One of the greatest inventions in technology the last 20 years has to be the NFL Playoff Generator on Yahoo.com. It is amazing. For someone who spent so many nights and days tyring to break down tiebreaker scenarios and using newspapers to go back and check scores of games, having the generator is really like being a kid in a candy store. I used to love when Mike and the Mad Dog would break down the remaining schedules and tiebreakers in an attempt to figure out the NFL playoff picture. It was great radio and a lot of fun to listen to. The funny thing was that I would do the same thing on my own, and that little practice went back to when I was in high school. It's fun to try and come up with all the different playoff situations because the tiebreakers affect it so much. After a while on the generator, your head starts to spin and you just get so confused, but it is so addicting that you literally can't stop. With that being said here are some of my interesting playoff scenarios to look for these last three weeks. We'll start in the AFC......If you're a Jets fan, then root against the Chargers. If SD wins out and the Jets lose 2 out of 3 then the Jets are out of the playoffs. If you are a Miami fan, then you need a Jets collapse, Chargers or Chiefs collapse, a Jacksonville collapse and a Baltimore collapse-good luck with that. If your a Colts fan, then you hope the Jaguars fall apart and you have to win out. If your a Chiefs fan, then you are rooting against the Chargers. If you are a Chargers fan, then win out and hope for a Chiefs and Jets meltdown. If you are rooting for the Jags, then just beat Indy this week and you are in good shape. In the NFC, things can get even more complicated. The Giants and Eagles can go from a 3 seed or a 2 seed down to a 6 seed. The Packers can be a 3 seed or not even make the playoffs, and the same is true for the Bears. The Niners could go 7-9 and still win the NFC West. After playing around with all the scenarios, here is what I think the NFL Playoffs will look like............
AFC
1-New England
2-Pittsburgh
3-Kansas City
4-Indy
5-Baltimore
6-NY Jets
NFC
1-Atlanta
2-Philly
3-Chicago
4-St. Louis
5-New Orleans
6-NY Giants
With those seedings and matchups, here is what Wild Card Weekend could potentially look like:
*I am not sure what the League will do with the networks because last year they changed the rotation of the Sunday games
If CBS has the early Sunday Game:
Saturday 1/8
4:30 pm-NBC
5-New Orleans at 4-St. Louis
8:00pm-NBC
6-NY Jets at 3-Kansas City
Sunday 1/9
1:00pm-CBS
5-Baltimore at 4-Indy
4:00pm-FOX
6-NY Giants at 3-Chicago
*If FOX gets the early Sunday Game:
Saturday 1/8
4:30pm-NBC
5-New Orleans at 4-St. Louis
8:00pm-NBC
6-NY Jets at 3-Kansas City
Sunday 1/9
1:00pm-FOX
6-NY Giants at 3-Chicago
4:00pm-CBS
5-Baltimore at 4-Indy
Any way you slice it, there are some interesting possibilities and many changes will take place between now and Week 17.
Onto the picks for Week 15.......
Last Week's Record: 6-10-0
Overall Record: 109-92-8
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
Kansas City (+1) over ST.LOUIS: If Cassel starts, I'm taking the Chiefs. If he doesn't then this pick will be Rams (-1) over Chiefs. It would be devasting for the Chiefs to lose the AFC West, but the health of Matt Cassel might bury them. They simply can't afford any loses the rest of the way or they are done.
TENNESSEE (-1) over Houston: The Titans have to win at some point again, so why not get it this week against the Texans. Once again, the Texans lost a heartbreaker on MNF to the Ravens. The theme of the Gary Kubiak Era has been "Close and Exciting But No Cigar." Every time they lose they rip the hearts out of their fans' chests. The Titans finally win again at home.
Jacksonville (+5) over INDY: I played the Colts every week for the last three weeks and they have come up short everytime. I think the Colts win this game, but this will be a nailbiter. It won't suprise me to see David Garrard with the ball late in the game with a chance to win it. Great game for the AFC South Title.
CAROLINA (-2) over Arizona: The Panthers under John Fox have to win one more game before their dreadful season ends, and they get the job done over the Cardinals this week.
CINCY (-1) over Cleveland: The Bengals will either win this week or next week over the Chargers. I'm going to take them this week because of the uncertainty of the Browns QB situation.
Buffalo (+6) over MIAMI: How can anyone take the Dolphins at home after what they have done this season? Everytime I take the Fish and think they are getting on a roll, they lose. Everytime I bet against them and think they are done, they win on the road. I'm sticking with Bills in Miami to keep it close.
Philly (+2) over NY GIANTS: Great matchup between two NFC East rivals with the division on the line. I went back and forth all week with this game, but my gut just tells me that the Eagles will win a close one. Call it the Michael Vick factor, but I just see him making a big play down the stretch to give Philly a classic 24-20 win on the road.
Washington (+6) over DALLAS: Everyone feels that the Redskins are done, but I would figure that Mike Shanahan will get them to play a really good game here. On the road at a rival and I'm not sold that the Cowboys are going to play great every week under Jason Garrett. The Skins win on the road.
Detroit (+6) over TAMPA BAY: This is my upset of the week. The Lions are awful on the road, but I refuse to think that the Bucs are going to win out and or win 10 games. They are a young team that is due for a stinker and here it is: Lions-16 Bucs-13
BALTIMORE (-1) over New Orleans: The Saints have won 6 in a row and at 10-3 look like Super Bowl contenders again. They are due for a stinker as well and this is a tough spot for them in Baltimore. Look for the Ravens to win in what should be a really fun game to watch.
SEATTLE (+7) over Atlanta: The Falcons are pretty much locked in for the 1 seed in NFC. They get New Orleans at home the day after Christmas, so they could be looking past the Seahawks this week. I'll take Seattle in an upset at home.
NY Jets (+6) over PITTSBURGH: If the Jets have any guts and balls, they will win this game. They can attack the Steelers by spreading them out because they will not be able to run the ball. Big Ben is gimping around, and I just have a feeling the Jets will get it done this week on the road-where they are better anyway. The Jets right the ship with all the pressure and win a huge game in Heinz Field.
Green Bay (+11) over NEW ENGLAND: Obviously, Aaron Rodgers status could affect this game, but I like the Packers to at least keep it close in Foxboro. The Pats are rolling and are making my Super Bowl pick look good, but the Packers could keep this game competitive.
Chicago (-3) over MINNESOTA: It doesn't matter where this game is played, the Bears will win because the Vikings have no QB now that Brett Favre will be out of action indefinitely. It will be cool to see the Vikes play a home game outdoors though.
OAKLAND (-6) over Denver: TEBOW!!!! TEBOW!!!! TEBOW!!!!!
Final Score: Raiders-52- Denver-17
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment