Thursday, December 26, 2013

Breaking Down the NFL Playoff

Just because its the last week of the NFL regular season, I'm going to take a little break from NBA and write a quick short on NFL.  This is the current situation.

AFC

The Denver Broncos have clinched division and first round bye.

New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts have all clinched their division and merely fighting for seed

Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the wild card and 5th place.

6th Playoff Spot

The Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, and Pittsburgh Steelers are fighting for the last position in AFC playoff, the 2nd wild card spot.

As long as Raven wins their game and either Chargers OR Dolphins lose their game, Ravens will be headed to the playoff

If  Dolphins win their game and either Raven loses or Chargers win, Dolphins will take the wild card position

If Chargers win their game and Ravens and Dolphins both lose, Chargers will be moving on to the playoff

If Steelers win AND Dolphins, Ravens, AND Chargers lose, the Steelers will earn one of the most miraculous playoff berth.  However, their is only 1/16 chance of this happening.

My prediction

Ravens VS Bengals 
going to be a close race.  As good of a team as Raven is, Bengals has yet to lose a home game.  They have taken down Packers when they still had Aaron Rodgers, Colts, and even the Patriots.  I have to give the win to Bengal

Steelers VS Browns
I have to give the win to Steelers.  Browns have had a very poor season.  While Steelers had a poor start and hanging on in the playoff race by a hair, they are still better team than the Browns.

Chiefs VS Chargers
Chargers miraculously recovered from 5-7 record earlier in the season, winning 3 games in a row, even taking down the Chiefs and Broncos, both in a away game.  The Chiefs coach has a history of benching many key players in non important games leading into playoffs to avoid unnecessary risk of injury.  I have to give this win to the Chargers

Jets VS Dolphins
Dolphins is another team that has made a great season recovery.  They won 3 out of their last 4 games, one against the patriots.  While Jets have a similar record of 7-8 against the Dolphins 8-7, if you compare the strength of schedule and if u consider the Jets's 23-3 home game loss to the Dolphins earlier in the month, Dolphins is the team to vote for.

In conclusion, its a close race but I think Dolphins will take the last playoff spot by a hair.

Game to watch

Ravens VS Bengals

Playoff chance for the rest of AFC teams still in the race rests on Ravens falling to the Bengals.

NFC

Seahawks and Panthers have both clinched playoffs and are simply fighting for the 1st and 2nd seed

49ers have also clinched playoff but its TBD whether they will be going in as top 2 seed or as a wild card

Eagles, Bears, Saints, Cardinals, Cowboys, Packers are all in the race for either their division or the wild card.  

Unlike AFC, every division and seed is up for grabs

Divisions


West


Seahawks are currently in 1st in their division.  If Seahawks lose and the 49ers win, 49ers will be representing West while Seahawks will be entering as the wild card

South


Panthers are currently leading.  However, if Panthers lose their game and Saints win theirs, Saints will be representing South while Panthers head in as the wild card.

East


East is down to Eagles VS Cowboys and their is more at risk. Whoever loses this Sunday in the Eagles VS Cowboy game will not only lose the battle for division, but be eliminated from playoff entirely.

North


Much like East, whoever loses in the Bears VS Packer game this Sunday will be eliminated from the division and the playoff.

Wild Card


Wild card could go to Seahawks, Panthers, 49ers, Saints, or the Cardinals

Prediction

Packers will win with Aaron Rodgers back as quarterback against the bears

Saints will have an easy win over the Buccaneers

Seahawks will have an easy win over the Rams

Panthers will win easily over the falcons

Cowboys will put up a good fight but Eagles will clinch victory

Cardinals will put up a good fight but ultimately fall to the 49ers

-SF

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