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It's the midpoint of the season and everyone is starting to look ahead to the playoffs. A lot can change between now and the end of the regular season, but here is a look at who will be in and who will be out and what the playoff picture might look like in January.
AFC Playoff Picture
New England Patriots
Current Record: 9-0
Projected record: 16-0
Result: AFC East champion
Seed: No. 1
This is a complete team full of confidence with no major weaknesses and it plays in a weak division. The Patriots' biggest remaining challenges are a road game at Baltimore (Dec. 3), a home game versus Pittsburgh (Dec. 9) and a closing game at the New York Giants (Dec. 29). This team doesn't have any trap games and will be ready every week. That makes 16-0 a very real possibility.
Indianapolis Colts
Current record: 7-1
Projected record: 15-1
Result: AFC South champion
Seed: No. 2
The Colts know they can play with the Pats. Now they just want to get all their weapons healthy and land a rematch with New England. The offense will continue to be consistent and the speed of their defense will continue to surprise opponents. However, they have tough division games left with the physical Jaguars and Titans and have a challenging game at San Diego on Sunday. To get to the Super Bowl, the Colts will have to win in Foxborough, but they have done it before and won't be intimidated.
-- Gary Horton
Pittsburgh Steelers
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 13-3
Result: AFC North champion
Seed: No. 3
The Steelers look like a real Super Bowl contender after they thrashed the Baltimore Ravens on MNF. Still, they are still flying under the radar while New England and Indianapolis get all of the headlines. The game plan never changes -- run the football, play physical in the trenches, attack on defense and make some big passes off play-action. They are a dangerous team in the playoffs because they can slow the game down and dictate the style of play. Those are qualities that bother the more explosive offensive teams. They have tough back-to-back games in December with New England and Jacksonville, but they will be playoff ready in January.
San Diego Chargers
Current record: 4-4
Projected record: 8-8
Result: AFC West champion
Seed: No. 4
After being destroyed by Adrian Peterson and the Vikings Sunday, this no longer looks like a team climbing back into elite status. Philip Rivers is struggling, the defense is not playing with great toughness, and right now you just don't see a champion's heart. But the Chargers still play in a mediocre AFC West and they could be a .500 team and still win their division. They have a huge hurdle with the Colts visiting on Sunday. The Chargers also have physical road games at Tennessee, Jacksonville and Kansas City. They do not look like the Chargers of a year ago and they certainly don't look like a team that will go deep in the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 11-5
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 5
They are one of the most well-coached and physical teams in the NFL. The Titans win with a power run game and a "punch you in the mouth" defense. That style gives the explosive, elite teams a lot of trouble, especially if the game is in Tennessee. Right now, the Titans are winning without consistent quarterback play and that could haunt them down the stretch. They have a huge division game on Sunday against Jacksonville. The schedule also features San Diego at home and tough road trips to Kansas City and Indianapolis. The Titans won't win the division, but they will be a tough out in the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Current record: 5-3
Projected record: 10-6
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 6
The Jaguars are a hard team to get a handle on because their performance can dramatically change from week to week. We do know that they are a physical team that can run the football and play solid defense, but they need to get QB David Garrard healthy for the stretch run. The Jaguars have a tough remaining schedule -- road games at Tennessee, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh -- but they have a good chance to slide in as the last AFC wild card, which would mean that both wild cards would come from the AFC South.
NFC Playoff Picture
Dallas Cowboys
Current record: 7-1
Projected record: 14-2
Result: NFC East champion
Seed: No. 1
It seems as if their lopsided loss to New England was eons ago and the Cowboys are starting to look like a complete team. Tony Romo is the real deal at quarterback and he has weapons in the passing game. The Cowboys have a physical run game and the defense is starting to get Wade Phillips' schemes. They have a monster game on Sunday on the road against the New York Giants, but the rest of their schedule is manageable with the toughest games at home (Green Bay and Detroit). The Cowboys will fight to the end to beat the Giants for the division title, and this team is equipped for a deep playoff run.
Green Bay Packers
Current record: 7-1
Projected record: 12-4
Result: NFC North champion
Seed: No. 2
We keep waiting for the Packers to fade, but they keep coming up with new ways to win and are having more fun than any other team in the league. They have an underrated defense with a deep defensive line rotation, athletic linebackers and shutdown corners who can play press coverages. The lack of a run game is a concern late in the season, but with Brett Favre the Packers have a chance to win every game -- especially at home. They have tough back-to-back road games in November at Detroit and Dallas, but this looks like a team that can play at home until the NFC Championship game. The Packers are for real.
New Orleans Saints
Current record: 4-4
Projected record: 11-5
Result: NFC South champion
Seed: No. 3
All of the sudden, this looks like the same Saints team that went to the NFC Championship Game a year ago. Drew Brees is starting to make plays in the passing game, Reggie Bush is running pretty well, but most importantly, the defense is starting to produce, especially the pass rush. You have to worry about the loss of Deuce McAllister and a consistent power run game, but after an 0-4 start and now four straight wins, the Saints look as though they can win the division. They have a favorable closing schedule, but they will battle Tampa Bay all the way to the end.
Seattle Seahawks
Current record: 4-4
Projected record: 10-6
Result: NFC West champion
Seed: No. 4
Luckily for them, the Seahawks are in a division that nobody seems to want to win and will probably emerge with the NFC West crown by default. They have a soft run game that holds back a good play-action passing game and, at best, they are a middle-of-the-road defense. Seattle doesn't seem to play with a lot of passion or a sense of urgency. If Shaun Alexander decides he wants to run hard, this could be a decent playoff team. If not, the Seahawks are one and done. Their late schedule is manageable with a couple of tough trips to Philadelphia and Carolina, but this right now is an underachieving team.
New York Giants
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 13-3
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 5
They are well-rested, everybody is getting along, and they now have a confident swagger. Their defense can make game-changing plays, especially the defensive line, and that takes pressure off an improving offense. Speaking of offense, Eli Manning is playing better, the run game is taking shape and this looks like a team without a glaring weakness. However, the Giants' second-half schedule is brutal with games against Dallas, at upstart Detroit and tough division games against Philadelphia and Washington before closing at home against New England, which at that point might be trying to conclude an undefeated regular season. The Giants may be one of the top three teams in the NFC, but it will be difficult to match their first-half 6-2 record and overtake Dallas in the NFC East. Still, this is a team that nobody will want to play in January.
Detroit Lions
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 9-7
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 6
We have been waiting for weeks to see the Lions start to lose, but evidently they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to fall apart by now. They have always had an explosive passing game, but now they are starting to show offensive balance by running the ball, plus they are playing decent defense. This is an excited team that believes in itself and is enjoying the ride. Still, the Lions have a tough closing schedule that features the N.Y. Giants, Green Bay twice, San Diego, Dallas and Kansas City. They may fade a little bit, but probably have enough of a cushion to sneak into the playoffs.
Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called The War Room.
The Road To Super Bowl XLII
AFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 3 Pittsburgh
over No. 6 Jacksonville
A perfect batttle between two teams with similar philosophies -- run the football, eat up the clock and play great defense. The difference will be Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger using his play-action package to create a couple of big passing plays for the Steelers win.
No. 4 San Diego
over No. 5 Tennessee
This could be a very close, low-scoring game that matches LaDainian Tomlinson against the underrated Tennessee defense. This game will come down to the quarterback and even though San Diego's Philip Rivers is not playing great, he will make more positive plays than Vince Young.
NFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 3 New Orleans
over No. 6 Detroit
The 0-4 start by the Saints is now a distant memory and QB Drew Brees will exploit the Lions secondary. The Saints new-found pass rush pressure will get to Jon Kitna and the the Lions' fairytale season comes to an end.
No. 5 New York Giants
over No. 4 Seattle
Seattle got into the playoffs by default and are playing a hot team with no major flaws. The Seawhawks offensive line will not be able to protect QB Matt Hasselbeck and the Giants offensive balance will exploit an average Seattle defense. This game will be easy for the Giants.
AFC Divisional Playoff
No. 1 New England
over No. 4 San Diego
The Patriots will be well rested and will exploit the Chargers' weaknesses. Tom Brady will have a field day against this defense and the Pats defense will shut down Tomlinson, forcing Rivers to make plays, something that won't happen enough.
No. 2 Indianapolis
over No. 3 Pittsburgh
This could be a classic playoff game between two teams with contrasting styles. The Steelers will try to be physical and wear down the Colts, but Indy will counter with a great passing game and lot of Joseph Addai. In the end, Indy will do a good job of containing Steelers RB Willie Parker and the game will come down top Peyton Manning vs. Roethlisberger and and we know who wins that battle. But this will be a good one.
NFC Divisional Playoff
No. 1 Dallas
over No. 5 New York Giants
This will be the best game in the NFL playoffs. It features a great Giants pass rush against Tony Romo, but the Cowboys will sneak away with a close win at home because of their running game and the fact Romo makes a couple more plays in the passing game than Giants QB Eli Manning.
No. 2 Green Bay
over No. 3 New Orleans
The Packers are tough to beat at home, especially in January. Brett Favre will pick apart a suspect Saints secondary while the Packers CB duo of Al Harris and Charles Woodson will take the Saints' receivers out of the game.
AFC Championship
No. 1 New England
over No. 2 Indianapolis
This is the rematch that everybody has been waiting for since Week 9, but now it's in New England. It will be close, but Brady will outduel Manning and the Pats will spread the field and, ironically, wear down the Colts.
NFC Championship
No. 1 Dallas
over No. 2 Green Bay
The Packers have to leave the friendly confines of Lambeau Field and by now, Romo and Co. are on a roll. Finally, the lack of a run game for Green Bay going against the underrated Cowboys run game will be the difference in this one as the Cowboys roll to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLII
New England
over Dallas
This will be a matchup of the best that each conference has to offer, but the Pats are on a mission. Brady will pick apart a vbulnerable Cowboys secondary with his spread offense and the Patriots will finish a perfect season with a comfortable win in Arizona.
-- Gary Horton
It's the midpoint of the season and everyone is starting to look ahead to the playoffs. A lot can change between now and the end of the regular season, but here is a look at who will be in and who will be out and what the playoff picture might look like in January.
AFC Playoff Picture
Current Record: 9-0
Projected record: 16-0
Result: AFC East champion
Seed: No. 1
This is a complete team full of confidence with no major weaknesses and it plays in a weak division. The Patriots' biggest remaining challenges are a road game at Baltimore (Dec. 3), a home game versus Pittsburgh (Dec. 9) and a closing game at the New York Giants (Dec. 29). This team doesn't have any trap games and will be ready every week. That makes 16-0 a very real possibility.
Current record: 7-1
Projected record: 15-1
Result: AFC South champion
Seed: No. 2
The Colts know they can play with the Pats. Now they just want to get all their weapons healthy and land a rematch with New England. The offense will continue to be consistent and the speed of their defense will continue to surprise opponents. However, they have tough division games left with the physical Jaguars and Titans and have a challenging game at San Diego on Sunday. To get to the Super Bowl, the Colts will have to win in Foxborough, but they have done it before and won't be intimidated.
-- Gary Horton
Pittsburgh Steelers
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 13-3
Result: AFC North champion
Seed: No. 3
The Steelers look like a real Super Bowl contender after they thrashed the Baltimore Ravens on MNF. Still, they are still flying under the radar while New England and Indianapolis get all of the headlines. The game plan never changes -- run the football, play physical in the trenches, attack on defense and make some big passes off play-action. They are a dangerous team in the playoffs because they can slow the game down and dictate the style of play. Those are qualities that bother the more explosive offensive teams. They have tough back-to-back games in December with New England and Jacksonville, but they will be playoff ready in January.
Current record: 4-4
Projected record: 8-8
Result: AFC West champion
Seed: No. 4
After being destroyed by Adrian Peterson and the Vikings Sunday, this no longer looks like a team climbing back into elite status. Philip Rivers is struggling, the defense is not playing with great toughness, and right now you just don't see a champion's heart. But the Chargers still play in a mediocre AFC West and they could be a .500 team and still win their division. They have a huge hurdle with the Colts visiting on Sunday. The Chargers also have physical road games at Tennessee, Jacksonville and Kansas City. They do not look like the Chargers of a year ago and they certainly don't look like a team that will go deep in the playoffs.
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 11-5
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 5
They are one of the most well-coached and physical teams in the NFL. The Titans win with a power run game and a "punch you in the mouth" defense. That style gives the explosive, elite teams a lot of trouble, especially if the game is in Tennessee. Right now, the Titans are winning without consistent quarterback play and that could haunt them down the stretch. They have a huge division game on Sunday against Jacksonville. The schedule also features San Diego at home and tough road trips to Kansas City and Indianapolis. The Titans won't win the division, but they will be a tough out in the playoffs.
Current record: 5-3
Projected record: 10-6
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 6
The Jaguars are a hard team to get a handle on because their performance can dramatically change from week to week. We do know that they are a physical team that can run the football and play solid defense, but they need to get QB David Garrard healthy for the stretch run. The Jaguars have a tough remaining schedule -- road games at Tennessee, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh -- but they have a good chance to slide in as the last AFC wild card, which would mean that both wild cards would come from the AFC South.
NFC Playoff Picture
Current record: 7-1
Projected record: 14-2
Result: NFC East champion
Seed: No. 1
It seems as if their lopsided loss to New England was eons ago and the Cowboys are starting to look like a complete team. Tony Romo is the real deal at quarterback and he has weapons in the passing game. The Cowboys have a physical run game and the defense is starting to get Wade Phillips' schemes. They have a monster game on Sunday on the road against the New York Giants, but the rest of their schedule is manageable with the toughest games at home (Green Bay and Detroit). The Cowboys will fight to the end to beat the Giants for the division title, and this team is equipped for a deep playoff run.
Current record: 7-1
Projected record: 12-4
Result: NFC North champion
Seed: No. 2
We keep waiting for the Packers to fade, but they keep coming up with new ways to win and are having more fun than any other team in the league. They have an underrated defense with a deep defensive line rotation, athletic linebackers and shutdown corners who can play press coverages. The lack of a run game is a concern late in the season, but with Brett Favre the Packers have a chance to win every game -- especially at home. They have tough back-to-back road games in November at Detroit and Dallas, but this looks like a team that can play at home until the NFC Championship game. The Packers are for real.
Current record: 4-4
Projected record: 11-5
Result: NFC South champion
Seed: No. 3
All of the sudden, this looks like the same Saints team that went to the NFC Championship Game a year ago. Drew Brees is starting to make plays in the passing game, Reggie Bush is running pretty well, but most importantly, the defense is starting to produce, especially the pass rush. You have to worry about the loss of Deuce McAllister and a consistent power run game, but after an 0-4 start and now four straight wins, the Saints look as though they can win the division. They have a favorable closing schedule, but they will battle Tampa Bay all the way to the end.
Current record: 4-4
Projected record: 10-6
Result: NFC West champion
Seed: No. 4
Luckily for them, the Seahawks are in a division that nobody seems to want to win and will probably emerge with the NFC West crown by default. They have a soft run game that holds back a good play-action passing game and, at best, they are a middle-of-the-road defense. Seattle doesn't seem to play with a lot of passion or a sense of urgency. If Shaun Alexander decides he wants to run hard, this could be a decent playoff team. If not, the Seahawks are one and done. Their late schedule is manageable with a couple of tough trips to Philadelphia and Carolina, but this right now is an underachieving team.
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 13-3
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 5
They are well-rested, everybody is getting along, and they now have a confident swagger. Their defense can make game-changing plays, especially the defensive line, and that takes pressure off an improving offense. Speaking of offense, Eli Manning is playing better, the run game is taking shape and this looks like a team without a glaring weakness. However, the Giants' second-half schedule is brutal with games against Dallas, at upstart Detroit and tough division games against Philadelphia and Washington before closing at home against New England, which at that point might be trying to conclude an undefeated regular season. The Giants may be one of the top three teams in the NFC, but it will be difficult to match their first-half 6-2 record and overtake Dallas in the NFC East. Still, this is a team that nobody will want to play in January.
Current record: 6-2
Projected record: 9-7
Result: wild card
Seed: No. 6
We have been waiting for weeks to see the Lions start to lose, but evidently they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to fall apart by now. They have always had an explosive passing game, but now they are starting to show offensive balance by running the ball, plus they are playing decent defense. This is an excited team that believes in itself and is enjoying the ride. Still, the Lions have a tough closing schedule that features the N.Y. Giants, Green Bay twice, San Diego, Dallas and Kansas City. They may fade a little bit, but probably have enough of a cushion to sneak into the playoffs.
Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called The War Room.
The Road To Super Bowl XLII
AFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 3 Pittsburgh
over No. 6 Jacksonville
A perfect batttle between two teams with similar philosophies -- run the football, eat up the clock and play great defense. The difference will be Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger using his play-action package to create a couple of big passing plays for the Steelers win.
No. 4 San Diego
over No. 5 Tennessee
This could be a very close, low-scoring game that matches LaDainian Tomlinson against the underrated Tennessee defense. This game will come down to the quarterback and even though San Diego's Philip Rivers is not playing great, he will make more positive plays than Vince Young.
NFC Wild Card Weekend
No. 3 New Orleans
over No. 6 Detroit
The 0-4 start by the Saints is now a distant memory and QB Drew Brees will exploit the Lions secondary. The Saints new-found pass rush pressure will get to Jon Kitna and the the Lions' fairytale season comes to an end.
No. 5 New York Giants
over No. 4 Seattle
Seattle got into the playoffs by default and are playing a hot team with no major flaws. The Seawhawks offensive line will not be able to protect QB Matt Hasselbeck and the Giants offensive balance will exploit an average Seattle defense. This game will be easy for the Giants.
AFC Divisional Playoff
No. 1 New England
over No. 4 San Diego
The Patriots will be well rested and will exploit the Chargers' weaknesses. Tom Brady will have a field day against this defense and the Pats defense will shut down Tomlinson, forcing Rivers to make plays, something that won't happen enough.
No. 2 Indianapolis
over No. 3 Pittsburgh
This could be a classic playoff game between two teams with contrasting styles. The Steelers will try to be physical and wear down the Colts, but Indy will counter with a great passing game and lot of Joseph Addai. In the end, Indy will do a good job of containing Steelers RB Willie Parker and the game will come down top Peyton Manning vs. Roethlisberger and and we know who wins that battle. But this will be a good one.
NFC Divisional Playoff
No. 1 Dallas
over No. 5 New York Giants
This will be the best game in the NFL playoffs. It features a great Giants pass rush against Tony Romo, but the Cowboys will sneak away with a close win at home because of their running game and the fact Romo makes a couple more plays in the passing game than Giants QB Eli Manning.
No. 2 Green Bay
over No. 3 New Orleans
The Packers are tough to beat at home, especially in January. Brett Favre will pick apart a suspect Saints secondary while the Packers CB duo of Al Harris and Charles Woodson will take the Saints' receivers out of the game.
AFC Championship
No. 1 New England
over No. 2 Indianapolis
This is the rematch that everybody has been waiting for since Week 9, but now it's in New England. It will be close, but Brady will outduel Manning and the Pats will spread the field and, ironically, wear down the Colts.
NFC Championship
No. 1 Dallas
over No. 2 Green Bay
The Packers have to leave the friendly confines of Lambeau Field and by now, Romo and Co. are on a roll. Finally, the lack of a run game for Green Bay going against the underrated Cowboys run game will be the difference in this one as the Cowboys roll to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLII
New England
over Dallas
This will be a matchup of the best that each conference has to offer, but the Pats are on a mission. Brady will pick apart a vbulnerable Cowboys secondary with his spread offense and the Patriots will finish a perfect season with a comfortable win in Arizona.
-- Gary Horton
I wonder if Dirk still sees Stephen Jackson in his nightmares.
