Tweet
Could be wrong, but seemingly its going to go down like this.
I'm going to assume that SD ends up winning the AFC West, maybe with only 9-10 wins. I dont think KC or Denver get to 10 wins, 9 at the most.
That leaves four teams in good position to battle for two wild card spots.
Jags 6-3
Titans 6-3
Browns 5-4
Bills 5-4
Going by the schedules of the four teams, it looks like it will most definitely take 10 wins to get in the playoffs.
Of the four teams, I think the Bills by FAR have the hardest schedule with 3 of their last 7 games against NFC East teams, two on the road. That doesn't include next week's game against 9-0 New England.
Here are the remaining games for the four teams I consider contenders.
BUFFALO BILLS
New England
At Jacksonville
At Washington
Miami
At Cleveland
New York Giants
At Philadelphia
Summary: That could be murder for us. It's very likely that the Miami game is the only of the final seven games Buffalo will be favored in. 35-28 current record of these opponents, tainted by Miami's 0-9 mark. Defeating Jacksonville and Cleveland on the road will be absolute necessities to have any kind of real chance.
CLEVELAND (5-4)
AT Baltimore
Houston
At Arizona
At Jets
Buffalo
AT Cincinnati
San Francisco
Summary: Far and away the easiest schedule of the four teams. Only one of their last seven opponents has a winning record (Buffalo). Four of the last seven are on the road. Here's to hoping Baltimore finally gets an offensive clue next week, and that the Bengals get hot near season's end. It would take some very bad breaks and play to not see the Browns get to 10 wins. A loss to them all but would knock Buffalo out of the playoff race in week 15.
TENNESSEE (6-3)
At Denver
At Cincinnati
Houston
San Diego
At Kansas City
Jets
At Indy
Summary: Could be a tough schedule, as only two home games look like gimmies (Houston, Jets). What worries me about the road game at Indy is the COlts will likely have nothing to play for and rest starters in week 17. Here's hoping Pittsburgh keeps winning and pushing Indy for that first round bye. I could easily see Tennesee getting to 10 wins with the way they play defense and run the ball.
JACKSONVILLE (6-3)
San Diego
Buffalo
At Indy
Carolina
At Pittsburgh
Oakland
At Houston
Summary: We'll know in the next 3-4 weeks if Jacksonville is a playoff team. They're next 3 games are tough and Carolina is better on the road than at home. Only their last two games look like good bets at this point. Obviously, it's imperative that we beat them. If we do, I'm not sure the Jags get to 10 wins.
=======================================================
IN closing...
With Cleveland's seemingly easy schedule, and Tennessee having a tough defense and two near-locks at the end of the year, I dont think there is anyway 9 wins earns a playoff birth.
To make the playoffs, in my opinion we have to win 5 of our last 7. Assuming we can't end the Patriots run Sunday, that makes it 5 of 6. If we beat Jacksonville in two weeks and Cleveland in December, I think we have a very legitimate shot.
But based on the schedules and the way the teams look now, if I was a betting man my money would be on Cleveland and Tennessee to be the AFC Wild Card teams.
I hope I'm wrong. Hey, at least we're in the mix right now.
I'm going to assume that SD ends up winning the AFC West, maybe with only 9-10 wins. I dont think KC or Denver get to 10 wins, 9 at the most.
That leaves four teams in good position to battle for two wild card spots.
Jags 6-3
Titans 6-3
Browns 5-4
Bills 5-4
Going by the schedules of the four teams, it looks like it will most definitely take 10 wins to get in the playoffs.
Of the four teams, I think the Bills by FAR have the hardest schedule with 3 of their last 7 games against NFC East teams, two on the road. That doesn't include next week's game against 9-0 New England.
Here are the remaining games for the four teams I consider contenders.
BUFFALO BILLS
New England
At Jacksonville
At Washington
Miami
At Cleveland
New York Giants
At Philadelphia
Summary: That could be murder for us. It's very likely that the Miami game is the only of the final seven games Buffalo will be favored in. 35-28 current record of these opponents, tainted by Miami's 0-9 mark. Defeating Jacksonville and Cleveland on the road will be absolute necessities to have any kind of real chance.
CLEVELAND (5-4)
AT Baltimore
Houston
At Arizona
At Jets
Buffalo
AT Cincinnati
San Francisco
Summary: Far and away the easiest schedule of the four teams. Only one of their last seven opponents has a winning record (Buffalo). Four of the last seven are on the road. Here's to hoping Baltimore finally gets an offensive clue next week, and that the Bengals get hot near season's end. It would take some very bad breaks and play to not see the Browns get to 10 wins. A loss to them all but would knock Buffalo out of the playoff race in week 15.
TENNESSEE (6-3)
At Denver
At Cincinnati
Houston
San Diego
At Kansas City
Jets
At Indy
Summary: Could be a tough schedule, as only two home games look like gimmies (Houston, Jets). What worries me about the road game at Indy is the COlts will likely have nothing to play for and rest starters in week 17. Here's hoping Pittsburgh keeps winning and pushing Indy for that first round bye. I could easily see Tennesee getting to 10 wins with the way they play defense and run the ball.
JACKSONVILLE (6-3)
San Diego
Buffalo
At Indy
Carolina
At Pittsburgh
Oakland
At Houston
Summary: We'll know in the next 3-4 weeks if Jacksonville is a playoff team. They're next 3 games are tough and Carolina is better on the road than at home. Only their last two games look like good bets at this point. Obviously, it's imperative that we beat them. If we do, I'm not sure the Jags get to 10 wins.
=======================================================
IN closing...
With Cleveland's seemingly easy schedule, and Tennessee having a tough defense and two near-locks at the end of the year, I dont think there is anyway 9 wins earns a playoff birth.
To make the playoffs, in my opinion we have to win 5 of our last 7. Assuming we can't end the Patriots run Sunday, that makes it 5 of 6. If we beat Jacksonville in two weeks and Cleveland in December, I think we have a very legitimate shot.
But based on the schedules and the way the teams look now, if I was a betting man my money would be on Cleveland and Tennessee to be the AFC Wild Card teams.
I hope I'm wrong. Hey, at least we're in the mix right now.
Comment