Playoff push...
Just saying...
Bills at 5-6 now, here's their last 5 opponents:
Dolphins, Browns, Bengals, 49ers, and Steelers. 9-7 seems a guarantee. 10-6 might be enough for playoffs. They're the hot team now, especially in "spoiler" role. Any takers for them sweeping? Seems unlikely they'll make that last wild card berth, until you look at other teams's schedule who are in the running.
Consider:
Jets (8-3): Texans, Steelers, Seahawks, Pats, Rams
(2 wins needed, count them in)
Ravens (7-4): Bengals, Giants, Colts, Steelers, Dolphins
(3 wins needed, probably can get that, but, outside of Dolphins and Giants, which one's the third?)
Broncos (7-4): Chargers, Dolphins, Chiefs, Titans, Colts
(3 wins needed, I don't see 3 definitive wins here)
Jaguars (6-5): Steelers, Bears, Green Bay, Texans, Raiders
(would need at least 4; I only see maybe 3)
I said the Bills could easily beat the Bengals then insinuated that the Ravens couldn't beat the Bengals. That might be the third win... Depends on Jamal Lewis' return, methinks. If the Ravens have their full complement of accused felons, they could win 3 more games.
Carolina Panthers (4-7) could make the playoffs. I'll bite. 9-7 should do it, 8-8 might be enough. (There are 5 other 4-7 NFC teams that I'm unconvinced can win at least 4 more games, therefore I'm eliminating: Cowboys, Bears, Lions, Saints and Buccaneers) Consider:
Vikings (7-4): Bears, Seahawks, Lions, Packers, Redskins
Packers (6-4): Rams, Eagles, Lions, Jaguars, Vikings, Bears
(One team here wins the division, the other will be one of the wild cards. We're probably talking 3 or 4 wins for the Vikings and about 4 wins for the Pack.)
Rams (5-5): Packers, 49ers, Panthers, Cardinals, Eagles, Jets
Seahawks (6-5): Cowboys, Vikings, Jets, Cardinals, Falcons
(Okay, one of these shitty teams will win their divsion. Lets see, I count at least 4 losses for St. Louis and 3 or 4 losses for Seattle. Seahawks take the division.)
That leaves these 3 teams scrambling to get at least an 8-8 record:
Giants (5-6): Redskins, Baltimore, Steelers, Bengals, Cowboys
(Eli, thanks for playing! Aint happening)
Cardinals (4-7): Lions, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, Buccaneers
(Not improbable here. The Rams and Seahawks games are must-wins).
Panthers (4-7): Saints, Rams, Falcons, Buccaneers, Saints
(Look at these gimmes! If they have a miracle against Mike Vick, it's on!)
Say the Giants beat 'Boys, 'Skins, and Bengals, and my argument that the Rams end up 7-9. Plus the Panthers win all but the Falcons. Giants and Panthers would both be 8-8.
If both teams were 8-8 and fighting for the last wild card berth, Panthers are in because of better NFC record (NY 6-6, Carolina 7-5).
Don't know what the odds are... probably can find them somewhere.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/dr_z/12/01/drz.rankings/index.html
How 'bout them cowboys tonight? Wouldn't that be crazy?
Speaking of playoffs, the Wadsworth Scurvy are in!
AFC:
New England
Pittsburgh
Indianapolis
San Diego
Denver
Buffalo
NFC:
Philadelphia
Green Bay
Atlanta
St. Louis
Seattle
Minnesota
AFC
1. Steelers (11-1)
2. Patriots (11-1)
3. Chargers (9-3)
4. Colts (9-3)
5. Jets (9-3)
6. Ravens (7-5)
In the hunt
7. Broncos (7-5)
8. Jaguars (6-6)
9. Bengals (6-6)
10. Bills (6-6)
10-6 they're in; 9-7 still could do it...
Ravens: Giants, Colts, Steelers, Dolphins
(Two wins still possible, but without the full complement of felons... who knows? No running game hurts in December. They blew it to the Bengals!)
Broncos: Dolphins, Chiefs, Titans, Colts
(Any takers which ones are the three victories, let alone two, here?)
Jags: Bears, Packers, Texans, Raiders
(Three's a must... not out of the picture, but unlikely)
Bengals: Pats, Bills, Giants, Eagles,
(Three wins a must... thanks for playing)
Bills: Browns, Bengals, 49ers, Steelers
(Three could be enough... and the Steelers game is in Buffalo... anything can happen there)
NFC
1. Eagles (11-1)
2. Falcons (9-3)
3. Packers (7-5)
4. Seahawks (6-5)
5. Vikings (7-5)
6. Rams (6-6)
In the hunt
7. Panthers (5-7)
8. Lions (5-7)
9. Bucs (5-7)
10. Giants (5-7)
11. Bears (5-7)
Does anybody care about this division? Let's face it: Carolina's getting in.
Bears final sked is as follows: Jaguars, Texans, Lions, Packers
(Probably not going to have a winning season...)
'Boys have: Seahawks, Saints, Eagles, Redskins, Giants
(depends on who their QB is...)
Buffalo over Cleveland, Cinci. and S.F. That final game could be huge. It could put Buffalo in, and ensure N.E. home field throughout.
Who do the Jets have left? I might have to re-vise my prediction to put 3 AFC East teams in.
What's this "National" Conference you speak of?
I have no idea what to think of the NFC. Atlanta is still a little erratic, and Philly won't make it w/o T.O.