NFC Playoffs Schedule: Atlanta Falcons Travel to Arizona Cardinals while Minnesota Vikings Host Philadelphia Eagles

With Week 17 of the NFL season in the books the NFC playoff schedule is now set with postseason action getting started this weekend.

On Saturday the Atlanta Falcons (11-5) will travel to face the Arizona Cardinals (9-7) with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m. ET. The Falcons were 4-4 on the road this year while the Cardinals posted a 6-2 mark at home.

The Falcons are one of the biggest surprises of the NFL season after posting a 4-12 mark one year ago. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan has stepped in and looked like a veteran while wide receiver Roddy White has put together a career-year. Offseason signee Michael Turner has been one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL and the defense has managed to keep the Falcons in just about every game this year.

Arizona started the season 7-3 and wrapped up the NFC West early but they dropped four of their next five before ending the year with a win over the Seattle Seahawks. Kurt Warner has seen his career resurrected and he can thank the wide receiving duo of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald for that, all three will be playing in the Pro Bowl at the end of the year. Arizona managed to beat just two teams with a winning record (Miami and Dallas) and only Miami is a playoff team. In contrast Atlanta beat four teams with a winning record and three playoff teams.

On Sunday the NFC wildcard weekend will continue with the Minnesota Vikings (10-6) will host the Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Vikings were 6-2 at home this year while the Eagles went 3-4-1 on the road.

Minnesota locked up the NFC North on Sunday after Ryan Longwell connected on a 50-yard field goal to beat the NY Giants in the closing seconds. The Vikings have relied on a shut-down defense all year while their offense has been sporadic. Of course they have the NFL’s leading rusher in Adrian Peterson but he has been fumble prone over the past few weeks. They have been pleasantly surprised by Tarvaris Jackson who has stepped back into the starting role after an early season benching and Bernard Berrian has been a huge addition at wide receiver. Minnesota started the year at 3-4 and looked buried early but then they rattled off six wins in seven games to climb back into the playoff picture and sealed the deal against the Giants on Sunday.

The Eagles are flying high after becoming the most unlikely club to make the playoffs. Everything bounced Philadelphia’s way on Sunday with the Bears and Bucs losing and then they pounded the Dallas Cowboys. Donovan McNabb appears to be clicking on all cylinders and Brian Westbrook continues his role as the do-everything back. Philadelphia’s defense has been impressive over the past few weeks and they’ll need to step up to the challenge of stopping Peterson on Sunday.

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