I'm not talking %chance here.
I guess by my own criteria I would have to include 6 teams for the NFC as well. Which goes against my original post. I have the Eagles, Saints, and Rams as legitimate contenders. However, the Vikes have quietly played themselves to a 6-2 start as well. The Panthers sit with 6 wins also, and the BitchPidgeons could end up with 6 wins today.
Jags have no shot with Bortles, Titans are underachieving, with the easy schedule and all the talent they have they should be better than 5-3 while scraping by most of their games, and with the Bills inability to win on the road (1-3), they aren't winning 3 road playoff games, especially with Tyrod Taylor
I think the point that is being missed is, making the playoffs is equal to a legitimate shot at making it to the SB.
The Eagles are legit.
Ajayi added the “power” at RB that Smallwood simply couldn’t bring.
(Yes, they have Sucker Punch, but I’d never “count” on him for anything.)
The Eagles are playing the best right now. Of course since it's the Eagles we're talking, they'll probably find a way to choke like they've always done since 1960
The last two times the Eagles started the season 8-1 (1980 and 2004) they have been to the Super Bowl!
Also, in the AFC, I think the Steelers, Pats, Chiefs, Jaguars, Titans and Ravens are going to make the playoffs.
The Ravens have a very easy schedule the rest of the season.
Buffalo has officially been exposed, I seriously doubt they make the playoffs. Tennessee and Jacksonville both have pretty easy schedules and should keep winning. The 6th seed in the AFC could end up being 8-8 or worse
Steelers win the North
Patriots win the East
Chiefs win the West
Titans/Jags win the South
Titans/Jags get wildcard spot
Who gets the 2nd wildcard spot?
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The raiders have a rough schedule to finish the season with the pats, eagles, cowboys and chiefs and they lost against ravens and bills, so for the tiebreaker they are not favored.
The Chargers are maybe the best team in this race, but they are 3-6, but they still have a chance, especially if they win against Buffalo this week ....
I was thinking the same thing.
But... the Chargers will pull a “Chargers” (as they did when they played the Taperiots).
Speaking of which, Tre Boston intercepts Blake Bortles and then Boston taunts the Jacksonville receivers (as opposed to returning the ball 15 yards). The Bolts start their drive at the 10 (instead of the 25)... and when they punt, the Jaguars get the ball at mid-field. That difference in 15 yards might not have mattered, but Joey Bosa slams Bortles down (stupid) after a play is over (incomplete pass)... giving the Jaguars new life. What would have been a Jaguars loss turned into a win, because the Chargers gave them 30 yards (setting up the game-tying FG).
The 2010 season, the Seahawks made the playoffs with a 7-9 record and beat the Saints in the wildcard round. A couple seasons later they won the SB. Could there be a team, on the rise, that pulls a 'back door entry' into the playoffs this season as the 2nd AFC wildcard team? Maybe a Jets team that everyone has written off?
The 2014 Panthers finished the season 7-8-1 and go to the Super Bowl the year after with a 15-1 record!
For me, for the second wild card, my choice is the ravens because of their schedule but I would not be surprised if this is the chargers.The jets have not had a easy schedule in their final 6 games and this team is not good enough
I hope the Bengals crash & burn. I recently signed up over at the BengalBoard.com and they banned me in a week. I wasn't rude, I made constructive suggestions and only knocked Marvin Lewis after he was already beat down in one thread. They are jealous of us over there and are out of hope.
All Defense!