NFL Playoff Picture: For Many Teams, Playoffs Start in Week 14

Jesse ReedDec 7, 2011

There are still four games left until the 2011 NFL playoffs, but for many teams, the playoffs start in Week 14.

Who's to say that is a bad thing?

These teams are already in the thick of it. Every game could either be the springboard to higher things or it could be the dagger in the heart that finally kills a season.

This kind of pressure forges stronger steel, and the teams that come through the fires will be tough to beat in January.

AFC East

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The New England Patriots are essentially a lock, and nobody will be surprised to see them win out the rest of the way.

For the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, things are not quite so simple. The Miami Dolphins will have to try again next year.

New York Jets

First of all, mad props to Brian Schottenheimer for actually sticking to the running game against Washington. The Jets will need to establish a running game, or their run is doomed.

At 7-5, the Jets will probably need to win at least three out of four to get into the playoffs.

The onus is on the defense to step up and play better against the run. Teams have been able to dominate the Jets' defensive line at times this year, and it has allowed their opponents the luxury of not having to deal with their secondary as much.

Their remaining schedule goes like this:

Kansas City Chiefs @ New York Jets
New York Jets @ Philadelphia Eagles
New York Giants @ New York Jets
New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

Looks like there could be a 2-2 split to me. The Giants are just as desperate to win, and I think they will. The last one against the Dolphins will be fun.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills need to win the rest of their games and have some help to get into the playoffs.

After starting the season on a hot streak, the Bills have been below average and are on a four-game losing streak.

Their remaining schedule goes like this:

Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

Ouch.

The Bills might lose out.

AFC North

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The best division in the NFL.

Even the Cleveland Browns, the red-headed stepchild of the bunch, is a tough team to beat.

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will be in the playoffs. The only question for them will be their seeding.

Cincinnati Bengals

Despite losing three out of three against their bigger brothers in the AFC North, the Bengals are still alive and kicking for one of the wild-card spots in the 2011 NFL playoffs.

Rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have an opportunity to be the best quarterback/wide receiver combination in NFL history. They keep the Bengals in almost every game.

The Bengals also have a stingy defense. Three quarters of the way through this season, they still hold the sixth spot in total defense.

The Bengals' schedule looks like this the rest of the way:

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals @ St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals @ Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

That's a tough schedule, minus the Rams game.

If the Bengals actually make it into the 2011 NFL playoffs, they will have earned it.

I'm looking forward to the game on New Years Day against the Ravens, where the Bengals will have one last chance to try and compete with the big dogs.

AFC South

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For the first time in what feels like forever, the Indianapolis Colts won't be in the playoffs. The Jacksonville Jaguars were so bad that they fired nine-year head coach Jack Del Rio, and they won't be in it either.

That leaves the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.

Houston Texans

This team has won six straight games, albeit against inferior opponents.

Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates has been serviceable as the third-string quarterback, and he has only turned the ball over once in the two games he's been in.

The strength of this team is in the running game and in their elite defense. Hmmm. That is a good combination.

The Texans' remaining schedule looks like this:

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals
Carolina Panthers @ Houston Texans
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

The game against the Bengals will be a slug fest. I expect the Texans to finish this schedule with a record of 3-1

Tennessee Titans

It's hard to figure this team out. At 7-5, they have as good a chance as anyone to get into the 2011 NFL playoffs.

The biggest question on everyone's mind is: Will Chris Johnson be the guy the Titans paid him to be?

The Titans defense has a propensity to give up massive amounts of yards without too many points. I will say that the competition gets tougher next week.

The Titans' remaining schedule looks like this:

New Orleans Saints@ Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans

I love that these two teams will be facing one another to finish the season.

I expect the Titans to finish the season 2-2, putting their record at 9-7.

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AFC West

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This is my favorite division to watch this December. The Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos are tied for first and will go down to the wire.

There is always the chance that the entire division ends up 8-8. That would be awesome.

Denver Broncos

Von Miller and Tim Tebow lead the Broncos, who are on a hot streak.

The Broncos have been winning with good, old-fashioned running and defense.

Their remaining schedule goes like this:

Chicago Bears @ Denver Broncos
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills
Kansas City Broncos @ Denver Broncos

The Broncos should win three out of four, as long as their defense keeps playing the way they are capable of playing.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have a brutal two games coming up.

After the loss to the Miami Dolphins, the team will need to refocus fast.

Their remaining schedule looks like this:

Oakland Raiders @ Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions @ Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs
San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

The Raiders could be in for a disappointing finish after such a promising start.

Kansas City Chiefs

You have to love the AFC West. At 5-7, the Chiefs and Chargers are both in the running for the division.

The biggest problems for the Chiefs are the team's quarterback issues and that they have been hit hard by the injury bug.

Their remaining schedule goes like this:

Kansas City Chiefs @ New York Jets
Green Bay Packers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

There is a good chance the Chiefs don't win another game this year.

San Diego Chargers

OK, it's December and Phillip Rivers is at it again, looking pristine against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.

It was the Jaguars...let's reserve judgement until they face off against the Baltimore Ravens.

Their remaining schedule goes like this:

Buffalo Bills @ San Diego Chargers
Baltimore Ravens @ San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers @ Detroit Lions
San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

I'm thinking that this just isn't the year for Rivers and the Chargers. I don't expect them to win more than two of these games.

NFC East

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The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins are out of the discussion, here.

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, however, are a different story. It seems like these two teams are trying to see which one can do just enough to back into the playoffs.

Dallas Cowboys

With all the talent on the Cowboys' loaded roster, it's hard to understand how we keep having the same discussion each and every year about this team.

Why can't they get it together?

This is only one man's opinion, but I think if you look at the struggles you'll see that the only real constant has been Tony Romo. Just saying.

Their remaining schedule looks like this:

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

New York Giants

The Giants are in the midst of a four-game losing streak that needs to end now if they have any hope of getting into the 2011 NFL playoffs.

Getting Ahmad Bradshaw back from a broken foot will help their cause.

The biggest task for the Giants is fixing their defense. They haven't been able to stop anybody lately.

Their remaining schedule looks like this:

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys
Washington Redskins @ New York Giants
New York Giants @ New York Jets
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

I love how the NFL set up the end of the season for these two teams.

I've stopped trying to predict which one of these teams will overcome. The final four weeks will be as exciting as the playoffs, and I can't wait to see what happens.

NFC North

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The NFC North is the second best division in the NFL this year. Besides the Minnesota Vikings, all three teams have a chance to make it into the 2011 NFL playoffs.

The Green Bay Packers have already clinched a spot in the playoffs along with the NFC North divisional crown.

Detroit Lions

The Lions were exposed by the San Francisco 49ers, and the team hasn't been able to fully get back on track since that Week 6 battle.

Ndamukong Suh's suspension has put the team in a bind, and the defense has been struggling.

Their remaining schedule looks like this:

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions @ Oakland Raiders
San Diego Chargers @ Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Chargers

It'll be tough, but I think the Lions will win three out of their four games, putting them in the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

Chicago Bears

The Bears have been given a bitter pill to swallow, losing both their starting quarterback and their starting running back to probable season-ending injuries.

The team had been gaining momentum and was on a roll until these devastating injuries.

Their remaining schedule looks like this:

Chicago Bears @ Denver Broncos
Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

I see the Bears struggling to win one of these games. They won't make it into the playoffs this season.

NFC South

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The New Orleans Saints have all but secured their position as the third seed in the NFC.

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both out of the running for the 2011 NFL playoffs, both posting records of 4-8.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons haven't been able to gather their full strength this season and play like they should.

The loss against the Houston Texans has exposed the truth: Despite having some of the best weapons in the NFL, Matt Ryan is having trouble hooking up with his receivers for touchdowns.

Their remaining schedule goes like this:

Atlanta Falcons @ Carolina Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars@ Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons should win three games out of four, putting them in the playoffs at 10-6 as a wild card with the Detroit Lions.

NFC West

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Technically, both the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks have mathematical chances to get into the 2011 NFL playoffs. It's not happening.

The only team in the NFC West that will sniff the playoffs is the newly-crowned divisional champs, the San Francisco 49ers.

So, What Will the Playoff Picture Look Like?

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The teams that come through the final four weeks of the 2011 NFL season will be battle-tested and ready to challenge the top teams that have coasted to the end on the coattails of their early-season success.

The 2011 NFL playoff picture is coming into focus. Here are my Week 14 predictions for who will get in.

AFC