Playoffs...

[MichaelWinicki]

Yeah, I know it's early in the season but I was looking at the standings and thinking about how the teams are doing so far and we see some clear distinctions already...

AFC

Who's out:
1. NY Jets (1-4 no QB, porous secondary)
2. Jacksonville (0-5, no coming back from that)
3. Oakland (0-4, a mess)
4. Tennessee (1-4, not going anywhere)

Who's in:
1. Cincy (yeah they looked awful Sunday, but too much talent on both sides of the ball not to make it)
2. SD (even with the injuries, they have solid quarterbacking and a rock solid approach to winning)
3. Denver (Too much talent not to make it from the playoffs)

In between (of course 3 of these teams will make it):
1. Buffalo
2. New England
3. Miami
4. Baltimore
5. Pittsburgh
6. Cleveland
7. Indy
8. Houston
9. KC

Teams that I think are close to not making it:
1. Buffalo (another QB mess)
2. Miami (did someone mention QB problems?)
3. Cleveland (playing better but doesn't have the look of a playoff team)
4. KC (Too many injuries this season)

NFC

Who's out:
1. Washington (1-4, lacking in too many areas)
2. Tampa (1-4, not enough offense)
3. St. Louis (1-3, injuries have killed them)

Who's in:
1. Seattle (No appearance of a post-SB hangover)

In between:
1. Dallas
2. Philadelphia
3. NYG
4. GB
5. Detroit
6. Chicago
7. Atlanta
8. Arizona
9. New Orleans
10. San Fran
11. Carolina
12. Minnesota

Teams that I think are close to not making it:
1. Detroit (big time kicking woes plus some injury concerns)
2. Chicago (Lots of offense but a porous defense and injury problems on the O-line)
3. Atlanta (see Chicago)
4. Arizona (too many injuries to make it to the playoffs)
5. Carolina (too many injuries and other issues)
6. Minnesota (winning on fumes)

 

[Hoov]

In the AFC - I agree completely with your take of who's in and who's out.

Of your in between teams - I like Indy, I still like KC and the 3rd spot is a fight between Buffalo, Baltimore, New England and Houston. I'm liking Houston or Baltimore to be the 3rd team right now.

In the NFC - Agree with who is out, and Seattle to be in but after that its confusing.

I dont like any of the NFC central teams but someones going - I'll pick the packers. Ditto for NFC south - Atlanta may win by default even though Carolina is sa game up on them - i think Carolina will struggle. When they play head to head it should be interesting.

I still like Arizona.

I think 2 teams could come out of the NFC east and we are one of them.

 

[Future]

The 2 seed is probably going to go to the winner of the East or the South...I tend to think it'll be the East.

That could be a huge advantage to either not play in Seattle until the NFCC or, even better, if there's an upset, get that game at home.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

In the AFC - I agree completely with your take of who's in and who's out.

Of your in between teams - I like Indy, I still like KC and the 3rd spot is a fight between Buffalo, Baltimore, New England and Houston. I'm liking Houston or Baltimore to be the 3rd team right now.

In the NFC - Agree with who is out, and Seattle to be in but after that its confusing.

I dont like any of the NFC central teams but someones going - I'll pick the packers. Ditto for NFC south - Atlanta may win by default even though Carolina is sa game up on them - i think Carolina will struggle. When they play head to head it should be interesting.

I still like Arizona.

I think 2 teams could come out of the NFC east and we are one of them.

As it applies to the NFC, that's why I think a victory over the G-men next week would be more important than a win over the Seahawks this week. Of course beating the Seahawks in their building would be a feather in the cap, but being able to knock down a competitor for one of the remaining playoff spots-- huge. Seattle is going to get in regardless of what happens in their game with the Cowboys.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The 2 seed is probably going to go to the winner of the East or the South...I tend to think it'll be the East.

That could be a huge advantage to either not play in Seattle until the NFCC or, even better, if there's an upset, get that game at home.

You bet, any time you can put off playing in Seattle... the better.