NFL Playoff Predictions

NFL Playoff Predictions 

AFC Playoff Picture and Predictions

Almost 3/4 through the NFL Season, the playoff picture is really starting to form. At the halfway point, I had the Jets and Raiders in as wild card teams. Both have gone 1-3 in their last 4 games, the Raiders lone victory was over the Jets. Both teams are technically still in it because just about every team in the AFC is still "in it," but I don't think either team will make it after their previous performances.

The team I like most to grab a wild card spot is Kansas City. They throttled San Diego, and have won 4 straight including a thumping of the Broncos in Denver. I thought their season was in serious doubt after the major injury to Jamal Charles and losing 5 straight, but they have come back strong and control their own destiny to the playoffs. They won't play an opponent over .500 for the remainder of their schedule as well. I am going to say the Chiefs will be in.

I am afraid to put the Steelers in as the last wild card team even though they are 6-4 right now. They could very easily be 6-8 after their next 4 games. If they can manage to win 1 of their next 4 games, I think they can make the playoffs at 9-7, but if not, I think they will just miss the cut at 8-8. They hold the tie-breaker over the Raiders if they were to tie, but I don't know how it would go against the Bills, Jets or Texans.

That said, I think the Bills will finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs as well. The only way I see them making it in is if they beat Houston and finish 9-7. Their schedule is too hard to analyze if they will make it in or not. As for the Texans, I think they can win their division or go in as the last wild card team. All but one of their remaining games are winnable, besides the Patriots. They play the Colts in Indianapolis one more time and finish with 2 division games against the Titans and at home against the Jags to finish the regular season. My conclusion to all the AFC teams in the hunt is that whoever finishes 9-7 among the teams will be in the playoffs.

The top 3 teams are set. Cincinnati and Denver will play each other to most likely determine who will get the #2 seed. Indianapolis should be able to hold off Houston to win their division, but I wouldn't bet on that especially with a backup QB as their starter for the rest of the season.

NFC Playoff Picture and Predictions

Arizona is getting better and better. I think they will be the hardest team to beat in the NFC. Even though the Panthers are undefeated and Cam Newton is playing like the MVP of the league, it's hard to trust a team that is very banged up. Carolina has a very big test this week in Dallas against a team that has a small chance of making the playoffs and just got their star QB back. I think this the week the Panthers lose their undefeated status. They will still probably be the 1 or 2 seed for the playoffs, but I don't think they will go undefeated.

Like the AFC, the #2 and #3 spot will be up for grabs between the Packers and Cardinals. They play each other in week 16 in AZ. I think that will be one of the best games of the year with home-field advantage rights on the line. This game will almost directly result in home-field advantage when the 2 teams will most likely meet each other again just 3 weeks later. So not only will the winner get a bye in the first round of the playoffs, the loser will have to play an extra wild card game and then be on the road. This game is very important. The Cardinals are looking like the best team in the NFC though, coming off back to back gutsy wins over the Seahawks in Seattle and the 2nd best AFC team, the Bengals. Everyone should be afraid of these guys. They might just make the Super Bowl.

The NFL East automatic-bid is really anybody's at the moment. Just when I thought Philadelphia was going to take a big lead in the division, they lose 2 straight games against two inferior Florida teams that have no business beating them in Philadelphia. You can't make this up. If they lose to the Lions on Thanksgiving, it will be the end of the Chip Kelly era. You can mark my words on that. Heck, I'll even say that if the Eagles miss the playoffs, which is looking like they will as the season goes on, Chip Kelly is done after this season. He will receive an "F" on his science project and get bounced out of the NFL and back in to college football.

With the Eagles taking a back seat to the Giants, New York is in complete control of their playoff hopes. Both teams have tough schedules remaining which will make their week 17 showdown in New York worth all the marbles. Unless by some miracle that Washington or Dallas can take the division, this division will come down to the last game of the year. Washington could take this division as well, but I don't think they will even with their next 2 games being at home against division opponents. The only way that the Cowboys make the playoffs is if they win out, which is nearly impossible.

The NFC wild card race is heating up. With Atlanta losing again, their playoff hopes look in jeopardy as they keep losing. This is bold, but the Saints could knock out the Falcons for the last wild card spot. They have 3 divisional games and 3 non-divisional games that are very winnable. If the Saints can go 5-1 and beat Atlanta in Atlanta in week 17, then they will be in the playoffs. It's no easy task as they play at the red hot Texans this Sunday and host Carolina in 2 weeks, but I think they are capable of it.

The Vikings (7-3) who are right now the 5th seed and hold a wild card spot, have a grueling next 3 games. Their next 3 games are @ +Atlanta Falcons, home against the Seahawks, @ +Arizona Cardinals. Like I said in my previous post, if the Vikings can go 2-2 over the 4 game stretch (including the Green Bay Game) I think they will be a lock as a wild card team. 2 of the games are against the top 2 other teams in position to grab a wild card spot (Atlanta & Seattle). Win those games and you're basically in and will knock the opponents out. Lose them and the hike gets really steep because they will lose a head to head tiebreaker and will be behind in record. The bottom line for the Vikings is that if they win 1/3 of these next 2 games and then beat Chicago and NY, they will make it at 10-6. They could even luck out and get a half-full Packers team in Week 17 if the top 3 seeds are already set and Green Bay has no incentive to play other than pride. Doubtful, but it's plausible. If the Vikings can grab the #5 seed and play the NFC East champion for the first round of the playoffs, I think we could see the Vikings in the second round of the playoffs.

The Seahawks playoff hopes are really in jeopardy after losing to the Cardinals in Seattle. Their next 2 games against the Steelers and on the road against the Vikings will ultimately determine this team's destiny. Win 2 and they are in very good position the make the wild card, lose one and they are done. The final 2 spots are really between MN, Atlanta, and Seattle, maybe New Orleans. Seattle is in the worst position, but has the most least-difficult games in my opinion. Minnesota has the best position but has the hardest remaining schedule. Atlanta is in as of now and doesn't have the hardest schedule, but does play Carolina twice and has been on a down fall. It's hard to tell who will emerge and luckily for us the fans, we will get these 3 teams play each other minus (Atlanta-Seattle).

I guess you can say the Buccaneers have a chance as well considering they are 5-5 and have pulled some wins out of nowhere and have surpassed everyone's expectations. Who knows what could happen with them. I'll bet they watch the playoffs from home though.

Is it crazy to say that the worst division in the NFL, the AFC South will have 2 playoff teams?

With all the above said I will give my playoff seeding.

AFC Playoffs

1. New England Patriots

2. Denver Broncos

3. Cincinnati Bengals

4. Indianapolis Colts

5. Kansas City Chiefs

6. Houston Texans

NFC Playoffs

1. Carolina Panthers

2. Arizona Cardinals

3. Green Bay Packers

4. New York Giants

5. Minnesota Vikings

6. Atlanta Falcons

With the above stated, I think Arizona will beat Green Bay in Arizona for the #2 seed in the NFC and I think Denver will beat Cincinnati in Denver for the #2 seed in the AFC.

I really, really don't want to see the Seattle Seahawks in the #6 spot.

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