2_LAW_4

2011 NFL Playoff Standings - National Football League - ESPN

In light of this past weekend's games, I think the AFC playoff picture may start to look a little more clearer, at least from this Patriots fan's perspective.

For the Patriots, we all know their schedule eases up quite significantly over the next seven weeks. Mike Reiss had written the Pats remaining opponents (not including this past Sunday's games) combined for a .333 winning percentage. Couple that with Houston --many analyst pegging them to earn one of the byes -- has lost Matt Schaub. This puts a HUGE dent in their playoff aspirations, let alone getting a first round bye. This completely opens the door for the Pats.

I understand its the un-Belichick thing to do and look further ahead than next week, but hey, I'm a fan... I can't help myself... and its fun to look back and see how close you were

Current Playoff Standings (refer to attachment, follow link, or look below)

1 - Houston, sitting at 7-3 (6-2 Conf)
2 - Pittsburgh, 2nd seed, 7-3 (5-3 Conf)
--bye--
3 - NE, 6-3 (5-2 Conf)
4 - Oakland, 5-4 (5-4 Conf)
5 - Baltimore, 6-3 (4-2 Conf)
6 - Cincinnati, 6-3 (5-2 Conf)
--Outside--
7 - NYJ, 5-4 (4-4 Conf)
8 - Buffalo, 5-4 (3-2 Conf)
9 - Tennessee, 5-4, (4-4 Conf)

Remaining Games:

1 - Hou: BYE, @JAC, ATL, @CIN, CAR, @IND, TEN -- 2 pretty close to guaranteed wins (Jac & Ind), tall order to beat ATL, CIN, TEN without Schaub, Mario Williams, and possibly Andre Johnson. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say they win 4 of 6 (jax, atl, car, ind). Final record 11-5 (8-4 Conf)

2 - Pit: BYE, @KC, CIN, CLE, @SF, STL, @CLE -- Only two real tough games remaining, @SF and possibly CIN. The Steelers look like they will capture the 1st seed. Lets say they only lose to SF. Final record 12-4 (9-3 Conf)

3 - NE: KC, @PHI, IND, @WAS, @DEN, MIA, BUF -- Only two remaining games that we can classify as being somewhat difficult (Phi, Buf). I say Pats win 6 (kc, ind, was, den, mia, buf). Final record 12-4 (10-2 Conf)

4 - Oak: @MIN, CHI, @MIA, @GB, DET, @KC, SD -- some tough NFC games lie ahead for the Raiders. The AFC West is shaping up to be similar to the 2008 version, which saw SD "win" the division and get a home playoff game with a stellar 8-8 record. Raiders should win 4 of their reaming 7 games (min, mia, kc, sd). Final record 9-7 (8-4 Conf)

5 - Bal: CIN, SF, @CLE, IND, @SD, CLE, @CIN -- If Baltimore continues to play down to their competition, then their remaining schedule will look even daunting than it already is. They have two head-to-head match ups with Cincy, they have to go all the way out west again to play SD, and they have SF... Lets say they win 5 (cin, cleX2, ind, sd). Final record 11-5 (9-3 Conf)

6 - Cin: @BAL, CLE, @PIT, HOU, @STL, ARZ, BAL -- Very tough remaining schedule in my opinion. Two real tough division road games. Lets say Cincy wins 5 (bal, stl, hou, cle, arz) games. Final record 11-5 (8-4 Conf)

7 - Nyj: @DEN, BUF, @WAS, KC, @PHI, NYG, @MIA -- Not too difficult. Jets should win 5 games (den, buf, was, kc, mia). Final record 10-6 (8-4 Conf)

8 - Buf: @MIA, @NYJ, TEN, @SD, MIA, DEN, @NE -- The wheels are coming off. Bills win 3 games (miaX2, den). Final record 8-8 (6-6 Conf)

9 - Ten: @ATL, TB, @BUF, NO, @IND, JAC, @HOU -- Tennessee is poised to take over the division lead. However, with HOU winning 11 games, Ten just doesn't make it... win 5 (tb, buf, ind, jac, hou). Final record 10-6 (8-4 Conf)

FINAL STANDINGS

1- PITTSBURGH, 12-4
2- NEW ENGLAND, 12-4

3- HOUSTON, 11-5
4- OAKLAND, 9-7
5- BALTIMORE, 11-5
6- CINCINNATI, 11-5

Attached Images

wk10 standings.JPG (92.7 KB, 415 views)

ivanvamp

I would be very happy if those were the final standings. Get a bye, then face Houston probably at home, and they'd be without Schaub. Let Oakland and Baltimore beat each other up, and then go to Pittsburgh to knock heads with the Steelers.

The worst scenario out of all that would be Cincy and Baltimore winning, meaning the Pats would play Baltimore in the 2nd round. Not the preferred matchup.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

My outlook is


AFC East - New England 11-5
AFC North - Baltimore 12-4
AFC South - Houston 11-5
AFC West - Oakland 10-6

Wildcards - 5) Pittsburgh 10-6 (tiebreaker edge over Jets - head to head win)
6) NY Jets 10-6 (edges Tennessee and Cincinnati)

I think NE plays on Wild Card Weekend at home (losing tiebreaker to the Texans for the #2 seed) vs. the Jets and Oakland plays at home vs. Pittsburgh

Baltimore and Houston get the weekend off


No team IMO will have more than 12 wins in the playoffs and no team with less than 10 wins will make it either.

The NFC will have 2 teams with more than 12 wins (SF and GB) While one of two of the Wild Card teams may only have 9 wins.

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Ice_Ice_Brady

You both have Houston going 11-5?

They have a cupcake schedule, and even still they aren't that good. 5-2 with Matt Leinart?

1. Patriots, 12-4
2. Ravens, 12-4
3. Texans, 9-7
4. Chargers, 9-7
5. Steelers, 12-4
6. Bengals, 10-6

PATRIOTSFANINPA

Chargers are not winning that division at 9-7...I think its been a long time since 2 AFC division winners have failed to win 10 games,it may have never happened before.

I think the Texans will rely on the running of Foster and the defense to get to 11 wins and the #2 seed

I think the Pats lose to an Eagles team desperate to stay in the hunt and may lose a WTF game to the Redskins whose coach Shanahan has always has been trouble to Belichick over the years.

I see 11-5 and a #3,maybe #4 seed for the Pats

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PatsGirl2011

As much as I prefer if San Diego makes the playoff, I think they shot themselves in the foot by losing the last 4. There is still no way, IMO, Houston gets a bye. The Ravens are not consistent enough to lose only one more game, if that makes any sense. I am going 1. Steelers 2. Pats 3. Houston barely 4. Oakland 5. Ravens 6. Jets/Bengals/Tenn being the long shot. With the Jets schedule, they may be able to overtake the Ravens for the 5th seed if the Ravens don't get it together. However, the Ravens have essentially a two game lead on the 5th seed. That means the Jets will face Houston in the first round and then Oak/Baltimore.

PatsGirl2011

Hmmm? So by that theory, the Raiders or Chargers will finish 11-5 too? I don't think so..

AndyJohnson

What 2 games do you expect the Patriots to lose?
What 3 do you expect Pittsburgh to lose?
Those are some big upsets you must have on there.
Interesting turnaround you see for the woeful Ravens too.

AndyJohnson

The Raiders would have to win out for the Patriots to have a #4 seed at 11-5.

QB12

Inordinately pessimistic.