The NFC playoff picture through Week 14

Another week, another win for Big Blue. A 21-3 shellacking of the Vikings at Ford Field - thanks to a deflated Metrodome - gave the Giants three-straight wins.

Good thing, too, because life atop the NFC isn't easy. The Packers are 8-5, one game out in their division ... and in eighth place. The defending Super Bowl champion Saints are sitting at 10-3 ... and could conceivably miss the postseason.

Crazy as it is, though, the 4-9 Cardinals are still IN the race! And yes, this week, we'll give in, and include them in the playoff picture. The Redskins and Vikings, both sitting at 5-8? Sorry, fellas; consider a transplant to the NFC West.

1. Atlanta Falcons 11-2
2. Chicago Bears 9-4
3. Philadelphia Eagles 9-4
4. St. Louis Rams 6-7
5. New Orleans Saints 10-3
6. New York Giants 9-4

On the outside looking in

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-5
Green Bay Packers 8-5
Seattle Seahawks 6-7
San Francisco 49ers 5-8
Arizona Cardinals 4-9

Key games coming up in Week 15

Philadelphia at Giants
Atlanta at Seattle
Green Bay at New England

Remaining schedules for each team

Atlanta

Dec. 19: at Seattle (6-7)
Dec. 27: vs. New Orleans (10-3)
Jan. 2: vs. Carolina (1-12)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 17-22 (.436)

Chicago

Dec. 19: at Minnesota (5-8)
Dec. 23: vs. Jets (9-4)
Jan. 2: at Green Bay (8-5)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 22-17 (.564)

Philadelphia

Dec. 19: at Giants (9-4)
Dec. 26: vs. Minnesota (5-8)
Jan. 2: vs. Dallas (4-9)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 18-21 (.462)

St. Louis

Dec. 19: vs. Kansas City (8-5)
Dec. 26: vs. San Francisco (5-8)
Jan. 2: at Seattle (6-7)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 19-20 (.487)

New Orleans

Dec. 19: at Baltimore (9-4)
Dec. 26: at Atlanta (11-2)
Jan. 2: vs. Tampa Bay (8-5)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 28-11 (.718)

Giants

Dec. 19: vs. Philadelphia (9-4)
Dec. 26: at Green Bay (8-5)
Jan. 2: at Washington (5-8)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 22-17 (.564)

Tampa Bay

Dec. 19: vs. Detroit (3-10)
Dec. 26: vs. Seattle (6-7)
Jan. 2: at New Orleans (10-3)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 19-20 (.487)

Green Bay

Dec. 19: at New England (11-2)
Dec. 26: vs. Giants (9-4)
Jan. 2: vs. Chicago (9-4)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 29-10 (.744)

Seattle

Dec. 19: vs. Atlanta (11-2)
Dec. 26: at Tampa Bay (8-5)
Jan 2: vs. St. Louis (6-7)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 25-14 (.641)

San Francisco

Dec. 16: at San Diego (7-6)
Dec. 26: at St. Louis (6-7)
Jan. 2: vs. Arizona (4-9)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 17-22 (.436)

Arizona

Dec. 19: at Carolina (1-12)
Dec. 25: vs. Dallas (4-9)
Jan. 2: at San Francisco (5-8)
Combined record of remaining opponents: 10-29 (.256)