Playoff Picture – updated with 3 weeks remaining!
The safe bet… of who’s IN vs who is OUT, from my viewpoint.
AFC IN
Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens have won the NFC North with 3 games left to be played… seems fairly certain the team will have a BYE week one of the playoffs.
Miami Dolphins – It seems with a 3 game lead in the AFC East, the divisional title will belong to the Dolphins… and could be playing for a BYE week in the playoffs week one.
Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars were everyone’s darlings of the AFC… before losing 3 straight and their offense disappearing (the magic of Brohm to Bryant has gone COLD).
Oakland Raiders – The winning streak ended at 7 last week… with a 2 game lead in the AFC West, the Raiders will look to find their winning ways and enter the playoffs on a roll!
Cincinnati Bengals * – What’s wrong with the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s a head scratcher and the team needs to end the 3 game skid if they want to participate in post season play.
Indianapolis Colts * – Will the Colts continue their winning ways… a 4 game winning streak has the Team leading the AFC South and dreaming on a back to back birth to post season play.
AFC OUT
Pittsburg Steelers – Is it possible the Steelers have LUCK on their side now… they have won 2 games in a row (for the first time this season).
Buffalo Bills – The Bills just want this season to end… the sooner the better (already dreaming of draft day).
Houston Texans – The Texans have lost 6 games by 7 points or less, all while hitching their wagon to rookie QB Brock Osweiler. The future should be brighter… it has to be right?.
San Diego Chargers – The Chargers haven’t won a game since week 1 (6 of those 12 defeats were by 7 or fewer points)… the only saving grace is the Chargers still have all their picks in hand (good news for the incoming GM)!
On the FENCE
Cleveland Browns – The Browns are on FIRE… 5 straight wins has the team nearly a lock for post season play (the have the Chargers and Bills still to play).
New England Patriots – The Patriots will be outside looking in if they don’t win out.
New York Jets – It’s been a dreadful season to endure for the New York Jets and the teams fan base… they have nearly been eliminated from post season play (it’d take a miracle at this point).
Tennessee Titans – Fight to be relevant in the AFC South fell on hard times for the Titans… the team will be fighting to save their GM’s job next season.
Denver Broncos – The Broncos have fallen on hard times following a 5-3 first half of the season… growing pains for rookie QB Chandler Harnish (is the experiment already over?).
Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs have lost 7 games by 7 or fewer points… the gamble to go ALL in (offensively) has failed to take flight.
NFC IN
Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings would be well served to win out – it’s nearly necessary now with the Packers being one of the HOT teams in the NFC (Packers have won 5 straight).
Philadelphia Eagles – the only saving grace for the Eagles… they are in the NFC East and have beaten the Redskins twice this season.
Atlanta Falcons – Odds are still in favor of the Falcons winning the NFC South, week 16 vs the Saints will be HUGE!
Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals have locked up post season play, now they are playing for the NFC West title and a BYE week.
Seattle Seahawks * – A complete collapse and things falling just right appears to be the only way the Seahawks miss the playoffs.
Chicago Bears * – OUCH, trailing both the Packers and Vikings makes it seem like a wild Card birth is the only way the Bears get a chance at repeating as Champs.
NFC OUT
Detroit Lions – The Lions are still in the hunt… for the FIRST overall pick (in the 2nd round).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Buccaneers are playing for pride… and, STATS for QB Kirk Cousins (he could surpass most rookie passing records by season end).
Carolina Panthers – It seems the ONLY thing the Panthers are playing for is a SWEEP of the elder Mellon – Mellon Bowl should be game of the WEAK week 16.
On the FENCE
Green Bay Packers – 3 straight wins has the Green Bay Packers owning their destiny!
Washington Redskins – Tied for the lead in the NFC East, they’ll need help to overtake the Eagles who they lost to twice this year.
Dallas Cowboys – The Cobowys made a BOLD move by trading for QB Drew Brees (McNabb out for the season, 1-2 the last 3 games make post season play a LONG shot now.
New York Giants – running the table would put the Giants @ 9-7, and it’d still be a LONG shot to make the playoffs.
New Orleans Saints – Running the table would have the Saints with a 10-6 record and likely to win the NFC South (currently 3-0 within the division).
St. Louis Rams – The dream is DEAD, the Rams have been eliminated from post season play.
San Francisco 49ers – Slimmest of chances still exist for the 49ers to enter post season play… don’t bet on it happening!
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