NFL Playoff Picture

After only three weeks of NFL action, isn't it interesting that we already have a pretty clear picture of what the NFL playoff scene will look like? Assuming no major injuries to key players, we can already state "in" or "out" consclusively with the majority of the 31 teams.

NFC East:
The Eagles will win the division.
The Giants will make the playoffs. They are 2-1 right now and will go 6-2 in their division.
The Cardinals, Cowboys, and Redskins are out.

NFC Central:
The Packers should win the division and will make the playoffs.
The Bucs and Vikings are on the bubble. Expect one of these teams to emerge and make the playoffs.
The Bears and Lions are out.

NFC West:
The Rams will win the division and make the playoffs.
The 49ers look strong but it may be too early to tell. This week vs. Carolina should sharpen the picture.
The Saints and Panthers look weak but it is too early to count them out.
The Falcons are out. They are 2-1 but have yet to beat a real team. They will go 3-5 in the division.

AFC East:
The Dolphins should win the division.
The jury is still out on the Colts although they should have the weapons to make it.
The Jets look weak. If they struggle against Buffalo this week (even if they win), count them out of the playoffs.
The Bills and Patriots are out.

AFC Central:
The Ravens are in.
The Browns, Bengals, Titans, and Jaguars are still question marks. This is the most muddled division in the NFL.
The Steelers are out. They can't be contenders with Stewart at QB.

AFC West:
The Raiders are in.
The Broncos and Chargers look strong.
The Chiefs and Seahawks are out.

Out of the 31 teams, we can identify 7 playoff teams and 11 non-playoff teams.

In the NFC, 5 teams are still in the running for 2 spots, with the 49ers and either Bucs or Vikings looking the strongest so far.

The AFC is a little tougher due to the confusion in the Central division. There are 8 teams fighting for 3 spots. Bear in mind that the Browns, Bengals, and Chargers have weaker schedules than the other 5. I like the Colts, Browns, Chargers, and Broncos to be real contenders for the 3 remaining spots.

Comments?

[WWSituation]

Don't be surprised to see the Bears displace the Vikings on your list. Also, count New Orleans in the playoff picture. I believe that SF and NO will grab 2 of the wild card spots with the other 4 teams being Green Bay, St. Louis, Phila., and NY.

I don't think the jury is out on the Colts. They are in. I will officially take back my comments about Tennessee being good as no winless team at this point deserves any of my passion in any discussion.

Baltimore is looking tough. Real tough.

The picture became clearer after this weekend's action.

WW: Although I would be thrilled to see my beloved Bears in the playoffs, it is not to be. They can't do better than 4-4 in their division and will not win more than 7 or 8 in total (they will be fortunate to get that many). You may be right about NO but right now I like SF and Tampa for the other wild cards.

The NFC is clearer as it looks as though SF and Tampa will take the last two spots. Minnesota can't seem to put together a complete game and Carolina is definitely out. New Orleans is still a possibility but has to play better outside of a dome.

The AFC has cleared up somewhat although there are still some question marks. I still like Indi, Cleveland, Denver, and San Diego to fight for the last three spots. Jacksonville is done. Tennessee is out. Cincinnati is out. The Jets had trouble with Buffalo and so (according to my earlier prediction) will not be playoff contenders.

We are down to 7 teams in each division. Not bad after only 4 weeks of a 17 week season.

[CJL]

Interesting that you initially ruled out Pittsburgh b/c of Stewart at QB, yet included Cincinnati as a question mark. Granted, Stewart is no QB - he'd probably be better at WR, or even RB, TE, or safety - but I'd still rather have him at QB than Kitna, Mitchell, or Smith.

I see you came to your senses and counted Cincinnati out the second time around. Though they don't deserve it based on the last two weeks, I'm sticking to my guns and predicting they have a great run (for them) and end up just missing the playoffs.

WW - I also give up on Tennessee. They show no heart. They look defeated before the game starts, like they're trying to convince themselves that they're good. Granted, they've had some tough games (Miami, Baltimore, and a healthy Jacksonville), but they used to hold those kind of teams to a stalemate until they could get a big play through. This year, they look like they're just trying not to get blown away too badly. Worse yet for them, Cleveland and Cincinnati aren't the pushovers they were last year.

A very muddled AFC Central. Odd this year that the the AFC East may be the cleanest of the divisions.

[Abducens]

>>WW - I also give up on Tennessee. They show no heart.

Told you so - does this mean I don't have to cut the crap anymore?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Abducens on 2001-10-09 09:39 ]</font>

[WWSituation]

Rub it in and enjoy it while you can!

[WWSituation]

For what its worth, I'm most embarresed that I have to eat crow about a team I could care less about!

[Ray Finkle]

I'm sticking by my statements. Abducens was saying that Tennessee was never good, which I disagreed with. You don't get to the Super Bowl without having a good team.

I too could care less about Tennessee. In fact, I'm glad to see them 0-3. But I respect what they've accomplished the last couple of years.

I think "Idle Hands" is getting a little carried away by saying the playoffs are just about decided already. There's still 13 weeks left. Strange things will happen. There will be teams that will make the playoffs that he is counting out.

[CJL]

I knew I had that coming, Abducens. I backed Tennessee (also w/ little personal interest, WW), and they proved me wrong. Enjoy it while you can.

I still stand by my point that Tennessee's AFC Championship is neither tarnished by having 2 crappy teams in their division, nor because of the means by which they won their first playoff game.

[Abducens]

The Titans were proof that it's better to be lucky than good. Their luck ran out.

I was exaggerating when I said they were never a good team. In real terms of their talent, they deserved to be about a 10-win team the last 2 years. An incredible run of luck got them as far as they did, and now it looks like it's over.

They've fallen apart now because they don't know what to do when the luck isn't there for them. Used to be they could execute and count on every bounce going their way. Now that it's not happening, they're playing tentatively and it's reflecting it how they can't seem to do anything right.

It's the same thing that happened to the 49ers in 1999. They depended on lucky bounces, referee help, and terrible opponents to win lots of games from 1995-1998. When the well dried up, it was a meltdown.