If the playoffs started today . . .

[ctpatsfan77]

FWIW, the AFC would look something like this:

1. IND (5-0, feh)
2. NE (4-1)*
3. BAL (4-1)* v. 6. CIN (3-1)**
4. SD (3-1) v. 5. DEN (3-1)**

[*,** These might be reversed; I don't feel like figuring out the tiebreakers right now. ]

Simple question: how much change do you expect to see between now and Week 17?

 

[SamBam39]

FWIW, the AFC would look something like this:

1. IND (5-0, feh)
2. NE (4-1)*
3. BAL (4-1)* v. 6. CIN (3-2)**
4. SD (3-1) v. 5. DEN (3-2)**

[*,** These might be reversed; I don't feel like figuring out the tiebreakers right now. ]

Simple question: how much change do you expect to see between now and Week 17?

there's simply no telling.
it's way to early.
injuries. tough schedules. teams evolving.
how bout you wait a few weeks ?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Isnt Denver & Cinci 3-1?

Yes. Fixed it.

 

[Fencer]

I'm pretty sure Baltimore beat at least one NFC team, and their loss is of course within the conference. So the Pats "have" the tiebreaker.

 

[Kdo5]

Denver will have a 1st round bye again this year. Did you see them vs. the Ravens? What a defense. They have been absolutely dominant.

 

[desi-patsfan]

Denver will have a 1st round bye again this year. Did you see them vs. the Ravens? What a defense. They have been absolutely dominant.

Yea Denver defensively looks great. Their Downfall will be Plummer.

 

[richpats]

Denver will have a 1st round bye again this year. Did you see them vs. the Ravens? What a defense. They have been absolutely dominant.

They probably won't get the bye- they have 7 tough matchups left:

SD, at SD, at PIT, at KC, CIN, IND, SEA

Against any explosive offense Denver is vulnerable, so the Charger, Bengal, Colt and Seahawk games are going to be tough. I see them going 12-4, winning the West, but finishing 3rd behind us and Jacksonville (their schedule is easier than Indy's).

 

[richpats]

Yea Denver defensively looks great. Their Downfall will be Plummer.

If you thought he looked bad in the slop, imagine him playing during a NE snow-shower in the playoffs or on a bitter evening a la Titans playoff game.

Oh boy I can't wait

 

[RayClay]

If the playoffs started today . . .

The warm weather and dome teams would have a tremendous advantage since it's only October.

 

[Brownfan80]

I'm in the It's Too Early camp on this one, but it'd be nice if we could move ahead of Indy on that list by the time that it actually counts.

 

[godef]

FWIW, the AFC would look something like this:

1. IND (5-0, feh)
2. NE (4-1)*
3. BAL (4-1)* v. 6. CIN (3-1)**
4. SD (3-1) v. 5. DEN (3-1)**

[*,** These might be reversed; I don't feel like figuring out the tiebreakers right now. ]

Simple question: how much change do you expect to see between now and Week 17?

Not that it really matters; the schedule is typically unbalanced after only 5 weeks. But the Pats have a better conference record that Baltimore (4-1 vs 3-1), so the Pats would be seeded 2nd.

Denver has a better conference record than San Diego (3-0 vs 3-1) and would thus be the 4th seed.

Cincinnati and San Diego have equal conference records at 3-1. The next criterion would be common opponents, Pittsburgh, whom they both beat. Like I say, this gets pointless after only the 5th week. Lets just call Cincinnati and San Diego the wild card teams.

The NFC is even more kludgy...

1. Chic 5-0
2. Phil - NO - SL all 4-1
5. Atla - Seat both 3-1

On top of having equal conference records, Phil, NO and SL all have equal 1-0 records against common opponents (Green Bay).

Atla and Seat tie for the wildcard at 3-1 league and conference records, and are 1-0 against common opponents (Arizona).

So really, "if the playoffs started today..." really is a meaningless concept, at least in determining seedings and pairings.

BTW, the NFC leads the AFC 9-6.