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A16 SPortS
Thursday 10 december 2020
Surging NFC East might offer solid playoff threat after all

13 victory over San Francis-
co on Nov. 15 with broken
ribs and a collapsed lung.
New Orleans has won nine
straight games since a 1-2
start.
Atlanta (4-8) has been bet-
ter since getting buried by
a 0-5 start that included
the firing of coach Dan
Quinn. Carolina (4-8) has
been without star running
back Christian McCaffrey
for nine games because of
ankle and shoulder injuries
in coach Matt Rhule's first
season.
NFC WEST
It's still the NFC's best divi-
sion, but the struggles of
the Seahawks and Cardi-
nals have changed things
some.
The Los Angeles Rams have
won three out of four to
get even atop the NFC
West with Seattle, which is
3-4 since the first 5-0 start in
franchise history.
New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates with linebacker Tae Crowder (48) after Williams sacked Seattle
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (not shown) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. The Rams have the tie-
Associated Press breaker at the moment by
virtue of their 23-16 victory
By SCHUYLER DIXON where were we going, and Jones expected to rest his last of the seven playoff over the Seahawks, so their
AP Pro Football Writer really our mindset here is injured hamstring another spots in the NFC right now rematch in the second-
The NFC East suddenly just go back to work ev- week, Colt McCoy should with a big opportunity to to-last week of the season
doesn't look so bad, with ery week, and that's what get the nod again after put a tighter grip on that looms large. If Seattle wins
the New York Giants and we're going to do this week beating Seattle for just his spot if they can beat Tom on Dec. 27, the subsequent
Washington tied for the di- as well," first-year Giants second win in his eighth Brady at Tampa Bay on tiebreakers of division re-
vision lead coming off road coach Joe Judge said. start since 2014. Sunday. cords and records with oth-
victories against teams that A division-by-division look Washington is on its third New Orleans is also on the er common opponents are
qualify for the conversation at the NFC playoff race go- quarterback in former start- schedule, so Minnesota a tossup right now.
about the Super Bowl. ing into the final quarter of er Alex Smith, playing for could be looking at must With three consecutive
The Giants, who beat Se- the season: the first time in two years wins against division rivals losses and four in the past
attle on Sunday, control NFC EAST after a career-threatening Chicago and Detroit, the five games, Kyler Murray
their fate because they Hopes are fading for Dal- leg injury. Smith has Wash- two NFC North teams with and the Cardinals (6-6)
swept Washington, and las and Philadelphia after ington on a three-game losing records at the mo- suddenly find themselves
they could become the first entering the season as the winning streak, capped ment. as the first team out of the
team to make the playoffs teams that figured to battle by a drive to a tiebreaking The Bears (5-7) have lost six playoff picture, losing at
after starting 1-7. Washing- for the NFC East title. They field goal late against the in a row since a 5-1 start, the moment to the Vikings
ton is also 5-7 after handing have one win between Steelers. putting Matt Nagy on the on the common opponent
Pittsburgh its first loss Mon- them since the Eagles beat Dallas (3-9) was all but re- coaching hot seat after tiebreaker.
day night. the Cowboys on Nov. 1. moved from the conversa- the Lions (5-7) already fired San Francisco, the defend-
Those were the first two Philadelphia (3-8-1) doesn't tion with its sixth loss in sev- Matt Patricia. ing NFC champion, hasn't
victories over opponents have it easy trying to end en games, 34-17 at Balti- NFC SOUTH been able to dig out of last
with winning records this a four-game losing streak more on Tuesday night. The What looked like a duel be- place in the difficult division
season for the only division and is making a bold move Cowboys have the worst tween the Brady-led Buc- the past two months. An
in the NFL without a win- in that effort by benching record in the NFC, and the caneers and Drew Brees' uplifting win over the Rams
ning team. But the NFC quarterback Carson Wen- most realistic path to the Saints for the division title two weeks ago was fol-
East winner will get a home tz in favor of rookie Jalen playoffs would be tying the — and possibly that lone lowed by a decisive loss to
game in the first round of Hurts. Giants at the top with a first-round bye — has fad- Buffalo on Monday night.
the playoffs, expanded by The Eagles play the Saints season sweep of New York, ed with three losses in four The game was moved to
one team in each confer- at home Sunday, then visit their opponent in the finale. games by Tampa Bay (7-5). Arizona because of coro-
ence. The altered format Arizona to finish what could NFC NORTH Meanwhile, the division navirus restrictions in the
also means just one first- be a five-game stretch Green Bay (9-3) has a lead for the Saints (10-2) 49ers' home county.
round bye, currently held against teams with winning three-game lead over Min- has grown to three games While the 49ers (5-7) aren't
by New Orleans (10-2), the records if the Cardinals nesota with four to go and because they're doing the completely out of the race,
only NFC team to clinch a beat the Giants on Sunday. is currently the No. 2 seed in same thing they did last they'll need help to avoid
postseason berth so far. New York's four-game win- the NFC. year: win without Brees. being the second straight
"I had a lot of questions ning streak is its longest Three of the Packers' up- Teddy Bridgewater went NFC champ to miss the
obviously early in the year since 2016, the last time the coming opponents cur- 5-0 a year ago, and Taysom playoffs the next season. It
about things like confi- Giants made the playoffs. rently have losing records. Hill has won his first three happened to LA last year.
dence on the team and With quarterback Daniel The Vikings (6-6) hold the starts since Brees left a 27- q