With every weekend, the playoff qualifications get more difficult to follow. So make sure you’re 1) sitting down, 2) fully hydrated and 3) not looking for San Diego in this chart. Sorry, they’re toast.
NFC East
Philadelphia can clinch a playoff berth with a win, or with a tie and losses or ties by the Packers and the Saints.
NFC South
Carolina clinches the division with a win and a Saints loss.
NFC West
St. Louis can earn a playoff berth with a win and a Saints loss or tie, or with a tie and a Green Bay loss or tie and a New Orleans loss.
AFC East
New England wins the division with a win; they earn a playoff berth with a tie and a Cincinnati loss and a Denver loss or tie, or a tie and a Ravens loss and a Broncos loss or tie.
AFC West
Kansas City wins the division with a win or tie; they can earn a playoff berth if Colts or Dolphins lose.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL (If you read slowly)
– Cincinnati’s untouchable Jon Kitna is the only QB in the NFL to take every one of his team’s snaps.
– Good news: Colts RB Edgerrin James is 177 yards away from 1,000 yards. Bad news: The Titan’s have the NFL’s
No. 1 rush defense. Worse News: The Titans haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 26 straight home games. Check and mate.
– It’s a QB showdown as Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper (94.6 passer rating) and Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck (94.2 passing rating) rank as the AFC’s top-rated passers. Let’s see if they act like it.
Mandatory Bears item
As required by the Federal Bears Coverage Act of 1986.
In the 23 years that rookie Brock Forsey has been alive, the Bears have had eight players rush for 100 yards. If you can name them all, you are one knowledgeable freakazoid. Walter Payton (too easy), Neal Anderson (little tougher), Raymont Harris (a sleeper), Anthony Thomas (well, of course), Lewis Tillman (twice, even), Brad Muster (hello!), Rashaan Salaam (ouch), and … Matt Suhey. Overall, the Bears have had players crack 100 yards in 31 games against the Packers.
