By: Joseph Roldan
The NFL season is now heading into the home stretch and although these final games count for as much as the games in the first quarter of the season, it seems they are worth much more. Playoffs are still in reach for many teams, while some will have to hope for a chance next year.
Although three teams have already clinched playoffs in the AFC, only one team has in the NFC. Here is a projected playoff picture for the season’s end.
The NFL season is now heading into the home stretch and although these final games count for as much as the games in the first quarter of the season, it seems they are worth much more. Playoffs are still in reach for many teams, while some will have to hope for a chance next year.
Although three teams have already clinched playoffs in the AFC, only one team has in the NFC. Here is a projected playoff picture for the season’s end.
AFC
1. Houston Texans
-Tied for the best record in the league, the Texans have yet to clinch their division. The Colts have an outside shot of taking the South, but will need the Texans to have an unlikely last minute collapse. Look for the Texans to clinch against the Colts in their first meeting, but taking the top seed by virtue of beating Denver in the regular season.
FINAL RECORD: 13-3
2. Denver Broncos
-Peyton Manning is en route to taking the 8-8 Broncos of yesteryear to the third best team in the AFC. They have a paltry schedule, with the only real challenge coming from the Ravens next week. Watch as the Broncos ride into a playoff BYE week finishing perfect from here on out.
FINAL RECORD: 13-3
3. New England Patriots
-New England has a chance of finishing out the season with a 4-0 record, but their next two games will be against two of the toughest teams in the league (HOU and SF). After that, their final two will come against some of the worst the AFC has to offer (JAC and MIA). The Patriots will win three games as they won’t rest their starters to remain in the fight with Denver for a BYE.
FINAL RECORD: 12-4
4. Cincinnati Bengals
-The Bengals have won their last four matches and will go on to win their last four. Their Week 16 matchup against Pittsburgh will be a huge game, but I don’t think the Steelers will have an answer for A.J. Green.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
5. Indianapolis Colts
-Luck and the Colts will have to play the Texans twice in their remaining four games. While Houston will be competing for top seed, by Week 17 they will have secured it allowing them to rest their starters. The Colts will take that last game as well as their games against the Titans and the Chiefs.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
-Pittsburgh will lock up the second wild card in the last week of the regular season. Even though their only loss for the rest of the season will come against the Bengals, it will be because of what another team failed to do, than what they accomplished.
FINAL RECORD: 10-6
***AFC Surprise: Baltimore will fail to win another game this season. They will have to face Washington, Denver, New York, and Cincinnati to close out their schedule.
-Tied for the best record in the league, the Texans have yet to clinch their division. The Colts have an outside shot of taking the South, but will need the Texans to have an unlikely last minute collapse. Look for the Texans to clinch against the Colts in their first meeting, but taking the top seed by virtue of beating Denver in the regular season.
FINAL RECORD: 13-3
2. Denver Broncos
-Peyton Manning is en route to taking the 8-8 Broncos of yesteryear to the third best team in the AFC. They have a paltry schedule, with the only real challenge coming from the Ravens next week. Watch as the Broncos ride into a playoff BYE week finishing perfect from here on out.
FINAL RECORD: 13-3
3. New England Patriots
-New England has a chance of finishing out the season with a 4-0 record, but their next two games will be against two of the toughest teams in the league (HOU and SF). After that, their final two will come against some of the worst the AFC has to offer (JAC and MIA). The Patriots will win three games as they won’t rest their starters to remain in the fight with Denver for a BYE.
FINAL RECORD: 12-4
4. Cincinnati Bengals
-The Bengals have won their last four matches and will go on to win their last four. Their Week 16 matchup against Pittsburgh will be a huge game, but I don’t think the Steelers will have an answer for A.J. Green.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
5. Indianapolis Colts
-Luck and the Colts will have to play the Texans twice in their remaining four games. While Houston will be competing for top seed, by Week 17 they will have secured it allowing them to rest their starters. The Colts will take that last game as well as their games against the Titans and the Chiefs.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
-Pittsburgh will lock up the second wild card in the last week of the regular season. Even though their only loss for the rest of the season will come against the Bengals, it will be because of what another team failed to do, than what they accomplished.
FINAL RECORD: 10-6
***AFC Surprise: Baltimore will fail to win another game this season. They will have to face Washington, Denver, New York, and Cincinnati to close out their schedule.
NFC
1. Atlanta Falcons
-Atlanta is the real deal. A healthy portion of seasoned veterans with the added talent of young players have made this team the leading club in the NFC. They will continue their dominance through the final games, only losing because the resting of starters late in the season.
FINAL RECORD: 13-3
2. San Francisco 49ers
-This organization is probably the most publicized in recent news besides the New York Jets. With Harbaugh’s antics and the quarterback controversy, the drama surrounding them seems to water down what should be talked about, their talent. This team is bulging at the seams with it and we will soon see what this team is truly made out of. They have challenging matches against New England and Seattle, but the young talent that will force their way onto the field will help them down the stretch.
FINAL RECORD: 12-3-1
3. Green Bay Packers
-The Pack will record victories in their first three games against Detroit, Chicago, and Tennessee, with a possible win against Minnesota. By the final game, they will not have a shot at a BYE and will not be able to slip further than third. They will most likely rest their starters and perhaps slide in the last game. Maybe learned from last year and will put the best players on the field until their season is over.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
4. Washington Redskins
-This is another hot team that will ride their win streak into the playoffs. The Skins have won their last three games and will only struggle against Baltimore this week, inevitably winning four straight and clinching their division.
FINAL RECORD: 10-6
5. Chicago Bears
-Even with a better record than Washington, Chicago will find themselves in a wild-card spot. In a needed win against Green Bay, they will come up short like they did earlier in the season and fall due to tie-breaker rules.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
6. New York Giants
-Even with three more wins, this team will barely creep into the playoffs. The Giants have been one of the streakiest teams in NFL in the last few years, but they will not be able to achieve more than a six seed. This team is as hard to beat as any when they start firing on all cylinders, but the Champs will not have the horsepower to match up against other NFC contenders.
FINAL RECORD: 10-6
***NFC Surprise: Seattle will not make playoffs even though they share records with two other playoff teams. Due to the tie-breaker rules, Seattle will be left out in the cold, next in line to the party.
-Atlanta is the real deal. A healthy portion of seasoned veterans with the added talent of young players have made this team the leading club in the NFC. They will continue their dominance through the final games, only losing because the resting of starters late in the season.
FINAL RECORD: 13-3
2. San Francisco 49ers
-This organization is probably the most publicized in recent news besides the New York Jets. With Harbaugh’s antics and the quarterback controversy, the drama surrounding them seems to water down what should be talked about, their talent. This team is bulging at the seams with it and we will soon see what this team is truly made out of. They have challenging matches against New England and Seattle, but the young talent that will force their way onto the field will help them down the stretch.
FINAL RECORD: 12-3-1
3. Green Bay Packers
-The Pack will record victories in their first three games against Detroit, Chicago, and Tennessee, with a possible win against Minnesota. By the final game, they will not have a shot at a BYE and will not be able to slip further than third. They will most likely rest their starters and perhaps slide in the last game. Maybe learned from last year and will put the best players on the field until their season is over.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
4. Washington Redskins
-This is another hot team that will ride their win streak into the playoffs. The Skins have won their last three games and will only struggle against Baltimore this week, inevitably winning four straight and clinching their division.
FINAL RECORD: 10-6
5. Chicago Bears
-Even with a better record than Washington, Chicago will find themselves in a wild-card spot. In a needed win against Green Bay, they will come up short like they did earlier in the season and fall due to tie-breaker rules.
FINAL RECORD: 11-5
6. New York Giants
-Even with three more wins, this team will barely creep into the playoffs. The Giants have been one of the streakiest teams in NFL in the last few years, but they will not be able to achieve more than a six seed. This team is as hard to beat as any when they start firing on all cylinders, but the Champs will not have the horsepower to match up against other NFC contenders.
FINAL RECORD: 10-6
***NFC Surprise: Seattle will not make playoffs even though they share records with two other playoff teams. Due to the tie-breaker rules, Seattle will be left out in the cold, next in line to the party.
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