Alex’s Week 8 NFC Playoff Predictions
NFC
Now I will be looking into the NFC. The NFC has two of the hotly contested divisions in the whole league. The NFC North have 2 teams with aspirations of not only the playoffs but also the Superbowl along with a Packers team trying to reach the playoffs for the first time under their newest GM. The NFC West took 3 teams to the playoffs last year, while unlikely they will do it again this year, it is still considered the toughest divisions in football.
Here are the standings for the NFC right now
Vikings: 6-1
Niners: 6-1
Saints: 5-1
Redskins: 4-2
Falcons: 4-2
Seahawks: 4-3
In The Hunt
Bears: 4-3
Cardinals: 4-3
Packers: 4-3
Looking at the standings, you would probably assume that the Vikings and the Niners are the two teams most guaranteed to make the playoffs. However, the only team who is really guaranteed a spot are the Redskins. This is because they are the only team in the NFC East with a winning record. Every other division in the NFC has at least two and the West and North have 3. All this means is that while there are only 9 teams fighting for the playoffs in the NFC there are actually 5 spots that could go anywhere.
What we are going to do now is focus on the battle in the NFC North.
Vikings: 6-1
Bears: 4-3
Packers: 4-3
Lions: 2-6
The Vikings are leading the division with a 6-1 record. They do however have 6 games left against teams with winning records. The Bears are coming off a 3 defeats in a row including a heartbreaking loss to the Vikings. They have had some awful luck with injuries this season, including losing their star QB in their loss to the Redskins. There is however reason to be optimistic. After their next two games vs the Packers and Cardinals they have a relatively easy schedule until week 17 and could end up pipping the Vikings. The Packers are a weird team, after missing out on the playoffs last year they started of very well going 4-1, they have however lost their last two games and their upcoming schedule is a tough one. They face 4 teams with winning records in a row and this run will decide if they will be challenging for a wildcard spot.
This is what I suspect the NFC North will look like come week 17
Bears: 11-4
Vikings: 10-5
Packers 9-6
Lions: 5-10
Now we will look at the other division which has 3 teams looking to make the playoffs, the NFC West.
Right now the NFC west looks like this;
Niners: 6-1
Seahawks: 4-3
Cardinals: 4-3
Rams: 1-5
The Niners have once again got off to a fantastic start. They have beaten the Seahawks twice already and are in a prime position to win the division for the 2nd time in 3 years. The Seahawks haven’t been themselves this year. They have not been winning the big games like they usually have done in the past. They do however have a much easier schedule ahead of them with only the Cardinals and Vikings being real threats so they could easily win out from now. The Cardinals are last year’s NFC West winners but have really struggled this year. While they started the year 4-0, the heart breaking loss to the Seahawks where they missed the game winning FG has really put them in a slump. They also have probably the hardest schedule in the league coming out of their week 8 bye.
Here’s what I expect the NFC West to look like come week 17
Niners: 11-4
Seahawks: 11-4
Cardinals: 9-6
Rams: 3-12
I’m now going to give you my full playoff predictions for the NFC.
Divisional Winners
Falcons: 13-3
Redskins: 12-4
Bears: 12-4
Niners: 12-4
Wildcard
Seahawks: 12-4
Vikings: 11-5
Just Missing Out
Cardinals: 10-6
Packers: 10-6
Saints: 8-8
To be honest, I expect a lot of changes by the time I come back to this on week 13 or 14.
Thanks for reading.
Alex’s Week 8 AFC Playoff Predictions
After losing a few GMs the AFC has weakened slightly. This however hasn’t cooled down the race for the playoffs. Right now there are 12 teams fighting for 6 places. Here are the standings after 8 weeks.
Oakland Raiders: 7-0
New York Jets: 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-1
Baltimore Ravens: 5-2
London Bulldogs: 4-2
Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-2
In The Hunt
Tennessee Titans: 4-3
Miami Dolphins: 4-3
Buffalo Bills: 4-3
Cleveland Browns: 3-3
Houston Texans: 3-4
Cincinnati Bengals: 3-4
Looking at the standings, outside of a major collapse I would say the Raiders, Jets and Jaguars will be making the playoffs. What I’m really going to focus on is the battle for the 4th seed and wild card.
The fight for 4th seed between the Ravens, Steelers, Browns and Bengals is going to be a close one. Right now the Ravens have the advantage but after a week 8 loss to the Raiders the rest of the division has a chance to close in. The Steelers play their first game against a divisional rival this week in the Bengals. A win would put them level with the Ravens ahead of the week 9 match up in Pittsburgh. The Bengals, coming off a humiliating defeat to the Ravens week 6 will be looking to bounce back after 3 losses in a row and will be desperate for a win vs the Steelers before their bye week to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Browns will be playing the winless eagles and then have a crunch game vs the 4-3 Titans week 9. Come week 10 the division could look like this;
Steelers: 5-3
Ravens: 5-3
Browns: 5-3
Bengals: 4-4
Come week 17, this is what I believe the AFC north will look like.
Ravens: 11-4
Bengals: 9-6
Steelers: 9-6
Browns: 7-8
The Ravens would have secured a playoff spot and at least the #4 seed while the Bengals and the Steelers fight it out in their week 17 clash to see who will finish 10-6 and hopefully secure a wildcard spot.
I’m now going to give you my full playoff predictions for the AFC.
Divisional Winners
Raiders: 16-0
Jaguars: 14-2
Jets: 13-3
Ravens: 12-4
Wildcard
Steelers: 10-6
Bulldogs 10-6
Just missing out
Texans: 9-7
Dolphins: 9-7
Bengals: 9-7
Bills: 8-8
Browns: 8-8
Titans 6-10
So, the wildcard race is going to come down to the wire. I really thinking every team in the hunt right now outside the Titans who have a really tough schedule ahead of them could sneak in. I’m backing the Steelers and the Bulldogs to make it to the playoffs for the first time under these two owners. There is however, a long way to go. Expect to see me review the AFC race to the playoffs around week 13 or 14 and we can see if my predictions are close or completely off the mark.
I’ll be writing up a NFC playoff predication soon.
Thanks for reading.
In the first of two AFC divisional playoff games the Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) visit the Oakland Raiders (14-2).
These two matched up in week 6 with the Raiders coming out on top with a 34-6 win in Jacksonville. This was the Jags worst loss of the season. Since that loss they have won 10 of their last 11 games and will now be looking to avenge that humiliating loss. While the Jags have the 3rd best passing game in terms of yardage this season they have scored the same amount of rushing TDs as passing TDs. Darius Jackson, while only avg 4.4 ypc this season has been deadly at the goal line this season scoring 19 TDs, don't be surprised to see Jackson grab another TD or two in this match up. TE Julius Thomas has stepped up since the trade of Allen Robinson to the 49ers at the beginning of the season. While only having 954 yards and 2 TDs he has consistently moved chains and been a very reliable target for Blake Bortles having amassed 92 receptions.
The Jags are 4th in points allowed (16.0), 2nd in pass yards allowed (176.4), 8th in rush yards allowed (79.3) and 3rd in total yards allowed (255.7). This has come because the team is able to get a ton of pressure on the QB totaling 42 sacks on the season, 14 defensive TDs and 13 forced fumbles. Expect this team to take advantage of any mistakes the Raiders make.
My player to watch for the Jaguars is on the defensive side of the ball. RE Dante Fowler Jr has been unstoppable at times this season totaling 15 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 4 TDs. He has always turned up when it matters most with his game of the season coming in the 20-23 win vs the Redskins. He had 3 sacks and helped limit the Redskins rushing attack to 30 yards all game. If he turns up like he did against the Redskins then the Jags will have a fantastic chance of winning this game.
The Raiders are coming off a comeback win vs the 14-2 Jets and will take a lot of confidence from the win that secured the number 1 seed. The Raiders are probably the most complete team in the league this season. On offense they are 4th in Points scored (31.0) 6th in passing yards (272.8) 10th in rushing yards (97.8) and 7th in total yards (370.6). The Raiders have playmakers everywhere. Qudarius Mobley is their number 1 option with 97 receptions, 1233 yards and 8 TDs but they also have Amari Cooper (79-998-4) and Tyreek Hill (53-971-5). Their running game is very good as well, Latavius Murray has 17 rushing TDs this year while running for 1483 yards at 6.4ypc not to mention he has 65 receptions for 505 yards and 5 receiving TDs. If the Raiders have one weakness in their offense it would be the amount of sacks they have allowed. Derek Carr has been hit 35 times which is probably one the reasons why he has had 24 INTs this season. If you can get pressure on Carr you can force him into a mistake or two.
The Raiders defense is probably just as important as their offense. Their whole team has contributed this season with Khalil Mack (7 sacks, 5 FF, 1 INT, 5 TDs) and Bruce Irvin (9 sacks, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 1 TD) being the pick of the bunch. Rookies DeMarcus Rice (16 sacks) and B.J. Archambeau (11 sacks) have been outstanding this season. This defense has a total of 56 sacks, 10 FF, 32 INTs and 10 TDs along with being 7th in points allowed (18.0) 5th in pass yards (208.1) 13th in rush yards (89.1) and 6th in total yards allowed (297.2). So not only do you have to worry about stopping their offense you also have to try and score on this defense. The Chiefs proved it was possible in their win however, they had 217 rushing yards on 24 attempts. If you can run the ball you have a chance.
My player to watch for the Raiders is RB Latavius Murray. When he goes off the Raiders are able to control the ball and control the game. In the two games they have lost this season he has had 42 yards and 28 yards. If he can set the tone I fully expect the Raiders to win this game.
On paper these two teams are very evenly matched, both teams have top 10 offenses and defenses. However, I look back on the game played in Jacksonville week 6 and the Jaguars couldn't keep up with the Raiders whatsoever. This game is in Oakland which makes it even tougher for the Jaguars. Whoever wins this game is my favourite for the Super Bowl but I can only see one team winning.
My pick is:
Jaguars 14 - Raiders 31