NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

FOR USE AS DESIRED  

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION,
NFC-N-16 11/30/04  

CONTACT: MICHAEL SIGNORA (212/450-2076)

NFC PLAYOFF RACES TIGHT AS TEAMS SPRINT TO FINISH

The birds are flying high in the National Football Conference.

The Philadelphia Eagles have clinched the NFC East. The NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons can join them as division champions with a win or tie this Sunday. And in the NFC North and West, things are still way too close to call.

"Winning the NFC South was our goal," says Falcons quarterback MICHAEL VICK, who has led Atlanta to victory in 11 of his last 13 starts. "But we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We wanted to beat New Orleans last Sunday to put ourselves in a better position, and now all of our focus is on getting a win this week against Tampa Bay."

Seven teams in the NFC are within one game of .500 or better entering the final five weeks of the season. The Seattle Seahawks have the toughest remaining schedule of the contenders, facing opponents with a combined 32-23 (.582) mark.

Following is the remaining strength of schedule for the seven NFC teams within one game of .500 or better:

NFC EAST

TEAM PHILADELPHIA (10-1) * N.Y. GIANTS (5-6)
OPP. RECORD 24-31 (.436) 29-26 (.527)
WEEK 13 Green Bay (7-4) at Washington (3-8)
WEEK 14 at Washington (3-8) at Baltimore (7-4)
WEEK 15 Dallas (4-7) Pittsburgh (10-1)
WEEK 16 at St. Louis (5-6) at Cincinnati (5-6)
WEEK 17 Cincinnati (5-6) Dallas (4-7)

* Clinched division championship

NFC NORTH

TEAM GREEN BAY (7-4) MINNESOTA (7-4)
OPP. RECORD 31-24 (.564) 24-31 (.436)
WEEK 13 at Philadelphia (10-1) at Chicago (4-7)
WEEK 14 Detroit (4-7) Seattle (6-5)
WEEK 15 Jacksonville (6-5) at Detroit (4-7)
WEEK 16 at Minnesota (7-4) Green Bay (7-4)
WEEK 17 at Chicago (4-7) at Washington (3-8)

NFC SOUTH

TEAM ATLANTA (9-2)
OPP. RECORD 22-33 (.400)
WEEK 13 at Tampa Bay (4-7)
WEEK 14 Oakland (4-7)
WEEK 15 Carolina (4-7)
WEEK 16 at New Orleans (4-7)
WEEK 17 at Seattle (6-5)

NFC WEST

TEAM SEATTLE (6-5) ST. LOUIS (5-6)
OPP. RECORD 32-23 (.582) 27-28 (.491)
WEEK 13 Dallas (4-7) San Francisco (1-10)
WEEK 14 At Minnesota (7-4) at Carolina (4-7)
WEEK 15 At NY Jets (8-3) at Arizona (4-7)
WEEK 16 Arizona (4-7) Philadelphia (10-1)
WEEK 17 Atlanta (9-2) NY Jets (8-3)