Deja Vu, all over again?

If the playoffs were to start today, I know, all bets are off during the last two weeks of the season, but an interesting scenario is evolving. The NFC playoff participants seem more in place than the AFC with New Orleans, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Arizona atop their respective divisions. Dallas and Green Bay appear to be locks for the wildcard spots. With New Orleans and Minnesota heading towards an apparent first round bye, week 17 will make for some interesting positioning for the last 4 teams likely to extend their seasons into January. Dallas hosts Philadelphia in the final week of the season and Green Bay travels to Arizona.

With Arizona and the winner of the NFC East getting the #3 and #4 seeds, week 17 games will set up a virtual rematch for the wildcard round of playoff games. I can remember in the past a team finishing the season and then playing them the next week in the playoffs, however, I can't ever recall 2 teams finishing the season only to face the same opponent the first week of the playoffs.

This lays out the groundwork for very fascinating football the last week of the year.