2021 NFC Kayfabe and Political Rankings

Did the AFC last night, because this was an NFC matchup.

Here's the kayfabe situation in the NFC:

East:  Cowboys (7-3), 2 1/2 over the Eagles

North:  Green Bay (8-3), 2 1/2 over the Vikings

South:  Tampa Bay (7-3), 2 over the Saints

West:  Arizona (9-2), 1 1/2 over the Rams

Break the TB-DAL tie for #3:  TB beat DAL Week 1.

Now you have a mess at 5-5 for the last two wildcards.

Minnesota, New Orleans, and San Francisco are all 5-5.

Minnesota plays SF next week, but has not played New Orleans.  SF doesn't play New Orleans either.

Conference records:  MIN 4-2, NO 4-4, SF 4-4

NO vs. SF for the 7:  Common games?  Nope, only three.

So the Strength of Victory numbers:  NO:  .558 vs. SF .343 (UGH!!!)

1. ARI
2. GB
3. TB
4. DAL
5. LAR (7-3)
6. MIN (5-5, Conference tiebreaker)
7. NO (5-5, Strength of Victory)

NO @ GB (boy would that be convenient!)

MIN @ TB (ditto)

LAR @ DAL (would this not make Goodell cream for an NFC wild-card schedule?)

Politicals:

1.  Tampa Bay

But not necessarily because they're looking that strong -- losing to the Izzies will do that to you!!  That said, this is more on the basis of a strong win over a jobber team tonight, as well as a LOT of press seeming to be given to the Patriots on the other side of the ledger.  Nothing is sacred or very strong this season -- one Antonio Brown confirmed-fake COVID vaccination can kill most of this by 4 o'clock tomorrow... -- but it's the best we have.

2.  Arizona

Really don't wanna put em here, but the fact is that, barring much else (especially if the situation in Dallas is deteriorating), the NFL might actually be putting Arizona in as a fall-back plan if, for whatever reason, the Tom Bradys don't pan out!

3.  Dallas

Losses in two of your last three, and the only reason I include you at all (and don't include Green Bay at the moment) is because, unlike the COVID-12 Liar, there's no real discernible reason outside maybe CeeDee Lamb and his fine record.

4.  New Orleans

You honestly don't think, if that matchup above happens in the Wild Card Weekend that Green Bay isn't going home hardcore???

DUD OF THE WEEK

NOMINEES

GREEN BAY:  I think you are getting a reality check regarding the league and who is really running the show...  Look, I get it:  You don't wanna lose your third NFC Championship Game in a row here.  The only way that's not happening, though, is if you don't get there.

NEW YORK GIANTS:  At least make it look like you want to try.

WINNERS: 

THE ATLANTA FALCONS AND THEIR FANS:  

OOF.  The only reason, at first glance, you might've skated on being the winners outright is that it does appear that the league is beginning to strap a rocket-ship on the Patriots here.  But both the on-field and the attendance Thursday night were UGLY.  One look at that crowd before kickoff was all you needed to know as to the relevance of the Atlanta Falcons at this point and juncture!

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Interesting stat, and it might be one of the reasons the league is letting the on-field product go rancid.

With the NFC #7 5-5, only four teams (Giants, Bears, Seahawks, and Lions) are outside one game short of a playoff spot -- and, with seven weeks to go, only the Lions are outside of two.

AFC:  With the AFC #7 at 6-4, the only difference (still only four teams outside one game (Dolphins, Jaguars, Texans, and Jets) is that only one of the four is within two.

This means that, with 14 playoff teams this year, 24 of the 32 teams are within one game of the playoffs with 7 weeks to go -- and 28 are within two!

This works for the league two ways:  One, it allows them to be flexible with the booking if they need to be.  Two, it allows the league to pump the false hope which fans like UrinatingTree can let consume them whole...