NFC Playoff Picture
The NFC playoff picture is only half-painted as of the end of Week 15. Green Bay, New Orleans and San Francisco, who have won the North, South and West, respectively, are the only three NFC teams that have clinched playoff spots. Atlanta (9-5) and Detroit (9-5) are currently the fifth and sixth seeds, but both must win out to keep themselves in as the Wild Cards in the NFC.
Here is the current NFC playoff picture:
#1 Green Bay 13-1 (NFC North champs)
#2 New Orleans 11-3 (NFC South champs)
#3 San Francisco 11-3 (NFC West champs)
#4 Dallas 8-6
>>Cowboys host Eagles in Week 16 and are at the Giants in Week 17. If the Cowboys win out, they'll keep the #4 seed with a 10-6 record, knocking both the Eagles and Giants completely out of playoff contention.
#5 Atlanta 9-5 have sealed up the fifth seed with their convincing 41-14 win over the Jaguars last Thursday.
#6 Detroit 9-5
>>The Lions all but have their playoff fate decided. They made a big push toward their first playoff berth since 1999 on Sunday with a comeback win at Oakland, 28-27. It was a much-needed road win for Detroit. Just to be safe, Detroit needs to at least get a Week 16 win over San Diego at home. A Week 17 win at Green Bay isn't fully out of the question, but a loss would give the Lions a 10-6 mark and solidify the #6 seed and a first round playoff matchup at San Francisco.
Others vying for NFC Wild Card playoff spots...
Seattle Seahawks (7-7): The Seahawks helped themselves and hindered the Chicago Bears' chances at a Wild Card with their dominating 38-14 road win at Soldier Field in Chicago. Detroit would have to lose out to the Chargers and Packers to allow Seattle to slip in as the #6 seed. Pete Carroll's club would have to win at home vs. the 49ers this week (Week 16) and a Week 17 win on the road at Arizona. They could upset San Fran this weekend and possibly get a big W at Arizona to close out the regular season.
Chicago Bears (7-7): The last four weeks have really put the Bears in a position where they more than likely will not make the 2011 playoffs. By losing at Oakland (25-20), to Kansas City at home (10-3), at Denver (13-10 in overtime) and to Seattle at home 38-14, Chicago is one of four teams on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in. Jay Cutler's injury to his thumb on his throwing hand, forcing backup Caleb Hanie to start, has really put the Bears in a bind offensively. He's a mediocre backup who could really use Matt Forte not being sidelined with a season-ending injury as well.
New York Giants (7-7): The Giants could be in a good spot or find themselves in the same situation that the Bears are, on the outside looking in. Coughlin's boys are 1-4 in their last five games, losing to Philly, the Saints, Packers, beating the Cowboys on the road and losing Week 16 at home to Washington 23-10. The pressure was sure on New York with Dallas winning on the road at Tampa Bay 38-15 Saturday. Eli Manning has really played his heart out this whole season, but it might be pushed to the wayside and forgotten about if the Giants lose to the Jets at "home" this Sunday and/or win at home over Dallas in Week 17. The only advantage that they have here is that both games are technically at home, since they share Met Life Stadium with the New York Jets, formerly known as The Meadowlands.
Arizona Cardinals (7-7): The Cardinals have snuck up on the Wild Card fight, but might have a tough chance to have a fighting chance. This Saturday, on Christmas Eve, Arizona hits the road for a playoff-type test, playing AFC Wild Card-hopeful Cincinnati. In their final regular season game, they'll try to keep Seattle out of the Wild Card hunt, hosting the Seahawks. The only chance that Arizona has to be the 6-seed in the NFC playoffs is winning their final two regular season games and Detroit, Chicago, Seattle and the Giants all losing their final two games. I just honestly don't see all four of those teams losing out and the Cardinals sneaking in, especially with John Skelton under center, despite him having a 4-1 record as a starter in place of injured Kevin Kolb.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8): I can't believe that they're even talking about the Eagles' playoff chances, but because of what happened Sunday with the Giants losing, Philadelphia has been thrown into the playoff mix talks. At 6-8, they're more of a far cry, but there are some scenarios that could help bump them into the playoffs, shocking the football world, after the 3-6 start that they've had so far. This week they head to Dallas and will try to steal a game from the Cowboys. Week 17, they'll host the Redskins, who aren't about to allow the Eagles to enter the playoffs in this manner. But, like I said above, it is more than likely not going to happen for Andy Reid's team. Even if they beat Dallas this week and Dallas loses at the Giants, New York would have to lose this Saturday to the Jets.
It can still happen, but chances are looking dim, but time will tell and we'll know this weekend a little better idea of what's going on with the NFC.
How I think the NFC playoff picture will look:
1- Green Bay Packers (15-1)
2- New Orleans Saints (13-3)
3- San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
4- New York Giants (9-7)**
5- Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
6- Dallas Cowboys (9-7)**
**I predict that Dallas will beat the Eagles and Giants will beat the Jets in Week 16 and I also think that the Giants will take the NFC East in Week 17 with a home win over the Cowboys.
The AFC Playoff Picture
It didn't seem like it for most of the season, but New England will most likely finish the regular season at 13-3 and the one-seed in the AFC playoffs. Baltimore just swapped Pittsburgh seeds after the Steelers' Monday Night Football embarassment at San Francisco 20-3 evened both at 10-4. Baltimore holds the tie-breaker over Pittsburgh by sweeping the season series. Houston won its first ever AFC South division title with a 10-4 record. They'll face Indianapolis this Thursday on the road in prime time and host Tennessee in Week 17 to try and finish a perfect 6-0 in the division. Currently, Denver leads the AFC West with an 8-6 record, but that could very well change in the final two weeks of the regular season. That all said, the first five playoff spots are taken and it's going to be a dogfight for the sixth, literally.
Here is the current AFC playoff picture:
#1 New England 13-3 (AFC East champs)
#2 Baltimore Ravens 10-4 (lead AFC North)
#3 Houston Texans 10-4 (AFC South champs)
#4 Denver Broncos 8-6 (lead AFC West)
#5 Pittsburgh Steelers 10-4
#6 New York Jets 8-6 (wins tiebreaker over Bengals, because of better win % in common games)
>>The Jets control their playoff destiny, but that is one of the more cliche` phrases at this time of the year and it is the honest truth. The have a tough home game against the Giants, whom they share their stadium with in New Jersey. It's a game that could go either way. I think they'll lose this game, but win Week 17 at Miami, in what I consider a "trap game" and a tough road test for Rex Ryan's squad. Miami could play the spoiler role and beat the Jets. There's no reason why this can't happen to the Jets. The Dolphins have won three of five, including two wins over Buffalo and a key win over playoff-hopeful Oakland. My take on the Jets: they will back into the playoffs with a 9-7 record, losing this week to the Giants and winning on the road at Miami.
Other vying for AFC Wild Card playoff spots...
Cincinnati Bengals (8-6): The Bengals would have to beat a surging Arizona Cardinal team this Saturday and AFC North leader Baltimore at home Week 17. This won't be an easy task at all. John Skelton has a record of 4-1 in the Cardinals' last five games. Baltimore is reeling just a little bit with their surprising 34-14 drubbing at upbeat San Diego this past week. The Ravens will probably take out their frustrations on the Browns at home this week and clinch the AFC North for sure Week 17 at Cincinnati, keeping the Bengals out of playoff contention.
Tennessee Titans (7-7): The Titans could have lost out on their chances at at Wild Card spot this past weekend. The Indianapolis Colts shocked the football world by earning their first victory of the season over Tennessee 27-13 Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. They had an outside chance before this loss to the one-win Colts, but now those thoughts are dwindling away. There's a small chance for a Wild Card berth with wins in their final two games vs. Jacksonville and at Houston. The Texans have already clinched the North, but would probably rather keep the Titans out of the playoffs really.
Oakland Raiders (7-7): Oakland could have also played itself out of playoff contention, like the Titans, with their loss at home Sunday to Detroit, 28-27. Like every other team that is trying to make the playoffs, the Raiders are going to be throwing the kitchen sink at their final two opponents of 2011. They head to Kansas City for a big road test this week and host San Diego the following week. The Chiefs spoiled the Green Bay Packers' quest for a perfect season with their 19-14 win at home vs. the World Champion Packers. KC might still have that spoiler mentality this week when Oakland comes to Arrowhead. I honestly seed the Raiders finishing 8-8 and out of the playoffs. Carson Palmer is good, but he came to the team a little too late to totally change the offensive and overall dynamic of the great, late Al Davis' storied franchise.
San Diego Chargers (7-7): Norv Turner is literally coaching for his job every week. His Chargers are 3-2 in the past five games, including winners of three straight at Jacksonville, at home against Buffalo and thwarting the Ravens 34-14 this past Sunday night. It might not be too late to have the playoff push that they're having. Phillip Rivers is the QB of my fantasy football team that will probably win the playoffs for me and the league as a whole. Granted, it has very little to do with Rivers' success trying to guide his team into the postseason, but it was worth giving my fantasy football team a little plug.
Kansas City Chiefs (6-8): The Chiefs are the last team that people expected to end the Green Bay Packers' 19-game winning streak. They didn't care on Sunday and it showed on Sunday with a 19-14 upset of Green Bay and their perfect season. Incoming, are the talks of Kansas City still being in the hunt for the playoffs...WHAT??? There are still some big factors that would have to help the Chiefs stun the NFL and make the playoffs. All they have to do is win at home against Oakland this week and win Week 17 at Denver and AFC West-leading Tim Tebow's Broncos. Tough task? You bet! Will they do it? It's very possible, but it would take a pretty good two game span from newly starting QB Kyle Orton. Orton is new to the Chiefs' system, but not new to winning, as he went 21-12 with the Bears from 2005-08. He waasn't so good in Denver with a 12-21 stint in two-plus season. He's 1-0 in Kansas City and that one win was against the formerly 13-0 Packers...
Here is how I think the AFC playoff picture will look...
1- New England Patriots (13-3)
2- Baltimore Ravens (12-4)**
3- Houston Texans (11-5)
4- Denver Broncos (9-7)
5- Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)**
6- New York Jets (9-7)
**Baltimore won the season series over Pittsburgh, which propelled them from the fifth to second seed.
As much as I'm not a fan of Tim Tebow, all he has to do is win at Buffalo and at home versus Kansas City. Yes, two tough games, despite those teams' records, but if he can win one of those games, they're in the playoffs and the media treats him more like the hero that he already is to the city of Denver.
Check back to my blog the first week in January for more on the NFL playoffs and how I'll pick those to come out.
