My way too early playoff scenario [biased]

[Irvin88_4life]

I almost put in the Browns, and removed the Dolphins or the Chiefs.

They will be tough, especially if they figure at that QB position

 

[erod]

I do agree that teams on the rise include Buffalo, Miami, St. Louis, and Oakland.

Cleveland has a nice roster, too, but they're quarterback situation remains a mess.

 

[Nation]

Were Tom Brady and Bill Belichick somehow assassinated in this scenario?

 

[erod]

Were Tom Brady and Bill Belichick somehow assassinated in this scenario?

They've got BIG problems this year. Their defensive secondary is awful, and the Bills and Dolphins might have the best defenses in the NFL this season.

 

[jazzcat22]

Were Tom Brady and Bill Belichick somehow assassinated in this scenario?

Their egos may be somewhat deflated.

 

[perrykemp]

They've got BIG problems this year. Their defensive secondary is awful, and the Bills and Dolphins might have the best defenses in the NFL this season.

They'll still go 12-4 or 13-3.

Every year like clockwork for this guys.

 

[jobberone]

There was at least 9 teams in the last decade plus who went from last to first with ten in a row starting in 2002.

Generally 40-60% of teams fall out of the playoffs the following year. So lots of new faces year to year.

Here's a way to look at the playoff records of all 32:

=================================================================================
The Dolphins haven't had a winning season since 2008 when they made the playoffs after going 1-15 the year before. I think that was the wildcat year although I didn't look it up. 8-8 last year.

The Jets haven't had a winning season since 2010 when they lost the CC game. 4-12 2014

The Pats haven't had a LOSING season since 2000 and won the SB last year.

The Bills had a winning season last year at 9-7 and then none since 2004.

The Ravens haven't had a losing season since 2007. Playoffs 7/8 and last year.

The Steelers last losing season was 2003. Playoffs last year and 9/14 years

The Browns last winning season was 2007. Last playoff 2002

The Bengals last losing season was 2010. Playoffs 5/6 years and last.

Colts 16/20 and last year.

Jags last playoffs 2007

Texans playoffs 2011-12

Titans three winning seasons since last playoffs 2008

Bolts 6/10 but 1 out of last five playoffs year before last

Raiders last playoff and winning season 2003

Chiefs 4 playoffs last 11 years (4/11) last 2013

Broncos 4 in a row

Eagles 10/15 last 2013

Skins 4/16 last 2012

Boys no playoffs 24 times since 1960 last playoff last year. No playoffs 18 times since 66. No playoffs 11 times since 1991. Total playoff years 31. 34-26 playoff record. 5 SBs out of 8 appearances. 476-352-6 total record.

NYG 5/10 last 2011 won SB sheer dumb luck. No playoffs last three years

Bears one playoff (2011) since 2007

Vikings 3/7 last 2012

Packers no playoffs five times since 93; playoffs six in a row

Lions 2 playoffs since 2000 including last year

Bucs no playoffs since 2007

Panthers 6 total playoffs including last two years

Saints 5 playoffs since 2006 none last year

Falcons 4/7 none last two

Rams no playoffs since 2004

Seattle 3 nonplayoffs since 2003

SF 3 playoffs since 2003 and 3/4 none last year

Cards 4 since 1998 including last year
=================================================================================
So for the most part some teams have dominated playoff appearances with a scattering of a few others showing up here and there. Still there is a 40+% turnover year to year out of the 12 teams.

Cowboys win SB over Colts

 

[ufcrules1]

Cowboys vs Colts Cowboys win!

 

[Nation]

They've got BIG problems this year. Their defensive secondary is awful, and the Bills and Dolphins might have the best defenses in the NFL this season.

The 2011 Patriots had a worse secondary than this 2015 one, and that team let up more yards than the 2013 Cowboys worst defense in team history. They still went 13-3 and made it to the Super Bowl. They've found a way to make things work historically.

 

[jobberone]

Pats run is not as good as the one Landry had but its getting there.

 

[Future]

Why on Earth would anybody pick the Bills to win the AFC East. Pats are going to run away with it.

 

[CATCH17]

They've got BIG problems this year. Their defensive secondary is awful, and the Bills and Dolphins might have the best defenses in the NFL this season.

Yeah but they probably weren't a top 3 team last year and they still won the Superbowl.

 

[erod]

The 2011 Patriots had a worse secondary than this 2015 one, and that team let up more yards than the 2013 Cowboys worst defense in team history. They still went 13-3 and made it to the Super Bowl. They've found a way to make things work historically.

Part of the reason for New England's run is that they've basically been handed a 6-0 division record every year for forever. The AFC East has been a joke for almost 20 years. They're almost guaranteed home field in the playoffs.

Not now. Buffalo and Miami are good enough to take a couple of games off them, which could mean something more like 10-6. Now they've got to hit the road, where they've struggled in the playoffs.

 

[CATCH17]

Pats run is not as good as the one Landry had but its getting there.

Considering it was easier to keep players and build depth back then.. It's probably more impressive than what any other franchise has done.

For those exact same reasons though they would get smacked up by a lot of the old dynasties in the Pre-Salary Cap era.

A Great QB and Great coach take care of 99% of your problems in todays NFL.. You move Belichick and Brady to any team in the NFL and the expectation is Superbowl automatically.

 

[erod]

Yeah but they probably weren't a top 3 team last year and they still won the Superbowl.

Last year was amazing, but they benefitted from a weak conference and an injured Peyton Manning. The AFC was bad last year.

I remember KC had them down 41-7. Brady threw for about 150 yards.

 

[Nation]

Part of the reason for New England's run is that they've basically been handed a 6-0 division record every year for forever. The AFC East has been a joke for almost 20 years. They're almost guaranteed home field in the playoffs.

Not now. Buffalo and Miami are good enough to take a couple of games off them, which could mean something more like 10-6. Now they've got to hit the road, where they've struggled in the playoffs.

New England has won 12 or more games for the past 5 seasons, going 63-17 in the process.

They are 40-10 (.800) against non-AFC East Teams and 23-7 (.767) against AFC East teams.

 

[erod]

New England has won 12 or more games for the past 5 seasons, going 63-17 in the process.

They are 40-10 (.800) against non-AFC East Teams and 23-7 (.767) against AFC East teams.

And if they were in the NFC East or AFC North, they'd have won 9 or more games the past 5 seasons.

 

[Nation]

And if they were in the NFC East or AFC North, they'd have won 9 or more games the past 5 seasons.

They are just good. The numbers bear out that they are better against non AFC East teams than they are teams in the division, however crappy the general public assumes the AFC East is. They are 10-5 against the NFC East and AFC North in the past five years, and that includes playing the 1st place AFC North team for the sample-size every season due to the NFL's scheduling process with the Pats coming in 1st every year.

 

[GiveDezdaBall88]

well I will say certain teams will make the playoffs.
NFC
Dallas
GB
Sea

AFC
Ravens
NE
Colts
The rest are maybe's

No way are we a lock when we have Brandon Weeden as our backup QB,

 

[erod]

They are just good. The numbers bear out that they are better against non AFC East teams than they are teams in the division, however crappy the general public assumes the AFC East is. They are 10-5 against the NFC East and AFC North in the past five years, and that includes playing the 1st place AFC North team for the sample-size every season due to the NFL's scheduling process with the Pats coming in 1st every year.

Not saying they're not good, but if they were in the AFC North, for instance, they'd play Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cincinnati TWICE. That would account for another loss or two, and suddenly, NO HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. That has played a huge role in their playoff success.

Getting essentially six automatic wins per season has greatly helped them because other teams have to go to Foxborough in the playoffs.

This year will provide more divisional competition, but the quarterbacks are still Taylor (as of now), Fitzpatrick, and Tannehill. Compare that to facing Roethlisberger, Flacco, and Dalton twice during the season.