At Least 2 9-7 teams will make the AFC Playoffs

[WG]

3 and/or 4 if Miami can't beat N.E. in Foxboro and/or if Indy cant' beat Jax.

That's assuming that T.B. beats Pittsburgh tomorrow night.

Pretty sad IMO.

[Novacane]

If the Jets Miami and NE all finish at 9-7 who wins the division?

[Typ0]

I think the Jets would win because they have a better division record than Miami and a better common opponents record than New England. That's just sick.

[lordofgun]

If Miami wins next week, Miami wins the division.

If NE wins and the Jets win, the Jets win the division.

If NE wins and the Jets lose, NE wins the division.

Crazy.

[Typ0]

Thats what I said...LOL.

[Earthquake Enyart]

I thought some expert said that 9-7 wouldn't make it?

[Ebenezer]

I recall saying that at least one 9-7 team would make the playoffs in the AFC...i just did not think it would be a division winner.

[Earthquake Enyart]

I wasn't talking about you. You are no expert.

[Patrick76777]

I don’t think it’s sad at all. The fact of that matter is that the two best divisions in the AFC played each other this year. So not only does a team like Denver have to play 6 extremely difficult games against their own division, but they also have to play the entire AFC East. And this also holds true for any AFC East team. These are far and away the two toughest divisions in the league. Now say the East played the North and the West played the South. Well we’d have a different story. The AFC is head and shoulders above the NFC at this point in time. Where GB, SF, Philly and TB get to beat up on bad teams all year, the AFC pounds each other into the ground week in and week out. I’d be very surprised if the AFC doesn’t win the Superbowl.


Come on; let’s think outside the box.

[iceblizzard69]

The NFC South is the only strong division in the NFC. Next year, when the AFC East plays the AFC South and the AFC West plays the AFC North, it will be a totally different story, and the record won't all be so close. Also, us AFC East teams get to play the NFC East next year. Besides Philly, that is a very weak division.

[Patrick76777]

Ice see's my point.

[Typ0]

You've got to be kidding me Patrick! Every team in the AFC has went through a significant spurt where they played absolutely horrible this season. The shortest one was Oakland. But you cannot reasonably assert Miami, NE, Jets or Buffalo are that strong teams. I suppose Pissburg is a regular old powerhouse. It's a common misconception that thinking outside the box means comming up with the most bizzare scenario or opinion. Those teams that are on top in the NFC are on top because they have solid all around teams and execute well every week. You can hardly say that about any team in the AFC.

[WG]

Originally posted by Earthquake Enyart
I thought some expert said that 9-7 wouldn't make it?

Surprise and alarm!

You must be talking about me there EE...

The thing is that if you had noted the context in which I said that, I was primarily referring to us w/ our amazing 2-4 divisional record and tha there was no way that we could make it due to that at 9-7.

Honestly however, I think I'm as surprised as everyone at the demise of several teams in losing to total non-contenders to risk their chances of playoff appearances and/or advantages. So to that, no, I didn't even expect that more than one team would make it at 9-7. I also don't think it speaks that well of the AFC that no team will make it at better than 11-5 and that several may make it at 9-7.

I see the Eagles, Bucs, or G.B winning it all this year in that order. Then Oakland. Miami can't do it w/o HF adv. They don't play well enough on the road.

[Earthquake Enyart]

You failed to note that all those teams were playing each other. Some one's got to lose.

If you read Pat's scenarios over the last couple of weeks, they were not outragous. (except for maybe the part about us beating GB).

BTW, GB ran the table at home this year. 8-0.

[Patrick76777]

Originally posted by Typ0
You've got to be kidding me Patrick! Every team in the AFC has went through a significant spurt where they played absolutely horrible this season. The shortest one was Oakland. But you cannot reasonably assert Miami, NE, Jets or Buffalo are that strong teams. I suppose Pissburg is a regular old powerhouse. It's a common misconception that thinking outside the box means comming up with the most bizzare scenario or opinion. Those teams that are on top in the NFC are on top because they have solid all around teams and execute well every week. You can hardly say that about any team in the AFC.

You’re off your rocker Typo!

For the time being let us look at each teams games against their own conference.

The Eagles had to play 4 games against Washington and Dallas. They also got the NFC West. That means games against St. Louis, Seattle and Arizona. Sorry but I could get 22 guys from this board and probably have a winning record in those 7 games. The Eagles in those games, 7-0. They also have the Giants twice (one on Sunday), Chicago and Tampa Bay. TB is tough and the Giants are good. Still NFC record 11-0, Record vs. AFC South, one win against Houston and 3 losses. Real nice! Imagine what they would have done against the East or West.

The Pack had the tough assignment of playing a total of 6 games against the Vikings, Lions and Bears. 5-1 in those games! So far the Pack has done well vs. the AFC East.

The Bucs had the toughest road, playing only two easy division games against Carolina. Add to that list the powerful AFC North with the likes of the Bungles, Ravens, Browns and the up and down Steelers (tonight) and the Bucs have had a very tough road. The Bucs also had to face the NFC North. Throw in 3 games against the Vikings, Lions and Bears and you have 8 very easy games. Record in those games. 7-0 so far.

SF gets 6 games against St. Louis, Seattle and Arizona. They play the NFC East, Dallas and Washington. SF in those 8 games, 7-0 so far. Record vs. the AFC West, 2-2.

Now, look at the division opponents for ANY team in the AFC West or East. Not a single gimmie on that whole slate! The worst team in either division could very easily beat the best team in either division. Then make them play each other. That’s 10 games against some of the toughest teams in the league.

Now for the fun of it, I’ll tell you how each of the 8 teams did in those 10 games.

Oak – 6-3 (one game left)
NYJ – 6-4
Miami - 5-4 (one game left)
KC – 5-4 (one game left)
Den – 5-5
NE – 4-5 (one game left)
SD – 4-6
Buf – 3-7

Now I ask you to explain to me how you think that these 8 teams didn’t beat the hell out of each other this year? These are 8 solid teams. Some if them I contend are great and I think that playing such a high level of competition week in and week out, has made them better and one of these teams will win the whole thing.


If you give any of the 8 AFCE/W teams the schedules that the Big 4 in the NFC has, you get the same results.