Given the injuries, etc, here's how I rank the top 12 teams.
1. Carolina - 14-0, hard to put anyone else above them right now
2. New England - 12-2, if they get healthy, they're the best overall team in the league
3. Arizona - 12-2, lost a key defender to injury this week
4. Seattle - 9-5, and coming on like a freight train
5. Pittsburgh - 9-5, and also on a roll
6. Denver - 10-4, but showing signs of real problems; we'll see how the next 2 weeks play out
7. Kansas City - 9-5, but very possibly could pass Denver
8. Cincinnati - 11-3, but playing a backup QB, and face Denver this week
9. Green Bay - 10-4, righting the ship, has the #3 seed locked up
10. NY Jets - 9-5, could end up 11-5 and miss the playoffs
11. Minnesota - 9-5, pretty solid overall team
12. Houston - 7-7, probably will win the AFC South
Not on the list:
- Washington - 7-7, but might be there in a couple of weeks
- Atlanta - 7-7
- Indianapolis - 6-8
- NY Giants - 6-8
- Philadelphia - 6-8
The playoffs really could be a battle, as the better teams emerge. I see the Divisional Round looking like this:
NFC
Seattle at Carolina. Two-time defending NFC champs against the unbeaten Panthers. Both teams and both QBs playing great.
Green Bay at Arizona. The Cards are better, but Aaron Rodgers is always very dangerous.
AFC
Pittsburgh at New England. Roethlisberger and those receivers against Brady and the Patriots' improved secondary.
Kansas City at Denver. AFC West showdown. Will Osweiler or Manning be the QB? If I read it right (Denver winning the AFC West), it'll probably be Brock.
Those are four outstanding games, if they happen.
1. Carolina - 14-0, hard to put anyone else above them right now
2. New England - 12-2, if they get healthy, they're the best overall team in the league
3. Arizona - 12-2, lost a key defender to injury this week
4. Seattle - 9-5, and coming on like a freight train
5. Pittsburgh - 9-5, and also on a roll
6. Denver - 10-4, but showing signs of real problems; we'll see how the next 2 weeks play out
7. Kansas City - 9-5, but very possibly could pass Denver
8. Cincinnati - 11-3, but playing a backup QB, and face Denver this week
9. Green Bay - 10-4, righting the ship, has the #3 seed locked up
10. NY Jets - 9-5, could end up 11-5 and miss the playoffs
11. Minnesota - 9-5, pretty solid overall team
12. Houston - 7-7, probably will win the AFC South
Not on the list:
- Washington - 7-7, but might be there in a couple of weeks
- Atlanta - 7-7
- Indianapolis - 6-8
- NY Giants - 6-8
- Philadelphia - 6-8
The playoffs really could be a battle, as the better teams emerge. I see the Divisional Round looking like this:
NFC
Seattle at Carolina. Two-time defending NFC champs against the unbeaten Panthers. Both teams and both QBs playing great.
Green Bay at Arizona. The Cards are better, but Aaron Rodgers is always very dangerous.
AFC
Pittsburgh at New England. Roethlisberger and those receivers against Brady and the Patriots' improved secondary.
Kansas City at Denver. AFC West showdown. Will Osweiler or Manning be the QB? If I read it right (Denver winning the AFC West), it'll probably be Brock.
Those are four outstanding games, if they happen.
