NFL playoff picture

Dr. Giganto

I know it's not a foregone conclusion yet, but let's just assume Atlanta beats New Orleans/Baton Rouge/San Antonio tonight. I'm going to give my prediction for each team's final record, and where they would fall in the playoff race.

NFC

Division leaders:

1. Seattle Seahawks (11-2)
Remaining games: @ Tennessee (3-10), Indianapolis (13-0), @ Green Bay (3-10)
Projected record: 13-3

2. Chicago Bears (9-4)
Remaining games: Atlanta (8-5), @ Green Bay (3-10), @ Minnesota (7-6)
Projected record: 12-4

3. New York Giants (9-4)
Remaining games: Kansas City (8-5), @ Washington (7-6), @ Oakland (4-9)
Projected record: 11-5

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4)
Remaining games: @ New England (8-5), Atlanta (8-5), New Orleans (3-10)
Projected record: 11-5

Wild Card teams:

5. Carolina Panthers (9-4)
Remaining games: @ New Orleans (3-10), Dallas (8-5), @ Atlanta (8-5)
Projected record: 11-5

6. Dallas Cowboys (8-5)
Remaining games: @ Washington (7-6), @ Carolina (9-4), St. Louis (5-8)
Projected record: 10-6

On the bubble:

7. Minnesota Vikings (8-5)
Remaining games: Pittsburgh (8-5), @ Baltimore (3-10), Chicago (9-4)
Projected record: 9-7

8. Atlanta Falcons (8-5)
Remaining games: @ Chicago (9-4), @ Tampa Bay (9-4), Carolina (9-4)
Projected record: 9-7

9. Washington (7-6)
Remaining games: Dallas (8-5), New York Giants (9-4), @ Philadelphia (5-8)
Projected record: 8-8

So, I see the playoffs ending up exactly as they are right now, with the Bears running the table and picking up the first round bye

AFC

Division leaders:

1. Indianapolis Colts (13-0)
Remaining games: San Diego (8-5), @ Seattle (11-2), Arizona (4-9)
Projected record: 16-0

2. Denver Broncos (10-3)
Remaining games: @ Buffalo (4-9), Oakland (4-9), @ San Diego (8-5)
Projected record: 12-4

3. Cincinnati Bengals (10-3)
Remaining games: @ Detroit (4-9), Buffalo (4-9), @ Kansas City (8-5)
Projected record: 12-4

4. New England Patriots (8-5)
Remaining games: Tampa Bay (9-4), @ New York Jets (3-10), Miami (6-7)
Projected record: 10-6

Wild Card:

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
Remaining games: San Francisco (2-11), @ Houston (1-12), Tennessee (3-10)
Projected record: 12-4

6. Pittsburgh (8-5)
Remaining games: @ Minnesota (8-5), @ Cleveland (4-9), Detroit (4-9)
Projected record: 11-5

7. San Diego Chargers (8-5)
Remaining games: @ Indianapolis (13-0), @ Kansas City (8-5), Denver
Projected record: 9-7

8. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)
Remaining games: @ New York Giants (9-4), San Diego (8-5), Cincinnati (10-3)
Projected record: 11-5

9. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
Remaining games: New York Jets (3-10), Tennessee Titans (3-10), @ New England (8-5)
Projected record: 8-8

So, I think Indy, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and KC will all run the table, with KC then winning the tie-breaker over Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot, although they have a tough schedule. Still, they have two home games, where they are very tough to beat, and a road game against the Giants, who are certainly beatable

My playoff predictions:

First round:

Dallas Cowboys defeat New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals defeat Kansas City Chiefs
New England Patriots defeat Jacksonville Jaguars

Second round:

Seattle Seahawks defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dallas Cowboys defeat Chicago Bears
Indianapolis Colts defeat New England Patriots
Denver Broncos defeat Cincinnati Bengals

Conference championship games:

Seattle Seahawks defeat Dallas Cowboys
Indianapolis Colts defeat Denver Broncos

Super Bowl: Indianapolis Colts defeat Seattle Seahawks.

AudioSavior

I mostly agree but I think it would be a boring Superbowl.

Freak

How in the world would that be a boring Super Bowl? Right now, Seattle and Indy have a combined record of 24-2.

Seattle is the only NFC team that could pose even the slightest challenge for the Colts in the Super Bowl, and that's coming from someone who DETESTS the Seahawks.

AudioSavior

Have you seen any of their games? lol

Freak

Who, the Seahawks?

How about every single fucking one of their games? That's why I hate them; I have to watch them play every week, in a division with Arizona and San Francisco.

Don't get all smart.

AudioSavior

Sorry to hear that. I hate watching them play and only seen 2 games lol. Dallas games have been nothing but nail bitters. Lastnights was the best so far,down to the final 2 seconds.

DMW

I would rather see Carolina or Chicago in the Superbowl, but an Indi/Seattle Superbowl would still be fun to watch.

Freak

CHICAGO?

Have you lost your MIND?

I understand the appeal of watching Indy's offense versus Chicago's defense, but the Chicago Bears offense is not worth ANYBODY's time. Especially against the Colts' defense. That game wouldn't even be close.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

I agree with Freak. Chicago's D just got eaten up on the ground for about 200 yards against the Steelers. Now, while I think the Bears defense is good, it's certainly not great. That's been proven.

To be fair, I don't think the Seahawks could come close to the Colts either. I haven't seen as much Hawks ball as Freak, but I've seen enough. The Colts would score at least 30-35 on Seattle and I don't think Seattle would be able to match it.

Colts will have their toughest challenge against New England. Why? Because in a huge spot the Colts will be tight against that club. I think they'll get over it and win fairly comfortably in the 2nd half but they'll be scared shittless for the first 30 minutes.

Freak

The AFC playoffs should be a lot of fun to watch this year. I'm a sucker for Indianapolis and love watching them play anybody, but there are a number of strong teams in the conference. Cincinnati is an obvious example here, and New England does the playoffs like nobody else, then there are three very strong teams in the AFC West. I'm not huge on Jacksonville or Pittsburgh right now.

The NFC, on the other hand, is a bit of a joke. Blitz, I never said Seattle was a great team, I just think they're by far the cream of the NFC crop.