NFL Playoff Picture: 20 Shockers to Brace For This Postseason
Predicting who does and doesn't make the playoffs at the beginning of an NFL season is tricky, because you never know which "good" team is going to take a dive and which "bad" team is going to turn things around.
But with three weeks left in the season, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus with only a handful of teams making things hazy.
At this point, while only the Patriots have locked up a playoff spot, most of the other teams in the playoff picture look like easy locks, and it would take a catastrophe to dislodge some of these teams from the postseason dance.
But this article is about bold predictions, and we're going to make them here. Remember, these picks were made using the finest techniques and quality crystal balls from Spencers.
Bet at your own risk. The Author assumes 70 percent of these predictions will come true. The other 30 percent will fail because the teams in question didn't listen to him.
20. The Buccaneers Will Miss the Playoffs
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Sorry, Tampa Bay fans, the Buccaneers are one of those feisty teams that hang around the playoff picture in December, but aren't there when the dance starts in January.
The Bucs just don't have a good record against teams with winning records, and that's a hurdle the Bucs will have to overcome in 2011.
19. The St. Louis Rams Will Win the NFC West
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As hard as it is to believe, the team with this year's No. 1 overall pick in the draft will see the postseason. The Rams are playing just a little better than the rest of the dregs of the NFC West and will be rewarded with a playoff appearance.
I make no promises beyond that.
18. The Oakland Raiders Will Play the Role of Spoiler
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The Oakland Raiders' playoff hopes are gone with the loss to Jacksonville this past week, but that doesn't mean the Raiders aren't planning to take a few other teams with them.
Expect the Raiders to win two out of their three final games and ruin the playoff dream for at least one other AFC team.
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17. Aaron Rodgers Will Have No Bearing on the Packers' Playoff Life
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Aaron Rodgers may get cleared to play again this season, but his absence Sunday proved the team has a lot of problems that most likely will keep the Packers out of the playoffs in 2010.
That doesn't mean the Packers are out of it yet, but it does mean even if he comes back, there's no guarantee the Packers sweep the final three games and earn a playoff spot.
16. New England WIll Knock the Dolphins Out of the Playoff Hunt
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The way things are going, the Dolphins actually still have a shot at making the playoffs.
Even though New England probably won't have anything to play for in Week 17, don't expect them to rest anybody or take the week off. Bill Belichick does not do things like that, and that's why he has three Super Bowl rings and the Colts only have one in the last decade.
The Dolphins will find themselves fighting for the final Wild Card spot in Week 17, and the Patriots will calmly eliminate them from contention and not feel bad about it later.
15. New England Will Knock the Green Bay Packers Out of the Playoffs
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Before New England can knock the Dolphins out of the playoffs, they have to play Green Bay.
Whether Aaron Rodgers plays or not is irrelevant. The Patriots are playing at a level not seen since their 2007 season.
The Packers defense will keep the game from being a 45-3 rout, but that's about all I can say about the game. Belichick will focus on shutting down Clay Matthews and the rest will take care of itself.
14. The Saints Will Eliminate the Buccaneers
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Earlier, I said the Buccaneers will miss the playoffs. What I didn't tell you is that the Saints will be the ones to put them out.
The Saints face the Ravens and Falcons before closing the season out in Tampa Bay. There's a good chance the Saints lose at least one of those games, which would keep the Bucs' playoff hopes in play, as long as the Bucs win their next two games.
Considering the Bucs play Detroit and Seattle next, there's no reason to think Week 17 won't determine it all.
13. The Cleveland Browns Will Play Spoiler
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The Browns' final two games of the season are against the Ravens and the Steelers. If Colt McCoy returns, and isn't immediately killed by one of the two defenses, expect the Browns to pull a win out of at least one of those games.
With that win, it will shift the balance of power in the playoff picture and knock someone out of the playoff race completely.
Which team might that be? Click on to find out.
12. The Jets Will Miss the Playoffs
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The Jets play the Steelers and the Bears over the next two weeks. After seeing how the team has fallen apart in the last two weeks, it looks like their playoff hopes are a lot grimmer than they were a week ago.
If the Jets lose the next two weeks, their playoff hopes are pretty much dashed once the Browns lose to the Ravens.
While I said the Browns would win one of the last two games, I'm predicting it's against the Steelers, and the Ravens go on to take one of the AFC Wild Card spots. The other ends up coming from the AFC South, leaving the Jets on the outside looking in.
11. The Chargers and Chiefs Will Play to the End
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The AFC West is going to come down to the final week of the season, and the Chargers will come out on top after the Raiders fulfill their spoiler role and take down the Chiefs.
Last week proved the Chiefs need a healthy Matt Cassel to make the playoffs, and teams will focus on that the rest of the way out here.
Meanwhile, the Chargers will sneak into the playoffs by the process of elimination.
10. The Colts Hold On to Win the AFC South
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Joseph Addai is getting healthy again and Peyton Manning knows what he should stop doing in the Colts offense.
While that's oversimplifying things, the point is the Colts are going to win out the rest of the season and capture the AFC South title.
11. The Jaguars Beat the Colts in the Wild Card Round
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The Jaguars have a knack for miracle finishes, and that's what you will see happen in the Wild Card round as the Colts take on the Jaguars, and Maurice Jones-Drew lights it up and eliminates the Colts from the playoffs.
10. The Ravens Destroy the Chargers
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The Ravens will face the Chargers in the Wild Card round, and it will be a brutal game of hard hits and long touchdown passes.
But the Ravens get the edge going in, and Norv Turner will have some unpleasant questions to answer after the season.
9. The Eagles vs. the Giants in the Wild Card Round
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The Eagles will face the Giants in the opening round of the NFC playoffs, and this will be a game people talk about all offseason as an all-time great game.
Expect Vick to be pressured the whole game, but he's playing at a level few quarterbacks can get to, so the Eagles eliminate the Giants from the playoffs.
8. The Rams Don't Get Completely Destroyed by the Saints
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The Rams make the playoffs, but that's it. The Saints take care of business in New Orleans and the Rams are eliminated.
The only consolation for St. Louis? It's not a 50-0 blowout.
7. The Jaguars Upset the Steelers
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This will be the biggest upset of the playoffs as the Jaguars pull out another fourth-quarter miracle and upset the Steelers in the Divisional Round.
The Steelers defense will hold strong for three quarters, but with no help from the offense because of Bruce Arians' poor schemes, the Steelers defense breaks down in the fourth quarter and the Jags advance to the AFC Championship Game.
6. The Bears Are One and Done
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The Bears got torn apart by the Patriots in what could be characterized as a potential Super Bowl preview if the season had ended today.
Given how the Bears performed, I find it difficult to see the Bears winning in the playoffs. The Saints dismantle the Bears offense and move on to the NFC Championship Game.
5. The Patriots Defeat the Ravens
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The Patriots beat the Ravens 23-20 in Week 6. Expect another close game as two great coaches square off with two great teams.
But I still feel the Patriots will be playing at too high a level, and the Patriots advance to their fifth Super Bowl in the last 10 years.
4. The Falcons Neutralize Michael Vick
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At the moment, the Falcons are the most complete team in the NFL and, barring serious injuries down the stretch or in the playoffs, the Falcons will be able to withstand the Eagles' dominating offense.
Vick probably will still have a good game, but the Falcons will be just that much better, and the Super Bowl between the Falcons and the Patriots will be set.
3. The Falcons Will Approach the Patriots by Targeting Tom Brady
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The key to the Patriots offense is Tom Brady. So the Falcons will do everything they can to shut him down and hope BenJarvus Green-Ellis doesn't have a good day.
It's the smartest plan you can have, but it has to be executed properly, or Belichick will tear it apart after the first series.
2. The Patriots Will Shut Down Matt Ryan
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If there's any coach who can figure out how to shut down both the passing game and the running game of the Falcons, Bill Belichick is that guy.
While he won't achieve a complete shutdown, he'll probably focus on keeping Ryan contained and rely on his defensive line to keep Michael Turner from having a big day.
1. The Patriots Come Out Victorious
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The Patriots hold on for the win in what should be a great game. Both teams are too good for this to be a blowout either way, and both offenses are talented enough that it won't be a 10-7 defensive struggle.
But the Patriots capture their fourth title under Bill Belichick, and the season ends on a great note before falling full-force into labor negotiations.
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