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The Arizona Cardinals locked up a postseason berth on Thursday night. Now they sit and watch games on Sunday. It means Cardinals fans have to watch everyone else on a Sunday. With the state of the NFC, there are a few games that will impact the playoff race. Here are the games that matter most and which teams Cardinals fans should root for.
Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens
Seattle has been playing very well again, but we don't have to like it. This is an easy decision. ALWAYS ROOT AGAINST THE SEAHAWKS! This week there is even more of a reason to do so. If the Seahawks lose to Baltimore or the game ends in a tie, the Cardinals clinch a division championship. A loss also puts them at 7-6, which puts them on the postseason bubble. What is even better than winning the NFC West? Seeing the Seahawks not even make the postseason.
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
This seems like a hopeless game, but who knows? Strange things happen in the NFL. This will pain those who have been Cardinals fans since their days in NFC East, but it is more beneficial for the Cardinals to have the Cowboys win. That would put the Packers in a tie for first in the NFC North, even though they would hold a tie break over the Vikings for now. Why root forthe Cowboys? Well, because the Cardinals have beaten the Vikings and cannot finish behind them in the NFC standings, it is better for the Cardinals to have the Vikings win that division. That gives the Cardinals a guaranteed wild card weekend bye. Even though the hate is strong in the Red Sea for the Cowboys, they are not real rivals anymore. It doesn't hurt to root for them when it is good for the Cardinals.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are the only team in the NFC ahead of the Cardinals. Arizona needs to pass them to get to the top seed. But the Panthers have to lose! That means we are Falcons fans today, even if that feels like a hopeless proposition.
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This game matters very little to the Cardinals, but fans should root for Tampa. Why? It would improve them to 7-6. If the Seahawks lose, they would also be 7-6. I am proposing rooting for anyone who could pass up Seattle and keep the "12s" at home this postseason.