NFL Playoffs

So this week I will abstain from writing a Tebow column as there isn't much to say about the Broncos performance on Sunday (also I'm slowly approaching Tebow overkill). They looked like they had a damn good chance to take control of the game in the first quarter until three crucial fumbles by Lance Ball, Tebow, and Quan "Jacob jinxed the hell out of me last week" Cosby. This game exposed a fatal flaw of the Broncos: they cannot play as a one dimensional passing team. Tebow is a much more effective passer when he can use the threat of the run to draw in the linebackers and open up holes in the secondary. Still, the Broncos are a good team and I would love to see that game again without the three fumbles. Thankfully, Tebow gave some of his magical end-of-game powers to Matthew Stafford in order to keep the Raiders off the Broncos' backs for another week. With two games to go, let's take stock of the NFL playoff races.


AFC West
1. Broncos 8-6
@ Bills, vs Chiefs
2. Raiders 7-7
@Kansas City, vs San Diego
3. Chargers 7-7
@ Detroit, @ Oakland
4. Chiefs 6-8
vs Oakland, @ Denver

Every year we have one ginormous clusterfuck of a division and this year that distinction belongs to the AFC West. If all three teams finish 8-8, the Cheifs would win the west (not unfathomable, they need to win out and get some help from Detroit and Buffalo). After their big win against the Ravens, the Chargers are doing their late year zombie routine again but they still need a lot of help. If the Broncos beat Kansas City in week 17, the Raiders and Chargers would have to finish with a better record than them. Here's hoping for an easy week where Broncos win the AFC title with a win and San Diego and Oakland losses. That sure would calm a lot of nerves back in the Rocky Mountains (as well as in one particular area of Massachusetts).


AFC Wild Card
1. Jets 8-6
vs Giants, @ Dolphins
2. Bengals 8-6
vs Cardinals, vs Ravens
3. Raiders 7-7
@Kansas City, vs San Diego
4. Titans 7-7
vs Jacksonville, @ Houston
5. Chargers 7-7
@ Detroit, @ Oakland

The AFC North has essentially secured the 5 seed for its second place team so the race for the last wild card spot will come down to five teams. Personally I think Tennessee should be disqualified from the playoffs for falling apart against the winless Colts but somehow they can still make the playoffs by winning out and getting some help from the Lions, Ravens, Giants, and Texans. If the Titans, Jets, and Bengals enter week 17 all at 8-7, Scott Hanson might finally have a coronary on air as all three play at the same time. The Jets are the only team in this entire group who have demonstrated that they can play with the best in the NFL. I say they get in, then Boston talk radio spends a whole two weeks dissecting every angle of another potential Pats-Jets playoff game (they'll use that second week even if the Jets lose in the wild card, these people are obsessed with the Jets, it's creepy).


Race for the 1, 2, and 3 seeds in the AFC
1. Pats 11-3
vs. Miami, vs. Buffalo
2. Texans 10-4
@ Indianapolis, vs. Titans
3. Steelers 10-4
vs. Rams, @ Cleveland
4. Ravens 10-4
vs. Cleveland, @ Cincinnati

The Pats seem destined for one of the top two seeds as they're one game up and they have the easiest path left and as a Bronco fan I have absolutely no problem with that. As I said before, I would love to see the Pats again. They are no different from all of Peyton's Colts teams from the last decade. They have a porous defense, a marginal running game, and a great quarterback with three dynamite play makers (Gronk, Hernandez, & Welker are to Brady what Wayne, Clark, and Harrison were to Peyton). As for the rest of the AFC, even with a hobbled Big Ben, we probably have to give the edge to Pittsburgh over Baltimore since the Steelers last 2 opponents have a combined record of 6-22. This actually gives an edge to the Texans as they win the head to head tiebreaker over Pittsburgh, but not Baltimore. This sets up first round matchups of Jets at Steelers and Ravens at Broncos. I don't care how insane of a passing league this becomes, defense still wins championships kids.


NFC East
1. Dallas 8-6
vs. Philadelphia, @ Giants
2. Giants 7-7
@ Jets, vs Dallas
3. Philadelphia 6-8
@ Dallas, vs Washington

If it weren't for the AFC West, the NFC East would be this year's clusterfuck. Everyone is spending too much time talking about Tebow's "act of God" by putting the Broncos in the drivers seat for the AFC West. We have a much larger potential fluke happening back east. The Eagles' garbage season somehow has placed them in a plausible scenario where they can win the NFC East (if all three teams finish 8-8, Philly makes it). Philly just needs to win out and get some help from the Jets this week and the Giants next week. Seattle's 7-9 division title last year seems more legitimate than an Eagles division title this year. Ugh, this is such a pathetic division. I want to pick either the Giants or Cowboys but collapses by both seem more likely than either winning a big game. Screw it, I say Dallas backs into the playoffs with a tie in week 17.


Race for the 1, 2, and 3 seeds in the NFC
1. Packers 13-1
vs. Bears, vs. Lions
2. Saints 11-3
vs. Falcons, vs. Panthers
3. 49ers 11-3
@Seahawks, @ Rams

I have bet the Packers almost every week and every week my biggest fear has been what happens when Aaron Rodgers has an off day. Only the Patriots give up more yards per game than the Packer defense and they are 21st in the NFL in yards per carry. We saw what happens on Sunday and it wasn't pretty. Who had Kyle Orton outplaying Aaron Rodgers? Everyone who's hands are up - stop it, you're lying. Regardless, the Packers are still pretty much a lock for home field advantage. The real drama is between the high scoring Saints and the "how the hell are they good???" 49ers. I give the edge to the Saints as they have two home games left where they are a much better team.


NFC Wild Card
1. Lions 9-5
vs Chargers, @ Packers
2. Falcons 9-5
@ Saints, vs Buccaneers
3. Seahawks 7-7
vs 49ers, @ Cardinals
4. Cardinals 7-7
@ Bengals, vs Seahawks
5. Giants 7-7
@ Jets, vs Dallas
6. Bears 7-7
@ Packers, @ Vikings

The NFC Wild Card is essentially set with Detroit and Atlanta unless both lose out (about a 50-50 proposition for the Lions). If Detroit loses out and the Seahawks and Cardinals win this week, then their faceoff in week 17 could be for a playoff spot. I vote for pandemonium; let's have Atlanta lose out too so we can have Philly host John Skelton in the first round of the playoffs.

I say the NFL shakes out like this

AFC: 1. Pats 2. Texans 3. Steelers 4. Broncos 5. Ravens 6. Jets
NFC: 1. Packers 2. Saints 3. 49ers 4. Dallas 5. Atlanta 6. Seahawks (yes, I think the undisciplined Lions collapse)