Name 5 teams you are certain won't make the playoffs - 5 teams who you think will

[Bruschi 3:16]

Miami actually tends to own you.

Now the big one. You actually believe the Broncos are more likely to get into the playoffs than the Bolts? Sigh. Rather than me get into why I think that's not true. I'd prefer you offer up your perspective on why you think that is true. Because I do not want to summarily refute things.

Miami owns NE based on what?

I think the Broncos are going to finish ahead of the Chargers in the standings and because of the tough AFCW, they are going to struggle for the Wildcard.

 

[italian pat patriot]

in:

NE
IND
SD
DAL
DEN


out

CLE
HOU
BUF
OAK
DET

 

[Pats726]

The 5 teams. WILL make the playoffs....NE, Ind, SD (I think it goes without saying these should be the top rated teams, at least at this point..) Den....
and Chic (Denver is usually always in the playoffs..Shannie blew it last year..but I think this one he comes back strong. Chicago?? Is there another stronger team in the NFC?? And given their division..far from the black and blue it used to be..should again be rated highly.)

The 5 worst...Oakland..(I have to start there..while at some point they WILL turn it around..NOT this year.) Houston, Washington, Cleveland, Detroit....
Just seems like these teams are pereniially down and out with NO real hope...Cleveland COULD turn it around..but not in one season or at one time. Washington?? no way..

 

[bakes781]

In:

New England
San Diego
Indianapolis
Seattle
Baltimore


Out:

Houston
Detroit
Oakland
Cleveland
Tampa Bay

 

[BAM!]

IN:
NE
IND
Balt
SF
Philly

OUT:
Wash
MIA
ARI
GB
KC

 

[desi-patsfan]

IN

Patriots
Chargers
Colts
Broncos
Seattle

OUT
Browns
Lions
Raiders
Jets
Bills

 

[Pat_the_Patriot]

In my humble opinion:

IN:

1. Patriots
2. Colts
3. Broncos*
4. Chargers*
5. Bengals

OUT:

1. Raiders
2. Browns
3. Dolphins
4. Lions
5. Giants

* - I know, they're in the same Division... but the elite of the AFC just keep getting stronger, while the "best" of the NFC keep getting weaker. I think that the Broncos and Chargers are just so good that if someone MADE me bet my house on five that would make the playoffs, I'd have to pick both of those teams.

That being said... the only real bets I'd make "up top" are 1,2 in the "IN" category and 1,2,3 in the "OUT" category.

The NFC is just too close to call... were the Saints a fluke? Can CAR show up and play? Just how good could MIN be this year... just how bad could CHI be (remember AZ?)... weird, strange division.

Teams that I think are moving up and have the "darkhouse" shot:

MIN
BUF
AZ
SF (I sure hope not... but you don't really see them taking down the NFC West this year? If not them, then who.... SEA? I guess they could... back to the rot that is the NFC!)

Again, just my opinion... but I can't call the NFC... so it leaves me w/ the AFC... which just makes it tougher!

 

[Boston Jay]

IN
Indy
NE
SD
B-more

WC Potential
Bengals (if they aren't in jail bro)
Broncos (even though I think it will be a slugfest for the top of the AFC West.. I'll give the edge to SD. If Norv can't do anything with that talent then wtf?)
Miami
NYJ
Jags (their O is a major concern though. Plus, they get swept by the Texans man)

-The Broncos are the only ones I would pencil in personally. The other teams listed are definitely not slouches.

OUT
Lions
Raiduhs
Bills
Green Bay
Kansas City
Houston-we-got-a-problem

SURPRISE?
Arizona
Miami
Cleveland
Tennessee (I hope Young breaks the curse! I like him. Despise Bobby Wade though.)
San Fran (it pains me to say this. I'll root for them after they give up the 1st rounder.)

 

[BoltsFan]

Miami owns NE based on what?

I think the Broncos are going to finish ahead of the Chargers in the standings and because of the tough AFCW, they are going to struggle for the Wildcard.

Based on your overall record against the Fins. NE is 33 and 47. They also laid a 21-0 beatdown on you last year.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Based on your overall record against the Fins. NE is 33 and 47. They also laid a 21-0 beatdown on you last year.

We swept them in 2003 and in 2005 we beat them at Miami when it counted and lost to them at home when it didn't. We lost by 2 points playing our 3rd string QB in the 4th quarter and having Flutie drop kick an extra point for the first time since 1941.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Based on your overall record against the Fins. NE is 33 and 47. They also laid a 21-0 beatdown on you last year.

Yeah,They beat us 21-0 alright but there was a reason we were slacking.....

We were saving the energy for the expected upcoming playoff game against the Chargers- and look how that fared out

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Based on your overall record against the Fins. NE is 33 and 47. They also laid a 21-0 beatdown on you last year.

That 33-47 record doesn't look so bad when you consider that the Dolphins dominated the series in the 1970s and early 1980s.

OTOH, I can see why you respect Miami so much. The Chargers are 0-6 vs Miami since beating them, 22-21 in the 1994 AFC Divisional Playoff. The last time SD beat Miami in a RS game was 45-20, in 1993. Now, that's what I call OWNED!!!

 

[BoltsFan]

That 33-47 record doesn't look so bad when you consider that the Dolphins dominated the series in the 1970s and early 1980s.

OTOH, I can see why you respect Miami so much. The Chargers are 0-6 vs Miami since beating them, 22-21 in the 1994 AFC Divisional Playoff. The last time SD beat Miami in a RS game was 45-20, in 1993. Now, that's what I call OWNED!!!

Heheh, duly noted. But we weren't exactly talking about SD's record. We're still a serviceable 10-11 vs. the Fins though.

 

[lander]

I appreciate the love, Pats fans. Only one of you picked SD to miss the playoffs.

We're used to the bashing --- Broncos fans love to hate us (the sweep last year was oh-so-sweet) --- and the mutual animosity between our forum fans is really going to ratchet up the tension for the 9/16 game.

Good luck in '07 and may me meet again in January!

 

[Alk]

IN:

New England
Indianapolis
San Diego
Chicago
New Orleans

Out:

Houston
Miami
Oakland
Detroit
Buffalo

 

[BoltsFan]

Well, you'll have to accept some homerism (I don't live in Homerville, but the mayor is a friend of mine ... ) but, even so, I think that the gap between the Pats and the Jets is bigger.

The Perfidious Penguin has done a good job and the Jets' off-season moves make sense to me, but the gap last season was bigger than that between the Broncos and the Chargers -- I think that the play-off meeting gave an objective picture. It's true that New England are going to have to be at their best, but complacent is not the message I get from the Patriots after their loss to the Colts.

Coaching changes are a big deal and there's no denying it. From my perspective, an organization that goes 14-2 and sacks their coach looks dysfunctional. If I was absolutely confident that the Bolts' talent couldn't overcome that negative, I would have the Broncos as a lock. As it is, I think that probably both will make the play-offs (Oakland is terrible and KC looks to be on the way down, so there will be some easy wins in the division when the two don't meet) but don't want to guess which will win the division.

Going back to the Jets, they are my other wildcard bet and they are the reason I make Buffalo and Miami locks not to go to the playoffs. Their division is just too strong. I certainly don't think either of them are among the worst five in the NFL, by the way, BetBoy -- that wasn't the question.

(Rationally, I could have made Cleveland a lock not to go to the play-offs too, for similar reasons, but my sentimental side hopes that Romeo can pull off a miracle.)

Maybe but I think the gap between NE and the Jets is about equal to SD and the Broncos. We swept them last year. They had us down at their place for a minute but we came back in the 2nd half and dominated them. We completely owned them the 2nd game.

NE split the reg season last year and won when it counted in the playoffs.

I understand what you're saying w/regard to coaching changes. I know it may seem tumultuous from the outside. It does remain to be seen whether we'll be ok.

Believe it or not what was dysfunctional was the relationship between our GM and Marty. When you lose the way we did somethings gotta give. After that loss it was pretty much mission impossible for AJ and Marty to get on the same page. Can't have that. I think Norv and Cottrell provide absolutely the best chance for us to maintain continuity. Norv installed the offense we currently run back in 01. Cottrell taught our former DC, Wade everything Wade knows about the 3-4. They both know our O and D backwards and forwards. Plus, the team is onboard with both of them.

 

[g-fresh]

Maybe but I think the gap between NE and the Jets is about equal to SD and the Broncos. We swept them last year. They had us down at their place for a minute but we came back in the 2nd half and dominated them. We completely owned them the 2nd game.

You're not taking into account the fact that the Broncos appear to have gotten much better this offseason. Travis Henry is if nothing else a big upgrade at RB, and he could rush for a whole lot of yards; they may now have the best cornerback duo in the league; and Cutler will have a year under his belt and should be improved beyond where he was last year.

The Patriots have made major improvements to their WRs and LBs, while the Jets have added a decent running back. The Pats clearly improved more than the Jets did while the Broncos have improved more than the Chargers. The Jets are a solid team that is getting better but they are not in the same class as the Patriots, Chargers, and Broncos.

 

[BoltsFan]

You're not taking into account the fact that the Broncos appear to have gotten much better this offseason. Travis Henry is if nothing else a big upgrade at RB, and he could rush for a whole lot of yards; they may now have the best cornerback duo in the league; and Cutler will have a year under his belt and should be improved beyond where he was last year.

The Patriots have made major improvements to their WRs and LBs, while the Jets have added a decent running back. The Pats clearly improved more than the Jets did while the Broncos have improved more than the Chargers. The Jets are a solid team that is getting better but they are not in the same class as the Patriots, Chargers, and Broncos.

The Broncos, Jets, and even the Raiders had WAY more room to improve.

I think this article about this upcoming year has it just about right:
http://www.phillysportsline.com/getnews/929372#

 

[PATRIOT64]

I appreciate the love, Pats fans. Only one of you picked SD to miss the playoffs.

We're used to the bashing --- Broncos fans love to hate us (the sweep last year was oh-so-sweet) --- and the mutual animosity between our forum fans is really going to ratchet up the tension for the 9/16 game.

Good luck in '07 and may me meet again in January!

There is a difference to not liking your team,the Chargers, and a reality check

The only way a team like the Chargers is out of the playoff picture this year is if A.J. Smith is sent to Detroit in exchange for Matt Millen as GM.

The Chargers are a lock

 

[BoltsFan]

Yeah,They beat us 21-0 alright but there was a reason we were slacking.....

We were saving the energy for the expected upcoming playoff game against the Chargers- and look how that fared out

Heheh, keep thinking that way. As a matter of fact, this September I hope NE is thinking "pffft - it's a reg season game. Whatever."

Bring that attitude, why don't ya?