Wednesday 24 January 2018 18:30, UK
The play-offs begin on Saturday with Wild Card weekend, and Sky Sports has ranked its favourites in the NFC conference.
The Dallas Cowboys secured the No 1 seed and home advantage, while the Atlanta Falcons also booked themselves a bye week, ranking No 2. The Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants claim third and fifth seeds respectively, and the Green Bay Packers finish fourth after a week 17 victory over Detroit, which leaves the Lions in sixth.
It is an extremely tough conference to predict, but Sky Sports believes the Cowboys aren't the strongest team in the conference. Disagree? Get involved @SkySportsNFL on twitter and let us know who should be No 1.
While the bandwagons have been gearing up for the Dallas Cowboys, and the New England Patriots in the AFC, the Falcons are preparing themselves as the team to beat.
Matt Ryan is a favourite for regular season MVP, and with good reason. The quarterback threw 38 touchdown passes, and had a yards per attempt average of 7.91 in every game, an NFL record (previous best was 6.87).
Superstar wide receiver Julio Jones has not put up the numbers since his 300+ yard game in week four, but this is largely due to teams covering him with two - or even three - defenders. That leaves holes for other receivers, as well as the dynamic running back combination of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
The offence has been free-scoring and comfortably heads the NFL in points per game. Defensively, the team continues to improve, led by linebacker Vic Beesley who finished the season as sack leader with 15.5. They were also top five in defensive touchdowns. If Atlanta can stay hot on both sides of the ball, they will be a test for any team.
It has been an astonishing season for the Cowboys, who have assembled one of the best offences in the NFL. However, not even the most positive fan would have given Dallas much hope after quarterback Tony Romo was ruled out during pre-season.
Nevertheless, Dak Prescott stepped up and led his team on an 11-game winning streak and showing all the traits of an NFL QB for years to come. Running back Ezekiel Elliott has shone and wide receiver Dez Bryant continues to make plays, while the offensive line is widely considered the best in the league.
Dallas lead the league in run defence and, despite missing several key players for stretches of the season, maintained a top-five finish for points allowed.
It is possible to beat this team though. The Giants did it twice, as their superstar defence broke down the O-Line and put pressure on Prescott. If anyone is to stop the Cowboys, this is the way to do it.
They didn't qualify until week 17, but the Packers are the NFC's in-form team heading into the post-season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back to his dominant self and that lifts the whole offence.
With Rodgers throwing well, receivers Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams have become the successful tandem in the NFL, with 26 touchdowns between them. The running game, which looked bleak during their four game losing streak, is also now contributing with Ty Montgomery, Christine Michael, and fullback Aaron Ripkowski all contributing.
Green Bay will match up against the Giants in the Wild Card round on Sunday night, and will have to address their problems defending the pass if they are to have any chance of stopping Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.
Offence wins games, but defence wins championships. Like Denver last year, it feels as though the Giants have assembled a defence capable of carrying them all the way to the Super Bowl.
Even without Jason Pierre-Paul, who was injured in week 13, New York have impressed as big-money free agents Oliver Vernon, Damon Harrison and Janoris Jenkins continue to deliver. The Giants have forced 22 turnovers in their last nine games and now must match up against Rodgers and the Packers offence in Green Bay.
What is important for the Giants' play-off hopes is that Eli Manning can get hot. The two-time Super Bowl winner has been sub-par through the regular season, but knows what it takes to win. He is surrounded by talent in Beckham and Shepard, and a running game that is starting to bear fruit at the right time.
If the quarterback can protect the ball and release OBJ to achieve his full potential, New York could be a dark horse to go all the way.
Over the last couple of years, many players would have put Seattle as one of the toughest places to try and win, particularly during the play-offs. However, now it feels as though the fear has gone a little.
The Seahawks tailed off towards the end of the season, losing safety Earl Thomas and wide receiver Tyler Lockett, both to broken legs. The team struggled with injuries throughout the season, and have been unable to show the dominant team they could still be.
With all that said, Seattle will still field a strong title challenge, with the defensive talents of Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett and Bobby Wagner all ready to play for a third Super Bowl in four years.
There is a worrying lack of momentum for a play-off push coming from the Lions, after they limped into the post-season off the back of three defeats, courtesy of a Washington Redskins loss.
They now have to go to Seattle, who are 9-0 at home in the play-offs (a record that stretches back to 2005), and win their first play-off game in 26 years.
On the plus side, Matthew Stafford has played to an MVP standard for much of the season, and cornerback Darius Slay should be back to full fitness to take on Doug Baldwin. If the lions can find a pass rush to pressure Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, they will have an opportunity for a Wild Card upset.
You can watch all the NFL action from Wild Card weekend live on Sky Sports 1. Join Dara, Neil and Jeff on Saturday night from 9pm, and again on Sunday from 5:30pm.
