Heading into Week 8, many peoples' lock of the week was taking the Jets (-6) to cover the spread versus the Packers. But as those people and many others find out, it's tough to cover a spread when you don't actually score any points. I didn't see this game coming either. I actually nodded off for a while after the Packers went up 3-0 and woke up in the third quarter utterly confused that the game had not changed scores. However, this unpredictability is one of the many reasons Americans love the NFL (England - I'm sorry for what we had to send overseas).
Despite the unpredictability, I'm going to tell you what is going to happen the rest of the season. My preseason picks can be found
here, and many of them have different while a select few have remained dead-on. Shall we?
Playoff Teams: Six teams have to make the playoffs from each division, and in the cases of both conferences, I don't think that will match up exactly with the six best teams in each conference.
AFC: I like the Chiefs to pull away and win the West. I think then Chargers have been a disappointment, but will rebound to 8-8 at best. KC looks like an 11-5 team to me, good enough to win the AFC West.
The AFC North should have two teams in the playoffs, those teams being Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Both have looked a little shaky at times, but their above average play is better than many teams' best efforts. Ravens with 12 wins, Steelers 11-5.
The AFC East will be interesting, but I like the Patriots to emerge as division champs at 13-3. They have plenty of weapons on offense to be able to overcome deficiencies on defense. The Jets showed their vulnerabilities against Green Bay, but still should solidify themselves and emerge 11-5.
The AFC South looks like it will only have one team break through into the playoffs, with the winner of tonight's MNF game between the Texans and the Colts having a leg up throughout the rest of the year. The Colts have looked un-Colt-like so far, and I would not be surprised to see them finish at 10-6, but still a game out of the playoffs. Texans at 11-5, Titans at 10-6 as well, and the Jags at 9-7 is how I think the division will end up, but only one team can emerge into the playoffs.
1 seed: Patriots 13-3
2 seed: Ravens 12-4
3 seed: Chiefs 11-5
4 seed: Texans 11-5
5 seed: Jets 11-5
6 seed: Steelers 11-5
Steelers over Chiefs, Jets over Texans in wild-card round
Steelers over Patriots, Ravens over Jets in division round
Epic Steelers vs. Ravens matchup in AFC Championship - Leaning towards Raven still, peaking at right time
Onto the NFC...
North: The Packers lead the division somehow right now at 5-3, and I think will find a way to hold on, duplicating their first half to finish 10-6. I like the Bears to finish 9-7, the Lions to finish an impressive 7-9, and the Vikings to flounder to 7-9 as well.
NFC West: Someone's gotta win this division, and it's certainly not going to be Seattle or Arizona. San Fran could bust out behind Troy Smith, but if that happens I think they are at best 9-7. That could win the division, but I like the Rams to sneak in at 9-7, earning a tiebreaker over the Niners.
NFC South: A crazy division that could end up with both wild card teams. The Buccaneers have surprised everyone, and could parlay their 5-2 start into a 10-6 finish and a postseason birth. New Orleans and Atlanta both look like 10 or 11 win teams, which in the NFC, just might be good enough to make it to the playoffs.
NFC East: I thought all four teams were going to be good, but at this point, I think the Cowboys are done and the Redskins are all but. The Eagles could rebound with Mike Vick in the second half, but I still don't like Andy Reid. The Giants might do the least wrong, and could end up 12-4 and the #1 seed in the NFC.
1 seed: Giants 12-4
2 seed: Atlanta 11-5
3 seed: Green Bay 10-6
4 seed: St. Louis 9-7
5 seed: New Orleans 10-6
6 seed: Tampa Bay 10-6
New Orleans over St. Louis, Green Bay over Tampa Bay in wild card round
NYG over New Orleans, Atlanta over Green Bay in division round
NYG vs Atlanta - I give the edge to NYG here, only bc the game is at home.
Giants vs. Ravens Super Bowl - Matchup of the Kerry Collins vs. Trent Dilfer CLASSIC
Top 10 Teams: The top of the NFL is very AFC top heavy to me at this point.
1. Ravens
2. Patriots
3. Steelers
4. Chiefs
5. Jets
6. Giants
7. Colts
8. Falcons
9. Packers
10. Bucs
Battling for #1 Pick:
Buffalo, Dallas, Carolina, Denver
I'm not sure any of these teams should pick a quarterback #1 overall, despite the pressure to do so. I like a trade in this position. The Bills perhaps, but I actually like them to pull out a few games in the 2nd half. Fitzpatrick has looked competent. Marcel Dareus/Adrian Clayborn/AJ Green could get looks as the #1 overall pick.
