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Just two games remain in the 2012 regular season, and the suspense continues to build as teams prepare to make their final stretch runs.
NFL-Forecast.com has a tool that allows you to calculate playoff probabilities by simulating different game outcomes. The tool calculates the change in playoff probabilities for each team based on the expected outcome of Sunday's games. Here's what those probabilities look like for the six NFC teams still in contention for a playoff spot.
| Playoff odds based on Week 16 outcomes |
||||||
| Team | Seahawks | Redskins | Giants | Cowboys | Bears | Vikings |
| Current odds | 95% |
72% |
52% |
34% |
24% |
24% |
| Team wins |
100% | 83% | 81% | 39% |
39% |
52% |
| Team loses | 90% | 60% | 24% | 25% |
6% |
15% |
The Seahawks win and they're in. For the Redskins and Cowboys, the decision on who makes the playoffs ultimately comes down to the final regular season game. As a result, their respective playoff odds don't move so much. The Giants need to win both of their remaining games to make the playoffs, which is why their swing in playoff odds is the greatest of all teams in the table above. The Bears and Vikings also both need to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Our panel picks the Ravens over the Giants, thereby ending the Giants postseason ambitions. We'll see how that works out. For now, these are our picks for Week 16, 2012.
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