Tuesday, December 20, 2011

NFL Play-off Picture Coming Into Focus

Here are some questions that still need to be answered going into Week 16 of the NFL Regular Season:

1)  Can anyone take the crown from the Packers?

So far the Packers have been the clear best team in the NFL.  But, last week they finally slipped up against a less than prolific Chiefs squad that is fighting to finish at .500.  Has the grind of the regular season and trying to go undefeated gotten to the defending champs?  Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain.   The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC goes through Lambeau Field.

2)  Who wants the NFC East?

In a season where the Eagles were huge preseason favorites to win the division, the NFC East has been one of the most unpredictable divisions in football.  After a quick start, the Redskins have fallen on hard times until a recent win at the Giants.  The Cowboys have shown flashes of dominance, along with as many collapses.  And the Giants have battled injuries and inconsistent effort each week to hang around the division lead all season.  Eagles can still win the division if they beat Dallas and the Giants lose to the Jets.  But, I see the Giants defeating the Jets and setting up a winner take all matchup with the Cowboys at Met Life Stadium in Week 17.

3)  Who winds up with the top pick in the draft?

In a season that has seen the Colts struggle and Peyton Manning receive consideration for the MVP without playing a down all year, the easy money is on the Colts receiving the first pick in the 2012 draft. However, after their first win against a solid Tennessee squad, it doesn't look as obvious that Indy will be picking first.  With Minnesota and St. Louis both sitting at 2-12, the last two weeks will be just as intriguing for who makes the play-offs as it will for who gets the option to draft Andrew Luck.  I still see the Colts finishing with the worst record, and in doing so we have seen the last of Peyton Manning in a Colts uniform.

4)  Who wants the AFC West?

Similar to the NFC East, this division has been up for grabs.  San Diego started hot, then lost six in a row, but have now started to show life.  Denver turned to Tim Tebow and have won six of his eight starts.  The Raiders and Chiefs can win or lose to any team in the league.  Which sets up a possibility that any of the four teams can make the play-offs.  I'm going with Denver.

5)  Sleeper teams to keep an eye on.

Lately it seems that it isn't the team with the best record that makes it to the Super Bowl, but the team that is on the biggest roll going into the play-offs that have the advantage.  Who could those sleeper teams be this year?  New Orleans and New England have both won six games in a row and are coming off big wins.  As far as potential wild card contenders go, San Diego, Atlanta, and Detroit have the best chances of turning a late season run into something bigger.  Atlanta can build its momentum by winning at New Orleans this coming Monday Night.  Detroit still has a game with Green Bay to get it going, and San Diego has two road games to finish out their season.

Predictions:

AFC Division Winners:  New England, Baltimore, Denver, Houston
AFC Wild Cards:  Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
NFC Division Winners:  Dallas, Green Bay, San Francisco, New Orleans
NFC Wild Cards:  Detroit, Atlanta

AFC Championship:  New England over Pittsburgh
NFC Championship:  Green Bay over New Orleans

Super Bowl:  Green Bay over New England

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