What is so messy about the NFC playoff picture?

If there was anything messy about the NFC playoff picture it less so today. Let's check on the standings:

In the South, New Orleans now holds a 5 game lead over their next closest competitor. The Saints get week 12 off. They will have 2 weeks to prep for the New England Patriots, who have to come down to the Super Dome. Boy is that Dome going to be rockin'! The Saints could mathematically clinch their division with a huge victory over the Patriots. This game would show they are more than worthy to take on the Colts in the Super Bowl.

In the North, the #2 seed Vikings continue to hold a 3 game lead with just 6 games remaining. It will take them longer than the Saints to clinch, but not much longer.

In the West, the Cardinals just improved their lead to 3 games over the 4-6 49ers. Don't sweat the injury to Kurt Warner. He looked fine. They just didn't want to risk him. The Cards could be clinching the West pretty soon. Maybe as soon as 3 weeks.

This leaves us with the Cowboys, who maintain the shortest lead in the bunch: Just 1 game. They also have the Giants and the Eagles to contend with. Expect both the G-Men and Eagles to win those wildcard births. Green Bay continues to sputter.

There's nothing messy about the NFC Playoff picture

So I just heard a report on the NFL network that my caused my skin to crawl. Tom Waddle said that the NFC playoff picture is extremely messy. Come again? Repeat that please?

Let's see, Arizona holds a 2 game lead on the 49ers in the West and they are about to play my Rams. Nothing messy their. Cardinals are in control in the West.

New Orleans has a 4 game lead in the South. There is nothing messy about that. The question is how soon will they clinch.

Minnesota holds a 3 game lead in the North. Can anybody tell me why that is messy?

Dallas holds a 1 game lead in the East. Now, the East is somewhat questionable because of the extreme inconsistency of the citizens who dwell their. I figure somebody has to win this division. I still reckon Dallas is the best of the breed, and they also happen to hold a 1 game lead. Not too terribly messy.

Now the two wildcard slots... heheheh... well that is totally unclear. However, let me pose this question to you: When was the last time you saw Wildcards decided by midseason? Maybe 1986 when the Giants finished 14-2 and the Redskins were 13-3. Even then, the 2nd Wildcard was not decided until my Rams took it.

There is no reason to complain about the NFC playoff picture. It is a hell of a lot more clear cut now than it was last season.