This week…instead of lining up the winners and losers of each game….I’ll look at what is going on in each conference…break them down into categories….and see who’s got the juice for a postseason run.
NFC DIVISION LEADERS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES [7-1*]
ATLANTA FALCONS [7-2]
ST. LOUIS RAMS [5-4]
GREEN BAY PACKERS [5-4]
The Eagles and Falcons have a nice leg up for both their division races and a first round bye. Philly looks to be the NFC’s best team…but they do have games remaining against the Rams and Packers….as well as at the Giants. Atlanta owns a 3-game lead over the Saints in the South…with their only games against winning teams is next week at home against the Giants and the season finale at Seattle. The Rams and Packers are both in virtual ties for first place….so neither team has a solid grasp. However, Green Bay did beat Minnesota this past week….and St. Louis has beaten Seattle twice already.
WILDCARD TEAMS [5-4 GROUP]
MINNESOTA VIKINGS [5-4]
NEW YORK GIANTS [5-4]
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS [5-4]
Right now, the Hawks and Vikes are tied for division leads…though neither has the tiebreaker. Minnesota is looking forward to the Christmas Eve showdown against the Packers. But, they do have a tough road. They still have the Lions twice, Jaguars, Packers, Seahawks and at a tough Chicago team….before the season finale at Washington. The Giants also have a tough road…with the Falcons, Eagles, Ravens, in Cincinnati and Steelers left on the schedule…plus winnable games against the Skins and Boys. Seattle seems to have the easier road….with games against Buffalo, Miami, Dallas and Arizona…but they do have the Vikings, Jets and Falcons in three straight weeks in December.
WILDCARD HOPEFULS [4-5 GROUP]
ARIZONA CARDINALS [4-5]
CHICAGO BEARS [4-5]
DETROIT LIONS [4-5]
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS [4-5]
If I told you that these four teams would be in the bunch trying to sneak up for a wildcard spot….you’d have me hanged. But, alas, they are right there. New Orleans has a legit shot. They face the Falcons twice and the Broncos at home next week. Other than that…it is Carolina twice, Dallas and Tampa. Detroit and Chicago will have to earn their way in. Both have the Vikings and Packers left on the sked [Detroit has Minny twice]. Both have the Colts…and they have each other. The Bears have to go toJacksonville. Arizona has a tough road, too…with the Lions, Jets, Rams and Seahawks on the slate still.
SEASON: OVER
DALLAS COWBOYS [3-5*]
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS [3-6]
WASHINGTON REDSKINS [3-6]
CAROLINA PANTHERS [2-7]
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS [1-8]
Technically…these teams are alive….logistically they are not. Dallas and San Francisco ’ defenses sucks. The offenses in Tampa and Washington suck. Injuries have just killed Carolina. All would basically have to run the table to get into the postseason….and they all have tough games. How’s this for a remaining schedule: Washington has 7-1 Philadelphia TWICE and 8-1 Pittsburgh once. Not to mention 5-4 Minnesota and 5-4 NY Giants.
SPORTZ NFC PREDICITIONS: The Eagles and Falcons should cruise to division titles and first round byes. St. Louis wins the West with a 10-6 record. That Packers-Vikings winner will win the North and the loser will be the wildcard team. Seattle will slide into the playoffs…since 5 of their last 7 games are at home.
AFC DIVISION LEADERS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS [8-1]
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS [8-1]
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS [6-3]
DENVER BRONCOS [6-3]
Unlike the NFC, the AFC races are a tad more intriguing. While the Steelers and Patriots are tied for the NFL’s top mark…both must face off serious charges from the Ravens and Jets, respectively. New England has the Dolphins and Niners left on their schedule…so signs point to them winning the East. The Steelers have some tough foes remaining…but not an overbearingly tough schedule. Heck, they beat undefeated teams in back-to-back weeks already! The Colts can win the rest of their games…although there are some land mines out there for them. Denver has a pretty simple schedule remaining.
WILDCARD TEAMS
BALTIMORE RAVENS [6-3]
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS [6-3]
NEW YORK JETS [6-3]
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS [6-3]
All four of these teams have a great chance of winning their divisions. The Jags and Chargers are currently tied for the division lead. All have tough schedules remaining. Baltimore’s only road games are in New England, Indy and Pittsburgh. Ouch! They have a stellar defense…but the offense isn’t looking to good. And Jamal Lewis doesn’t look good with Ogden out. San Diego can win the West. If Brees keeps playing like he is and his receivers are getting open….they have a great shot to win. Jacksonville is a pretty good team…but they have Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Green Bay coming up. If Leftwich is gimpy…they may lose a game or two. I’m not as sold on the Jets, however….they may be left out. If you look at their first 9 games…they’ve played Miami twice, Buffalo twice and San Francisco. Here are the Jets final four games: at Pitt, Seattle, New England and at St. Louis. Double ouch!
WILDCARD HOPEFULS
CINCINNATI BENGALS [4-5]
HOUSTON TEXANS [4-5]
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS [3-6]
Houston is the best of this bunch….too bad they play in such a tough division. They have the Colts and Jags left…and they’ll be looking for blood. If Houston can knock those guys off…they do have a shot to make it interesting. Cincy is a hopeful….and a doubtful. Their defense is just too porous to make a nice run at the playoffs. Not to mention they still have to go to Philly and Foxboro. And, yeah, I did put the Chiefs in there despite their 3-6 mark. They have that kind of offense that can make a big run….though unlikely. They have the Chargers twice and Broncos once…so they can get back into the West race. Not to mention easier games against Oakland (twice). But, to do this, they MUST beat the Pats Monday night.
SEASON: OVER
TENNESSEE TITANS [3-6]
CLEVELAND BROWNS [3-6]
BUFFALO BILLS [3-6]
OAKLAND RAIDERS [3-6]
MIAMI DOLPHINS [1-8]
None of these teams have the ability to leap frog the rest of the field to be considered a playoff team. Butch Davis has lost his Browns team. Buffalo has a stretch of 4 of 5 on the road. Oakland will be playing people that are fighting for the postseason. Miami is just hoping the new year gets here soon.
SPORTZ AFC PREDICTIONS: New England will be the top seed because of their remaining sked. Pittsburgh wins the North….Denver the West (just because) and Indianapolis eeks out the South title. San Diego will get one wildcard….Jacksonville, the other.
R.I.P. to the O.D.B.
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