The NFL's Final Four (Indy,NE,Dallas,GB) - A certainty?

http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/statenews/cnhinsall_story_345170701.html

I am not so convinced this will be the exact 4 teams playing for the AFCCG/NFCCG - Especially in that NFC which any team can get hot at any time,And from what I have seen lately from the incredibly talented Adrian Peterson led Minnesota who is playing as well as any team in that conference right now.

Agree/Disagree? - and if you disagree,What team in these final four are you convinced is in the most danger?

I say Green Bay is in the most danger - Favre is due for that horrendous game which he has not really had this year and for a 38 year old QB running the offense,nothing is certain.

I hear you - they are certainly the four best teams, but rarely does it ever work out that way. I do think Pats-Colts is most likely to happen, though.

not a certainty, but that's as strong of a final four as there has been in years (it would seem).

wonder what the all time best w-l % is for the 4 "finalists"

Potential of:

16-0
14-2

15-1
14-2


WOW

At this moment, that's how they stand. With 3 more regular season games and playoff rounds before the NFC and AFC championships, a lot can happen to change those rankings.

I have no difficulty picturing GB going down to 4-5 Favre picks in their opening playoff game.

I think Anthony Smith guaranteed the Steelers would be playing the Patriots in the AFCG after they lost on Sunday.

I know that the Patriots in 2004 had the most difficult stretch of playoff games ever (in terms of opponent winning percentage):

Indy (12-4)
Pitt (15-1)
Philly (13-3)

I just did a quick scan of the history of the playoffs (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/championships) and going off memory (and it's not very good or very long) I can't see a year that would beat the potential of this season.

any given sunday; any given team.

hambone1818 said:

I know that the Patriots in 2004 had the most difficult stretch of playoff games ever (in terms of opponent winning percentage):

Indy (12-4)
Pitt (15-1)
Philly (13-3)

I just did a quick scan of the history of the playoffs (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/championships) and going off memory (and it's not very good or very long) I can't see a year that would beat the potential of this season.

Click to expand...

Balt. (13-3)
NE (12-4)
Chi (14-2)

39-9 versus 40-8. Pretty close.

hambone1818 said:

I know that the Patriots in 2004 had the most difficult stretch of playoff games ever (in terms of opponent winning percentage):

Indy (12-4)
Pitt (15-1)
Philly (13-3)

I just did a quick scan of the history of the playoffs (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/championships) and going off memory (and it's not very good or very long) I can't see a year that would beat the potential of this season.

Click to expand...

What is amazing about this is that those teams also sacrificed three wins due to apathy at the end of the year. In reality, they likely could have been 13-3/15-1/15-1.

He Ban Me said:

Balt. (13-3)
NE (12-4)
Chi (14-2)

39-9 versus 40-8. Pretty close.

Click to expand...

KC 9-7.

And not to be crass or anything, but both Pitt and Philly of 2004 would have obliterated last years Balt and Chi teams. There records weren't indicative of their teams at all.

He Ban Me said:

Balt. (13-3)
NE (12-4)
Chi (14-2)

39-9 versus 40-8. Pretty close.

Click to expand...

Yup, it is...I wasn't pointing it out to say how good the Pats were, simply that it's relevent to the discussion at hand. When looking at the AFC/NFC championship teams and their records, you have three of the 4 (AFC championship teams along with the NFC champion) in there, which would give you a good indication as to how strong (record-wise) those playoffs were.

The NFC is in NO WAY a lock... I think there are a number of teams with the talent to come up and knock off either Dallas or GB at home.

Seattle, Minny (if they get in), even TB.

I wouldn't be so sure those 4 teams walk through to the CCG - if all the better teams win out in the first round, you're talking:

Seattle - very hot, @ GB
Minnesota @ Dallas - same

I don't think TB or Giants can beat either Green Bay or Dallas.

On the AFC side, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Jax are all dangerous. As is the NFL, I think someone gets upset. To me, most likely is GB to Seattle.

Oswlek said:

What is amazing about this is that those teams also sacrificed three wins due to apathy at the end of the year. In reality, they likely could have been 13-3/15-1/15-1.

Click to expand...

Oops,

Bears were 13-3, but lost their last game. Balt and NE won in week 17. Pretty much because they needed to.

In '04, Eagles and Colts both rested. Steelers won, as they were NOT 15-0 going into week 17.

He Ban Me said:

Oops,

Bears were 13-3, but lost their last game. Balt and NE won in week 17. Pretty much because they needed to.

In '04, Eagles and Colts both rested. Steelers won, as they were NOT 15-0 going into week 17.

Click to expand...

I'm not really sure what you are saying here. Are you saying that something similar happened last year like in 2004?

1 loss vs. 3. And even that one loss isn't comparable because every starter played against GB. It wasn't like Philly not even playing TO, Donovan, Westbrook or half of their D.

hambone1818 said:

Yup, it is...I wasn't pointing it out to say how good the Pats were, simply that it's relevent to the discussion at hand. When looking at the AFC/NFC championship teams and their records, you have three of the 4 (AFC championship teams along with the NFC champion) in there, which would give you a good indication as to how strong (record-wise) those playoffs were.

Click to expand...

I understand.

Potential to face a:

12-4
14-2
15-1

41-7

(for Pats)

12-4
16-0
15-1

43-5!

(for Colts)

12-4
15-1
16-0

43-5!

(for GB)

11-5
14-2
16-0

41-7

(for Boys)

Anyway you slice it, the winner of this years' SB will probably face the best winning pct. of all time.

Oswlek said:

I'm not really sure what you are saying here. Are you saying that something similar happened last year like in 2004?

1 loss vs. 3. And even that one loss isn't comparable because every starter played against GB. It wasn't like Philly not even playing TO, Donovan, Westbrook or half of their D.

Click to expand...

I'm saying that the run the Colts had versus

Balt
NE
Chi

is SIMILAR to the run NE had in '04.

Pitt
Colts
Philly

I think any final four conversation has to include Jacksonville, especially if they beat Pittsburgh this weekend.

I would hesitate to count out either Minnesota or Seattle in the NFC. The RBs have been getting the props, but Tavaris Jackson has been quietly turning in steadier performances and the D can be very lively. I wonder how Dallas in particular might cope with a two punch attack of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor at the top of their games.