Super Bowl Contenders: Predictions For The 2011 NFL Playoffs
As Week 11 of the NFL season comes to a close, it's become safe to say that this season hasn't exactly panned out as we all anticipated.
The Indianapolis Colts are behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the lead of the AFC South, due to a loss in a head-to-head match-up.
Also, the Green Bay Packers are looking up at the Chicago Bears, who also are in first place due to a head-to-head victory.
The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings have only combined for 6 total wins, (3 less than the 9 wins that the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders have combined to attain) and have fired their head coaches.
Many teams have made solid appeals as to why they're the best team in the NFL. Unlike the 2009 regular season, there are no Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints type of teams who are indisputably the best in their conference.
Although a great cloud of mystery still surrounds the NFL playoffs, several teams have emerged as power-houses among their competitors.
Three teams are 8-2, and in fact two of those teams are in the same division. Also, seven teams are 7-3.
But by Week 17, some of the possible Cinderellas' dreams will have been crushed and top dogs will have been knocked off. Here is a look at the possible playoff picture for this January.
NFC West Winner: St. Louis Rams (8-8)
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Most people would have called you crazy at the beginning of the season if you had predicted the St. Louis Rams to be a .500 team. To the pleasant surprise of many, the No. 1 overall pick wasn't a complete bust this year.
Sam Bradford has shown a tremendous amount of leadership with 14 TDs and 2,158 passing yards after only 10 games. On top of those numbers, Bradford has only thrown 9 interceptions. Plus it never hurts to have a guy like Steven Jackson in your backfield.
Sure, the Rams have had some very ugly losses to teams such as the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers, but keep in mind they are in arguably the worst division in the NFL.
With their next six opponents being the Broncos, Cardinals, Saints, Chiefs, 49ers, and Seahawks, expect the Rams to notch around another 4 wins and finish atop the horrid NFC West division.
NFC South Winner: Atlanta Falcons (13-3, First-Round Bye, Home Field)
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Thanks to the ridiculous play of Roddy White this year, the Falcons are sitting pretty at the top of the NFC South at 8-2. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Tony Gonzalez are just a few other names that have contributed to this immense amount of success.
It's hard to contest the fact that the Falcons' record verifies their talent when they've beaten the New Orleans Saints, the Super Bowl champions of last year, on the road.
The Falcons next six opponents are the Packers, Bucs, Panthers (x2), Seahawks, and Saints. Expect the Falcons to win about 5 of these last 6 or possibly even win out, and get home-field advantage along with a first-round bye.
NFC North Winner: Green Bay Packers (10-6)
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In case you haven't noticed, the Packers have been snake-bitten with injuries thus far. Here are some of the names of Packers players not expected to suit up for another game this season: Jermichael Finley, Ryan Grant, Nick Barnett, and Johnny Jolly. This list alone could ruin a season for a team.
Not Green Bay. The Packers are 7-3 and only behind the Chicago Bears due to a head-to-head loss. Aaron Rodgers has been able to pick up the team and carry it on his shoulders to victory, along with the assistance of Greg Jennings and the unlikely James Jones.
Green Bay also has a tough remaining schedule, facing Atlanta, New England, and the Giants. Even though it is very possible the Packers lose all three of those match-ups, expect them to defeat the 49ers, Lions, and Bears to end the season at 10-6, as the undisputed victors of the NFC North.
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NFC East Winner: Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
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Easily one of the biggest surprises of this season has been the play of rejuvenated quarterback Michael Vick. His comeback has sparked the talented Eagles corps and given the fans much to believe in.
With Vick starting, the Eagles sport an undefeated 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 175-104. With Michael Vick at QB, Shady McCoy at RB, and DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin at wide-out, I don't see the Eagles winning fewer than 4 of their next 6 games.
The Eagles face the Bears, Texans, Giants, Vikings, and Cowboys (x2) from here on out. Expect the Eagles to finish at 11-5, barely beating out the Giants for the NFC East title.
NFC Wild Card: New Orleans Saints (10-6)
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Unfortunately for the defending champs, they are stuck in the same division as the surging Atlanta Falcons and surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New Orleans hasn't been able to fulfill very high expectations coming into the season and have lost to the Cardinals and the Browns.
NFL fans need to remember however, the Saints still have Drew Brees, Marques Colston, and Pierre Thomas (who will be returning soon) on the offensive side of the ball.
Also, their next six matchups are against the Lions, Bengals, Rams, Ravens, Falcons, and Bucs. Don't be surprised if the Saints win about four of those games and notch one of the two NFC wild card spots.
NFC Wild Card: New York Giants (10-6)
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After a slow 1-2 start, having been obliterated by the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans, many people tossed the New York Giants out of playoff consideration.
However a large victory against the Bears in Week 4 seemed to spark the G-Men who are now 6-4. Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw have surprised the NFL and specifically the fantasy football world.
Eli Manning has had some bumps along the road, but he has given his team the chance to win recently, which is all that Tom Coughlin should ask of him.
The Giants' next six opponents include the Jaguars, Vikings, Eagles, Packers, and Redskins (x2). The Giants will likely win around 4 of these next 6, possibly faltering to Minnesota or Jacksonville due to the loss of Nicks for the next three weeks, but still grabbing themselves a playoff spot.
AFC West Winner: Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
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Another deep, deep sleeper heading into the season this year, the Kansas City Chiefs are in first place in the AFC West at 6-4. The Chiefs have had their ups and downs with Matt Cassel, while rotating between Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones at RB.
However, Dwayne Bowe has been the hottest receiver in the NFL lately with seven TD catches in his last six games. Plus, Jamaal Charles is one of the most explosive players in the league.
Also, the Chiefs have a pretty easy schedule from here on out. The Chiefs play the Seahawks, Broncos, Chargers, Rams, Titans, and Raiders. The Chiefs will likely win four of those games and cap off the season at 10-6.
AFC South Winner: Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
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The Colts haven't exactly held up to the high expectations that were presented to them at the beginning of the year, considering they're looking up at the Jacksonville Jaguars due to their Week 4 defeat.
However, the Colts are one of the most talented teams in the NFL, as they are every year that they have Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne. Austin Collie just returned from his concussion against the Eagles and seems capable of continuing supplementing Wayne and other receivers like Pierre Garcon.
Also, Jacob Tamme has filled in nicely at the tight end position after the Colts lost Dallas Clark for the season.
In their next six games, the Colts play San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Oakland, and Tennessee (x2).
While it is very possible for Indy to win out from here, expect them to go 5-1 and end up the year at 11-5.
AFC North Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3, First-Round Bye, Home Field)
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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Charlie Batch surprised the NFL by managing to win 3 of their first 4 games following the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger.
Since then, the Steelers' only losses have come to the hands of the defending champion, New Orleans Saints, and the New England Patriots.
Rashard Mendenhall has been running the ball well this year and Mike Wallace has been playing out of his mind, racking up receiving yards. You also always have to account for the menacing Pittsburgh defense,. anchored by James Harrison and Troy Polamalu.
The Steelers play the Bills, Ravens, Bengals, Jets, Panthers, and Browns in their last six games. Although beating both the Ravens and the Jets is a daunting task, don't be all too surprised if the Steelers win out and finish the regular season at 13-3.
AFC East Winner: New York Jets (13-3)
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Coming into the season, after their "Hard Knocks" series, the New York Jets were projected by many to win the Super Bowl. The Jets started off the season on a poor note, losing to Baltimore.
However, out of their next nine games, they won eight, and also beat the New England Patriots, who they now have head-to-head advantage over.
Santonio Holmes has been fantastic for New York, and has turned out to be a great off-season acquisition. The Jets have had been tied or trailing in the fourth quarter in all three of their last games and have still won, thanks to the leadership shown by sophomore QB Mark Sanchez.
The Jets face Cincinnati, New England, Miami, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Buffalo in their final six games. The Jets will likely win five of these six, possibly faltering to either Pittsburgh or New England, but managing to win the AFC East.
AFC Wild Card: New England Patriots (13-3)
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Usually going 13-3 easily wins a team the division, but not in the case of the New England Patriots.
They're grouped with the burning-hot New York Jets in the NFC East, whom they have already been defeated by in Week 2.
Tom Brady hasn't been Tom Brady-like this year, but Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis has helped supplement the offense with the addition of a decent running game.
Also, RB/WR sparkplug Danny Woodhead, who only stands at 5'9", adds a new dimension to the offense.
Plus, Deion Branch has been great ever since New England reunited him with Brady.
In the Patriots next six games, they face Detroit, New York Jets, Chicago, Green Bay, Buffalo and Miami. The Patriots will likely go 5-1 (losing to the Jets) and losing the AFC East title.
AFC Wild Card: Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
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The Baltimore Ravens, like the Patriots, are in a tough divisional spot, grouped with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. The Ravens are 7-3, with some big wins against teams like the Jets and Steelers, but have lost to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Anquan Boldin has been on and off this season, but the weeks that he has been on, he has been terrific. Willis McGahee, has had a few TD's, complementing Ray Rice. Joe Flacco has provided Baltimore with the chance to win in most of their games and seems to have played above expectations.
The Ravens can be an iffy team at times, but with as much talent as they do have, they will surely make the playoffs. Their next six opponents are Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Houston, New Orleans, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
The Ravens will probably win all of those match-ups, except against the Steelers. The Ravens will likely end up with the last AFC wild card spot at 12-4.
Agree, Disagree? Please Comment on Your Opinions!
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Please feel free to post your opinions on this article, especially whether you agree or disagree with my predictions.
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