Live discussion: Analyzing the NFL playoff picture

This week’s Monday edition of our NFL Google+ hangout -- “NFL Slam with Mark and Sam,” starring Times NFL columnist Sam Farmer and Mark Thompson of “Mark and Brian” radio fame -- will start at 11:30 a.m. today on this blog post and will cover a host of topics.

One topic will include the NFL playoffs. As Farmer wrote earlier this week,

“The Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers lost on the road, both blowing opportunities for first-round playoff byes.

“Indianapolis beat Houston, 28-16, and the Vikings edged the Packers, 37-34, to earn the final playoff spot in the NFC.

“Swooping in to secure those No. 2 seedings — which come with a week off — were San Francisco in the NFC and New England in the AFC.

“The top seedings are Atlanta in the NFC and Denver in the AFC.

“The Vikings’ victory secured a first-round rematch Saturday night with Green Bay, this time at Lambeau Field.

“The playoffs open Saturday with Cincinnati at Houston. On Sunday, Indianapolis plays at Baltimore, followed by Seattle at Washington.

“The Redskins clinched the NFC East on Sunday night with a 28-18 victory over Dallas in a winner-take-all game. The Redskins won the division title for the first time since 1999, and are the first team since the 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars to make the playoffs after losing six of its first nine games.

“That means the first round will feature a record three rookie quarterbacks: the Colts’ Andrew Luck, and — in the same game — the Redskins’ Robert Griffin III and the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson.”

“NFL Slam with Mark and Sam” is usually held every Monday and Friday at 11:30 a.m. You can watch it on this blog post. If you have questions for Mark and Sam, email them to [email protected] and we will try to get them answered live during the chat.

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