RACE TO THE PLAYOFFS

[Iggloo]

They are NOT officially eliminated, actually, though it appears rather grim to say the least.

Cowboys playoff scenarios: Is Dallas eliminated from NFC playoffs after Week 14 loss?

Things are looking incredibly bleak for the Dallas Cowboys' chances of making the NFC playoffs.

fansided.com

 

[DonMan]

You have to laugh at how bad the NFL and the TV networks are at trying to schedule meaningful games ahead of time. They are no better than we are at trying to guess which teams will be good.

A friend of mine used to participate in a pool every year. You had to pick winners of every regular season game, before the start of week 1.
The pool winners weren't very far above 50%.

 

[PDay8810]

They are NOT officially eliminated, actually, though it appears rather grim to say the least.

Cowboys playoff scenarios: Is Dallas eliminated from NFC playoffs after Week 14 loss?

Things are looking incredibly bleak for the Dallas Cowboys' chances of making the NFC playoffs.

fansided.com

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[thedddd]

Why is it I am rooting for the Bengals to somehow back into the playoffs.

With that said, their offense alone would make for some very entertaining games come playoff time.

 

[molsaniceman]

AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING

Lions CB Khalil Dorsey suffered a fractured leg in Week 15’s loss to the Bills and is out for the season.
Lions CB Carlton Davis will undergo surgery on his broken jaw and is out indefinitely.
Lions DT Alim McNeill suffered a torn ACL in Week 15’s loss to the Bills, ending his season.

 

[Moab]

This is really a year of haves and have nots. Lots of bad teams and lots of good teams and not too many in the middle that could challenge the good teams in a game.

In the NFC I see Philly, Detroit, Minny, Green Bay, Rams and Tampa as teams that can or could all beat each other. I think too many people are sleeping on the Rams and Bucs as when they're on they can give you all you want plus some, unfortunately when they're not on they can look not good. Washington will make the playoffs, but they seem a little off right now, but in general would kick the crap out of the teams lower in the standings, for the most part

In the AFC, the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens and Pittsburgh are the top shelf with Houston, Chargers, and Broncos behind them. Again, the right conditions would give the latter 3 a shot at the top 4, but things need to go right for them to win the game. Just like the NFC, after those 7 there are a lot of bad football teams, not so much bad talent all over, but really stupid stuff like the bad teams in the NFC.

I'd prefer to not see any more injuries, but I don't think that will happen.

 

[molsaniceman]

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports David Montgomery is out indefinitely after suffering an MCL injury in the Lions’ Week 15 loss to the Bills.

 

[Clayton]

This is really a year of haves and have nots. Lots of bad teams and lots of good teams and not too many in the middle that could challenge the good teams in a game.

For the purposes of contenders, though, I think there is more uncertainty than normal.

Using Profootballreference rankings of the teams:

1. Detroit (13.9)
2. Buffalo (10.1)
3. Green Bay (8.4)
4. Philly (7.3)
5. Baltimore (7.0)
5. Minnesota (7.0)
7. Tampa Bay (6.0)
8. Denver (4.7)
9. Kansas City (4.3)
10. Pittsburgh (3.6)
10. Washington (3.6)

Middling: Chargers, Houston, Bengals, Cardinals, Colts, Seahawks, Niners, Rams, Dolphins, Bears, Falcons, Saints, Jets

So the middle is pretty big imo.

The big takeaway is how vulnerable Detroit, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh are imo. KC and Pitt are watching ankles right now. Detroit...man...I dont want to say they've already been eliminated but no other roster would survive those injuries imo.

 

[Xeliou66]

I don’t think the Lions can make the Super Bowl with all of these injuries - it’s just brutal to have so many injuries on D now Montgomery out as well. I don’t think they are the favorites anymore. I think the Eagles are the favorite now, with the Packers and Rams right behind them.
In the AFC I think the Bills followed by the Chiefs and Ravens are the favorites.
I’m really not sure if other teams can win it all - in the AFC, I don’t think the Steelers have enough on O, the Texans haven’t been that impressive, I don’t think the Chargers or Broncos have quite enough - in the NFC I don’t trust the Vikings, they might have a chance but I’m not sold on Darnold still, Commanders don’t have enough, Bucs aren’t strong enough on D IMO

 

[Clayton]

I don’t think the Lions can make the Super Bowl with all of these injuries - it’s just brutal to have so many injuries on D now Montgomery out as well. I don’t think they are the favorites anymore. I think the Eagles are the favorite now, with the Packers and Rams right behind them.
In the AFC I think the Bills followed by the Chiefs and Ravens are the favorites.
I’m really not sure if other teams can win it all - in the AFC, I don’t think the Steelers have enough on O, the Texans haven’t been that impressive, I don’t think the Chargers or Broncos have quite enough - in the NFC I don’t trust the Vikings, they might have a chance but I’m not sold on Darnold still, Commanders don’t have enough, Bucs aren’t strong enough on D IMO

A big thing with the AFC is the Chiefs have 3 games in 10 days. If the Chiefs win 2 of 3 and keep the 1 seed then I think the AFC is wide open. If the Bills get the 1 seed I think they're pretty hefty favorites with a bye and homefield.

 

[Moab]

A big thing with the AFC is the Chiefs have 3 games in 10 days. If the Chiefs win 2 of 3 and keep the 1 seed then I think the AFC is wide open. If the Bills get the 1 seed I think they're pretty hefty favorites with a bye and homefield.

The Steelers, Ravens and Texans are in the same mess with 3 games in 10 days. So the Bills catch a real break with 3 other contenders getting that brutal stretch. I'm thinking they're going to play a lot of backups more than usual, I would. They do also get a 10 break after that stretch, but it 1 of them gets the bye that might be very helpful, if the Bills get the bye, it's probably going to take a monster effort to beat them in Buffalo in mid Jan.

 

[Clayton]

The Steelers, Ravens and Texans are in the same mess with 3 games in 10 days. So the Bills catch a real break with 3 other contenders getting that brutal stretch. I'm thinking they're going to play a lot of backups more than usual, I would. They do also get a 10 break after that stretch, but it 1 of them gets the bye that might be very helpful, if the Bills get the bye, it's probably going to take a monster effort to beat them in Buffalo in mid Jan.

I doubt the Bills will play any backups unless the lock down the 1 seed. Ball is still in Mahomes' court for now.

I do think the Ravens are sorta built to beat the Bills, too.

 

[Moab]

I doubt the Bills will play any backups unless the lock down the 1 seed. Ball is still in Mahomes' court for now.

I do think the Ravens are sorta built to beat the Bills, too.

I don't disagree, but so far Lamar hasn't been so hot in the playoffs. I think the Ravens will work over the Bills' D and vise versa, but who knows they might not play each other. I don't know if 40 points in Jan in Buffalo or Kansas City is realistic without turnovers, but who the hell knows.

 

[Xeliou66]

I don't disagree, but so far Lamar hasn't been so hot in the playoffs. I think the Ravens will work over the Bills' D and vise versa, but who knows they might not play each other. I don't know if 40 points in Jan in Buffalo or Kansas City is realistic without turnovers, but who the hell knows.

I think the Ravens might have an edge over the Bills because I think their D, particularly their secondary, is better. The game would likely be in Buffalo, but I think it would be a high scoring affair. Would be a very fun matchup as honestly I think those two teams might be the best in the AFC.

 

[Clayton]

I don't disagree, but so far Lamar hasn't been so hot in the playoffs. I think the Ravens will work over the Bills' D and vise versa, but who knows they might not play each other. I don't know if 40 points in Jan in Buffalo or Kansas City is realistic without turnovers, but who the hell knows.

Really the playoffs have mostly been a Mahomes and Burrow show the past half decade. Sometimes things clear out, though. The Niners aren't in the NFC so all of a sudden the Packers might be viable.

 

[Clayton]

I think the Ravens might have an edge over the Bills because I think their D, particularly their secondary, is better.

Derrick Henry gives the Bills nightmares from what Ive seen

 

[Battlelyon]

Week 17 Rams/Cards game expected to be moved to primetime either Saturday or Sunday night

 

[DonMan]

Bills Patriots this Sunday has been moved to 4:25

3rd week in a row for the Bills in that time slot.

 

[Moab]

New look at the NFC.

12- 2 Lions - @Bears, @49ers, Vikings
12-2 Vikings - @Seahawks, Packers, @ Lions
10-4 Packers - Saints, @Vikings, Bears
12-2 Eagles - @Redskins, Cowboys, Giants
9-5 Redskins - Eagles, Falcons, @Cowboys
8-6 Buccaneers - @Cowboys, Panthers, Saints
7-7 Falcons - Giants, @Redskins, Panthers
8-6 Rams are - @ Jets, Cards, Seahawks
8-6 Seattle - Vikings, @Bears, @Rams
7-7 Cards - @Panthers, @Rams, 49ers

While the 49ers and Cowboys are not eliminated, I just don't think either will make the playoffs. They're both just too banged up and I don't see them running the table and the other teams totally collapsing. The upcoming games have a lot to do with that.

We now have a real contest for the 1 seed in the NFC and it appears Philly has the easiest schedule to get there. I wouldn't count our the other NFC East teams beating them, division games tend to be the more difficult tests. The Vikings at Lions in week 18 could be for the 1 seed, but Minny has the most difficult schedule of the 3 to get there.

As I see the other divisions now, the west is probably going to be Seahawks @ Rams for the west title on Sunday night football.

Tampa Bay appears to have an easier schedule than Atlanta and a 1 game lead, but who knows. Right now Cousins is really struggling and it's kind of scary to say that I trust Baker more than him, but I do.

I don't think we'll see teams resting players in weeks 17 and 18, too much at stake.

We have some important games this week.

Vikes at Seahawks
Eagles at Redskins

Week 17
Packers at Vikings
Redskins at Falcons

Week 18 just might be an all out slobber knocker for positioning in the playoffs, both the 1 seed and better wild card seeding. We shall see