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NFL playoff scenarios: Arizona Cardinals very possibly could face two teams twice each en route to Super Bowl 50

Get familiar with the teams coming up on the schedule. They might be coming back.

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Over the final two weeks of the regular season, the Arizona Cardinals have games considered to be playoff previews. In fact, with how things likely will line up, these games literally could be playoff previews.

If Arizona is to make it to Super Bowl 50, the road might look like this -- Packers, Seahawks, Packers, Seahawks -- in that order. If things go as they should, all four of those games will be at home.

Arizona closes out the season with two home games facing the Packers and the Seahawks. If they beat the Packers, they will lock up the number two seed and a playoff bye.

If things play out with other games they way many expect them, Green Bay will end up winning the NFC North, Seattle will end up with the number five seed and the Minnesota Vikings will round out the NFC.

Green Bay would host the Vikings and the Seahawks would travel to play whichever team wins the NFC East. Assuming Green Bay wins and the Seahawks win (both which will be the expectation nationally), then the Cardinals would host the Packers again and the Seahawks would travel to Carolina. Should the Cardinals beat the Packers again and should the Seahawks defeat the Panthers, then the Seahawks would come back to Arizona.

It is not unreasonable to say the Cardinals will have to beat both the Packers and the Seahawks twice to make it to the Super Bowl. That is not an easy feat in the least.

That would be one heck of a ride. You would certainly have to say the Cardinals earned their spot in the big game.