Richard predicts Dallas, San Francisco and Seattle to win...
Thursday 25 December 2014 08:46, UK
Sky Sports News' Richard Graves previews the weekend's NFC action and gives his predictions for the next round of games...
It's a winner-takes-all clash in the Georgia Dome for the NFC South title and a place in the playoffs. This is a big ask for a Panthers team who are shaky in the secondary and will have to contain the dual threat of WRs Julio Jones and Roddy White.
The Falcons will have to guard against the playmaking ability of Carolina QB Cam Newton. He seemed to be moving freely against Cleveland despite suffering a double fracture in his back just two weeks ago.
In this season's previous meeting, the Falcons edged the Panthers 19-17. Now back on home turf, expect the Falcons to claim their place in the post-season.
Pick: Atlanta Falcons
On paper this should be the game of the week , the winner takes the NFC North title and a first-round bye. For the loser there is a wild-card game on the road waiting.
The Packers’ passing game just hasn't been as sharp as we've come to expect in recent weeks but what they do have is a running game. Eddie Lacy finished with 99 yards on the ground and a TD in last week’s win over the Bucs, and that's likely to prove a decisive factor.
The Lions are the second ranked defensive unit in the NFL, they are second in points allowed (16.8) and lead the league in rushing yards allowed (63.8). The problem is, this onc-explosive offence with weapons like Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and Reggie Bush has barely sparked, let alone fired.
In the cold outdoors at Lambeau Field, with home-field advantage in the post-season on the line, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will surely find a way to tame the Lions!
Pick: Green Bay Packers
The Bears are 5-10 in the division and without doubt there will be changes in the organisation this off-season. The question remains whether QB Jay Cutler will stay or whether the man who gave him the $126m contract, general manager Phil Emery, will keep his job.
All-round the Vikings are a better team now than the one which took to the field in Week 1, despite the off-field distractions involving star RB Adrian Peterson. They are altogether a more cohesive unit than the Bears.
Pick: Minnesota Vikings
What an anti-climax December has been for the Philadelphia Eagles! Following their Thanksgiving Day rout of the Cowboys, they were the favourites to win the NFC East, with some even tipping them to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. But three straight defeats have followed. Philadelphia have been deficient at quarterback – before he was injured, Nick Foles was turning the ball over but still winning games. Mark Sanchez has thrown game-killing interceptions.
A little bizarrely, the Giants are finishing the season well and Odell Beckham Jr has been integral to that. He's now scored 11 touchdowns this season and passed 1100 receiving yards.
Of course the Meadowlands is a stadium Mark Sanchez knows well and the Eagles won 27-0 in a reverse fixture blowout earlier this year. That embarrassment is likely to be used as motivation for the Giants, combined with Beckham's white-hot form.
Pick: New York Giants
The Saints’ season certainly hasn't lived up to the pre-season hype and head coach Sean Payton has promised changes. You wonder how they'll respond in the season finale.
Tampa Bay's year has been even worse. With only two wins all season, it's been a rougher ride than new head coach Lovie Smith could have anticipated. The prospect of claiming New Orleans' scalp heading into the off-season won’t be enough of an incentive.
Pick: New Orleans Saints
The Dallas Cowboys have been accused of capitulating in December in previous years but are now 3-0 this month. It's a record which has given them the NFC East title and the third seed in the playoffs. There is a slim possibility of gaining a first-round bye but for that to happen, they need to win and Seattle and Arizona must lose.
The Redskins’ season has been disappointing but they can still lay claim to beating the Cowboys in Dallas and playing a major role in the Eagles' failure to make the playoffs. Expect the Redskins to blitz Tony Romo as they did so successfully in their last meeting.
It would be a surprise if we saw a lot of RB DeMarco Murray as he continues his recovery from hand surgery. Murray needs just 29 more yards to break Emmitt Smith's Cowboys single-season rushing record.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys
The Arizona Cardinals are limping over the line after third-string QB Ryan Lindley endured a torrid night in Seattle. He completed just 18 of 44 passing attempts for 216 yards in the loss on Sunday night and although he was only intercepted once, the Seahawks shut down Arizona's offense and as a result they will turn to rookie QB Logan Thomas this week.
With head coach Jim Harbaugh expected to leave at the end of the season, the 49ers are in danger of finishing the year with a losing record – quite a contrast with three straight post-season appearances.
The 49ers are ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing and 31st in passing, averaging just 191 yards per game. Against a rookie QB though, the 49ers defence should have a feast! A victory would be a fitting send off for a coach which has transformed the culture in San Francisco.
Pick: San Fransisco 49ers
The defending Super Bowl champions have hit form at exactly the right stage of the season, putting together a five-game winning streak.
Once again the Seahawks have the league's No 1 ranked defence. They're first in points allowed (16.5), first in pass defence (268.6) and third in run defence (84.1). Add to that the dual incentive of avenging a shock defeat earlier this year in St Louis as well as securing the top seed in the playoffs, and the momentum seems to be with Seattle right now.
The Rams are an improving team but that inconsistency is something which needs to be addressed in the off season. First, they must travel to Seattle and put their 25th-ranked offence against a Seahawks team which has given up just 33 points in their last five games. It appears to be a complete mismatch.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks
