FPP is back after an extended hiatus due to unforeseen computer problems. A lot has gone on in the sports world since I last wrote an article, including the NFL. The playoffs are just over a month away, and the playoff reacesare heating up in bothconferences. With only four games remaining on each team’s schedule, a number of teams are facing must win situations for the remainder of the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their must win game against the Browns last night, which virtually ended their chance of making the playoffs and repeating as champions. A record of 9-7 still could be good enough to make the playoffs, but the teams qualifying for a spot will come from the list below.
The Chase for the Playoffs in the AFC
1. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts do not have to worry about making the playoffs. The Colts have not only wrapped up a birth in the post-season, they have already wrapped up the AFC Southdivision, and need just one more victory to secure home field throughout the playoffs. The Colts may not be chasing a playoff spot, but they are chasing a perfect season. The Colts are currently a perfect 12-0 on the season and face Denver this week at home followed by a game with Jacksonville on the road, then back home to face the Jets, before finishing the season in Buffalo. Basically the Colts have four very winnable games to finish the season, so 16-o is a very good possibility. The one question is how long will head coach Jim Caldwell keep playing the starters? The Colts already have everything wrapped up except a Superbowl championship, but despite making public comments about the Superbowl being the only focus for the Colts, this team wants an undefeated season, and they will do everything possible to make it happen.
2. San Diego Chargers
Many were wondering if the Chargers would even make the playoffs this season after starting 2-3, and falling a full 3 games behind the Denver Broncos. However, the Chargers have now reeled off 7 straight wins, and currently hold a one-game lead in the AFC West, and could finish second in the AFC to earn a bye in the first week of the playoffs. San Diego has always had the talent to win, and they have put together a number of solid regular seasons, but this group has always failed to live up to the hype in the playoffs. Could this be the year the Chargers reverse their fortunes? Well they will first have to secure a birth in the playoffs, but one more win should be enough to do that, so I am willing to go out on that long limb and place the Chargers in the playoffs. I am still not sure if they will end up with the second seed in the AFC, because the Bengals are right one their heels. The Chargers will face the Bengals in two weeks, which should decide that spot. The Chargers would be wise to finish second, in order to avoid the Colts for as long as possible, but this will still be a tough fight to get through the AFC. The Chargers still have the talent to win, but this team has failed so many times that I just cannot pick them to win the AFC Championship. If they do in fact fail to win this year, I expect some major changes to take place with this roster in the off-season.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
In my pre-season predictions I had the Bengals winning at best six games this season. Instead the Bengals have shocked the football world by sweeping all of their division games, and compiling a very impressive 9-3 record to this point. Cincinnati is currently fighting for first-round bye, but achieving that will not be easy. The Bengals next two games take place on the road against very tough opponents in Minnesota and San Diego respectively, before wrapping up the season against the Chiefs and Jets. The Bengals have not clinched anything to this point, but it appears they will wrap up a division title shortly. Finishing second overall; however, appears to be a bit of a stretch. Cincinnati has won a number of close games this season, which illustrates their mental toughness, but this team has played a few games that brought back memories of the Bungles. But the Bengals will host a playoff a playoff game, and could very easily win that game, but their season should end shortly after that. It will still be a successful season for Marvin Lewis and the Bengals who appear to be heading in the right direction witha number of young emerging stars playing prominent roles on both sides of the ball.
4. New England Patriots
The Pats could be the toughest team to figure out in the AFC. Questions were surrounding this team after this team struggled out of the gate. The Patriots started 3-2, but Tom Brady and his men appeared to have turned things around ripping off three straight wins in commanding fashion before facing the Colts in Indy. Then Bill Belichick went for it on 4thand 2 from his own 28yard line, and that failed conversion resulted in a loss, and a cloud has hovered over this team ever since. Sure New England bounced back the following week against the Jets, but they followed that by getting beaten badly by the Saints, and then blew an eleven point second half lead in a loss to the Dolphins. There are a few troubling signs emerging in New England. First is their record on the road. The Patriots have only won once on the road this season, and that game took place in London England against Tampa Bay. New England has a winnable schedule heading down the stretch, but two of those game will take place on the road, and losing both of them could leave the Pats on the outside looking in. New England only holds a one game lead over the Dolphins and Jets, so there is no margin for error. The second troubling sign is the fact that the Patriots failed to convert another 4th down, which had an impact on the game. The Patriots were in field goal range against the Dolphins and could have extended the lead, but Belichick went for the first down. New England failed to convert and the Dolphins were able to comeback and win by one. I supported Belichick’s decision against the Colts, but he should have taken the points against the Dolphins. Belichick’s decisions have always worked out in the past, but this year has been different which has brought in a new level of doubt. Another change in New England is taking place off the field. The Patriots have always avoided personnel problems, but this week Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton, and Derrick Burgess were all sent home from practice for being late. These issues have crept up with teams all over the league, but it never seemed to happen in New England. The heat is on for the Patriots, but I still feel this team will win the AFC East and host a playoff game, but they will have to win on the road in the order to make a Superbowl appearance, and I no longer feel this team has what it takes to win this year.
5. Denver Broncos
It has been a roller-coaster season in Denver to say the least. The team appeared to be on its way to a disastrous season when Jay Cutler was traded and Brandon Marshall was demanding a trade, but then the Broncos were on top of the world after starting 6-0. However, four straight losses left the Broncos in second place in the AFC West, and their playoff hopes were in serious jeopardy, but Denver has now rebounded with two straight dominant wins. Which version of the Broncos will show up in the final four weeks? That is the question people around the NFL are asking, along with the teams on the outside of the AFC playoff picture. Denver currently sits with four losses, but they have two very tough games left against Indianapolis and Philadelphia, and two winnable games against Kansas City and Oakland. It appears the best teams currently sitting outside the playoffs can hope for is having Denver losing six games this season. Looking at the remaining schedules of all the teams involved, I would have to say the Broncos should manage to find one of the final two playoff spots. I realize it is never safe to assume anything with this Denver team, but it would take a colossal collapse for the Broncos to miss, and that could never happen to this team. Right?
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars currently hold the final playoff spot, but with five losses on the season, the Jaguars are in a very tough fight to make the playoffs. However, the Jags will not have too wait long to find out if they have what it takes to make a run. Jacksonville will face Miami on Sunday in a massive game, and that is followed by games against Indianapolis and New England before ending the seasonwith Cleveland. The next three weeks will decide Jacksonville’s season. A loss to Miami could be devastating as it would allow the Dolphins to leapfrog Jacksonville in the standings. The schedule appears to be too tough, and this team is too inconsistent to make the playoffs.
7. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are another tough team to figure out. They started the season very strong witha 3-0 record, and the Ravens were being picked as a Superbowl favourite. Then things began to fall apart as the Ravens lost their next three games, and have traded wins and losses since to sit at 6-6. However, despite currently sitting out of a playoff spot, the Ravens do have a very good shot at making the post-season. Baltimore does not face an opponent with a record over .500. The Ravens toughest remaining contest takes place in week 16 against the Steelers, who are struggling to say the least. Baltimore could easily win their final four games, which would be enough to put this team in the playoffs. It also does not hurt that the Ravens hold the tiebreaker with the Broncos.
8. Miami Dolphins
Miami is another one of those teams that currently sits at six losses and realistically cannot afford to lose another game. The Dolphins could still make the playoffs one of two ways. They can still overtake thePatriotsto win the AFC East, or they could catch either the Jaguars or Broncos. I already mentioned the Dolphins and Jaguars will face each other this week in a must win game. If the Dolphins beat the Jaguars, the remaining schedule looks pretty good for Miami. Tennessee, Houston, and Pittsburgh can all be beaten, but it is a tall task to ask of the team who is without their starting quarterback, starting running back, and have a defense with a number of holes on it. This is not going to be the year for the Dolphins.
9. New York Jets
The Jets are yet another team in the AFC to get off to a fantastic start only to see it evaporate in very short order. New York currently sits at 6-6 after starting the season 3-0, but the Jets have won two in a row. The Jets have two major issues to overcome if they are going to make the playoffs. One problem is an injury to starting quarterback Mark Sanchez, and the second issue is a tough schedule. Kellen Clemems will get the start for the Jets this week against the Bucs, and it is not known when Sanchez will be able to return. The Jets will have to beat the Bucs, because their final three game are against Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. The Jets are too inconsistent to play at the level required to make the playoffs.
Predictions:
- Colts
- Chargers
- Bengals
- Patriots
- Ravens
- Broncos
Wild-Card Weekend
- Broncos over Bengals
- Patriots over Ravens
Divisional Round
- Colts over Broncos
- Chargers over Patriots
AFC Championship
- Colts over Chargers