Here’s how the playoff seeding would look if the season ended this week…

AFC Wild Card - January 9th & 10th

#6 Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) at #3 Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) 

This could prove to be an interesting matchup in the wild card round, especially if the good Jaguars team we’ve seen at times this season shows up in Cincinnati. The Bengals, on the other hand, have to be disappointed that they’re playing this weekend, but a trip to the playoffs is always better than none.

#5 Denver Broncos (8-4) at #4 New England Patriots (7-5)

I can only imagine the joy on the part of the league if this scenario plays out, as we’d get to see Josh McDaniels square off against his mentor Bill Belichick once again this season. Maybe this time they’ll shake hands at the end.

NFC Wild Card - January 9th & 10th

#6 Green Bay Packers (8-4) at #3 Arizona Cardinals (8-4)

Both of these teams have been on a roll as late, so a match up between the two would be interesting to say the least. That said, the Packers would be hard pressed to win a game like this on the road, especially if they can’t fix their O-line in the near future.

#5 Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)  at #4 Dallas Cowboys (8-4)

Every year we seem to get a NFC East showdown remixed in the playoffs, and this game definitely wouldn’t disappoint given the amount of animosity shown in the past. The Cowboys always seem to play down when they get to games like this, so they wouldn’t be all that happy about drawing the Eagles here.

AFC Divisional Round – January 16th & 17th

Wild card winner (Highest seed) at #2 San Diego Chargers (9-3)

This game could feature a third contest against Broncos or a grudge match with the Patriots in San Diego, but in the end it will likely be a track meet between the Chargers and the Bengals.

Wild card winner (Lowest seed) at #1 Indianapolis Colts (12-0)

The Colts would love for the Jaguars to pull off an upset in the wild card round, mostly because they’d get to play a team they know very well from their own division. But a showdown with Patriots or the Broncos is far more likely, and the NFL will benefit from the excitement a game like that will bring.

NFC Divisional Round – January 16th & 17th

Wild Card winner (Highest seed) at #2 Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

The game that most people would be pulling for would be a third showdown between Brett Favre and his old friends in Green Bay, but if the seeds hold true, that wouldn’t be a possibility, as the #6 seed Packers would travel to New Orleans instead.

Wild Card winner (Lowest seed) at #1 New Orleans Saints (12-0)

A match up with the Packers would be intriguing, but we’re far more likely to see the Saints take on the Cowboys or the Eagles at this point, and both games would bring their fair share of fireworks to be sure.

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