In spite of the flaws of the current playoff system, it is still a rather unique playoff system. Even if a 12-4 team gets in the playoff, there's still a chance that you would still have to play on the road (2013 San Francisco 49ers for example). For this system to be better it needs to go to a system based off record, not based on division. Such examples of this is the NBA system, where it is based off record (#1 seed has best record, #8th seed has lowest). Here is the current playoff picture:
AFC:
#1: Steelers
#2: Patriots
#3: Chiefs
#4: Titans
#5: Jaguars
#6: Bills
Wild card:
Jaguars @ Titans
Bills @ Chiefs
In the hunt: Miami (4-4), Baltimore (4-5), Oakland (4-5), NY Jets (4-5), Houston (3-5), Cincinnati (3-5), Los Angeles Chargers (3-5), Denver (3-5), Indianapolis (3-6), Cleveland (0-8).
NFC:
#1: Eagles
#2: Saints
#3: Vikings
#4: Rams
#5: Panthers
#6: Cowboys
Wild card:
Panthers @ Rams
Cowboys @ Vikings
In the hunt: Seattle (5-3), Atlanta (4-4), Detroit (4-4), Washington (4-4), Green Bay (4-4), Arizona (4-4), Chicago (3-5), Tampa Bay (2-6), NY Giants (1-7), San Francisco (0-9)
Certainly some of the bottom teams in the hunt won't likely get in come January, but it is worthwhile to keep an eye on the teams in the top/middle of the hunt. Momentum is key in playoff races. As far as I'm concerned this picture will look very different come the end of Week 17.
What will certainly be impactful in the playoff picture is the Ezekiel Elliot drama. Much like any other season in the NFL there will always be players in civil/criminal cases. What happens in the real world can be a different story in the football world. What I mean is that the NFL can suspend you despite the fact that you haven't been prosecuted or indicted. In Ezekiel Elliot's case, it can be very impactful. If he starts his suspension this week he would be eligible to play in the Week 16 game at home against Seattle. Had he decided to take the suspension in Week 1 he would've already been playing right now. Here's Dallas' next 6 games: @ Atlanta, home against Philadelphia, home against LA Chargers, home against Washington, @ Giants, @ Oakland. Despite the back and forth battle between him and the NFL, I would've taken the suspension earlier, in my opinion.
Where I live in Fargo, North Dakota there is no snow. As much as I would rather have 70 degree weather days right now, the denial is real. To me, its 3-4 months of depression and overall hate anything that is white on the ground. So the cool video of the week is something to hopefully keep you warm if you share the same opinion as me:
This week as the same with weeks past and weeks future, I have done picks with my roommate, Cardinal Viking, we had pretty similar picks last week but let's look at the results:
Me:
6-7 (fail falcons, and the Packers need to get a high draft pick as most of our team without Aaron Rodgers is terrible)
Cardinal Viking:
7-6 (he made the right call in picking the Cardinals over the Niners and well he picked the Lions too).
Week 10 in the NFL regular season will begin in Glendale, Arizona and will end in Charlotte, North Carolina. There will be a Thursday night game, 8 early games, 3 late games, a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. There will be 4 teams on bye week: Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Oakland Raiders. FOX will have the double header and CBS will have the single game this week. Here are the picks:
Seattle @ Arizona: Cardinals. The Seahawks come off a loss last week to the Redskins, and the Cardinals won against the Niners. The game will be on NBC and NFL Network. The game could be a huge factor in the NFC West as the winner will likely play in the second place marker in the division. While the loser will have to look at being at home come January. Both teams don't like each other, and I'll take the Cardinals at home as their defense will get it done for them, and the offense will put up enough to win.
Seattle @ Arizona: Cardinals. The Seahawks come off a loss last week to the Redskins, and the Cardinals won against the Niners. The game will be on NBC and NFL Network. The game could be a huge factor in the NFC West as the winner will likely play in the second place marker in the division. While the loser will have to look at being at home come January. Both teams don't like each other, and I'll take the Cardinals at home as their defense will get it done for them, and the offense will put up enough to win.
Cincinnati @ Tennessee: Bengals. The Titans won last week against the Ravens and the Bengals lost to the Jaguars. The Mariota bandwagon will lose a rider as I tend to like the Bengals in this matchup. Why? Mostly the weapons that the Bengals have and certainly the Titans have weapons too, but I can't go wrong with AJ Green.
Cleveland @ Detroit: Lions. The Browns got a win last week and a loss as they had their bye this week (I don't know if its a win-win) and the Lions won against the Packers last week. The Browns glimmer of hope is Josh Gordon is back (at least as of 5:02 pm) and should play in the game. However one team has to win in this game and the Lions are certainly leagues ahead of the Browns. Sorry but you get a loss again.
Green Bay @ Chicago: Packers. The Packers lost to the Lions last week, and the Bears were on bye last week. The oldest rivalry in the NFL will be renewed again at Chicago. The Packers have let me down for two straight games since going 4-2 and hopefully they won't let me down this week, otherwise that all-time record in the rivalry will go back to a tie. Fuck you Dom Capers!
LA Chargers @ Jacksonville: Jaguars. The Jaguars won against the Bengals and the Chargers were on bye week last week. The Chargers/Jaguars game will certainly be an exciting one. Two playoff contending teams. It may come down to whoever makes the most plays and scores the most points (obviously). The Chargers could win the game but I feel good with the Jaguars.
Minnesota @ Washington: Redskins. The Vikings were on bye week last week and the Redskins won against the Seahawks last week. The game will be quite interesting. The QB carousel in Minnesota will be coming to a head. The Redskins have their QB in Kirk Cousins and I feel the Redskins weapons on offense will give them an edge against the powerful Vikings defense, which is no slouch. Vikings are due for a loss as this is a trap game.
New Orleans @ Buffalo: Saints. The Bills lost to the Jets last week and the Saints won against the Buccaneers. I hopped on the Bills bandwagon to see them lose to the Jets at New Jersey last week. I feel good with the Saints in the game as Drew Brees still can throw a ball or two deep. Sorry Buffalo but you lost my trust (and that's important) and my confidence in you. Enjoy 2nd place in AFC East.
NY Jets @ Tampa Bay: J-E-T-S. The Jets won against the Bills last week while the Buccaneers lost to the Saints last week. The game will be in sunny Florida and I've lost most if not all of my confidence and trust in the Buccaneers. The Jets are a confusing team, they can play well one game and then play like awful the next one. Still better than that 0-16 finish that most experts were expecting.
Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis: Steelers. The Steelers were on bye week last week and the Colts won against the Texans last week (big whoop). The Steelers seem to be back to form with the triplets of Roethlisberger, Brown, and Bell at the helm, but you have to remember that this team lost to the Jaguars at home earlier this season. The Colts are bad but they shouldn't be taken lightly. Still I feel good about the Steel City.
Houston @ LA Rams: Rams. The Texans lost last week to the Colts and the Rams won against the Giants (rather soundly). The Rams have been the darling story of the NFL season so far as the team plays solid defense, runs the ball well and Jared Goff has had a great sophomore season (a rather different story most times). The Texans lost their franchise QB Deshaun Watson to injury a few weeks ago and the loss will be the biggest difference in this game.
Dallas @ Atlanta: Cowboys. The Cowboys won against the Chiefs last week and the Falcons lost to the Panthers. Earlier today the Ezekiel Elliot story took a turn as the suspension has been upheld (for the 1000th time) and will begin this suspension this week. The Cowboys have other weapons at running back but I can't trust the Falcons this season. Especially when their defense is awful and Julio Jones hasn't had a breakout game this season.
NY Giants @ San Francisco: 49ers. Both teams come off losses last week as the Giants lost to the Rams and the Niners lost to the Cardinals. I picked the Niners to win against the Cardinals and guessed it wrong. However the Giants are terrible as well as the Niners. I'll be on their bandwagon for at least one week. They can't possibly go 0-16.
New England @ Denver: Patriots. The Broncos lost to the Eagles last week while the Patriots were on bye week. The Sunday night game will be an interesting one as Tom Brady has had a losing record against the Broncos, especially at Mile High. The Patriots have been off so far this season and had one great game against the Falcons while the week after almost lose to the Chargers. The Broncos are bad, but I feel safe with the Pats.
Miami @ Carolina: Panthers. The Dolphins lost to the Raiders last week while the Panthers won against the Falcons. The week wraps up with the Dolphins/Panthers game on Monday night. Both teams have let me down in picking them but the Panthers seem to be the hot hand in this one. I can't trust Jay Cutler holding a football.
Local TV Schedule:
CBS Single:
Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis
Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis
Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
FOX Early:
Minnesota @ Washington
Minnesota @ Washington
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
FOX Late:
Dallas @ Atlanta
Dallas @ Atlanta
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
For more info on which game is on in your area go to NFL Week 10 Maps
Record:
Week 1: 10-5
Week 1: 10-5
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 8-7
Week 8: 12-1
Week 9: 6-7
Overall: 79-53
Cardinal Viking, my roommates record:
Week 1: 7-8
Week 1: 7-8
Week 2: 13-3
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 4-10
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 10-5
Week 8: 11-2
Week 9: 7-6
Overall: 78-54
See you guys next week!
-Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment