his final game as head coach, accepted. Four quarters later, Seattle had won 27-24.
The Cowboys did, at least, sit Ezekiel Elliott in their season finale against the New York Giants. But they still played to win and picked up that 10th victory. The Giants didn’t make it easy as Dallas won 36-35.
Now these two bruised and battered teams have to face each other on not even a full week of rest.
Toss out the stats, Russell Wilson hit a new level of play this year. There are, at present, only seven legitimate franchise quarterbacks in the NFL and he’s one of them. The fact that he and Pete Carroll willed this undermanned team to the playoffs should not be overlooked. Aaron Rodgers couldn’t do it in Green Bay. Wilson did it in Seattle.
The Cowboys are bringing the second best defense to the NFC playoffs and an offense that they can finally know how to use. Seemingly, Jason Garrett’s head is off the chopping block, but an embarrassing showing here, at home, could change that quick.
With Elliott on the field and Dallas at home, it’s just too much to ask for Seattle to keep this train moving.
Pick: Cowboys -2.5
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (-6, O/U: 41)
While the Cowboys and Seahawks played for nothing Sunday, the Bears and Eagles both had playoff spots or positioning on the line. Neither had any trouble closing it out.
Philadelphia downed the pathetic husk of the Washington Redskins, 24-0, and got their ticket punched to the playoffs thanks to the Bears delivering a franchise-defining smackdown to the Minnesota Vikings, 24-10.
The Eagles roll into the playoffs just as healthy as they were last year when they won it all and are riding the same quarterback, Nick Foles. They’ve won three straight and five of their last six, including a huge victory over the Los Angeles Rams three weeks ago that made this whole playoff run possible.
Chicago can also point at a victory over those same Rams as a moment where their playoff future split wide open. There was little doubt early on the Bears would win the NFC North and make the postseason. Beating the Rams showed they were a real contender. They’ve won four straight and eight of their last nine.
This may turn out to be the best game of the weekend. I like the Bears to win, but don’t see the Eagles making it easy. Foles can’t be underestimated in the playoffs after what he pulled off last season.
Pick: Eagles +6
