We're now roughly halfway through the NFL season, depending on when your team's bye is. At this point, teams are starting to establish their identity, whether that be for good or for bad. It's a lot easier to get an idea for each team after eight games, so there's a good chance my initial opinions of each team have changes from then to now. Prior to the start of the season, I predicted the final standings for each division, highlighting the teams that would make it into the playoffs when the season is all said and done. I still stand by some of my original predictions, but there are certainly teams that have surprised me, both positively and negatively, through the first quarter of the NFL season. After every four weeks I will update my previous division standings and playoff outlook to reflect what I think will occur for the remainder of the season and how the final standings will shake out. Keep reading if you want to know where your team will finish in the playoff picture this year. **Spoiler alert** x - clinch division
y - clinch wildcard AFC East Buffalo Bills (6-2 currently) - x Miami Dolphins (4-3) - y New England Patriots (2-5) New York Jets (0-8) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: Cam Newton and the Patriots have regressed substantially since my last end-of-season projections. While I was pretty high on them after week 4, I now feel more akin to what I thought of them prior to the start of the season than I did four weeks into it. The offense has no weapons, and the defense is struggling to stop anyone. I don't think there's any way they can make it into the playoffs based on how they have performed over the last several weeks. At the same time, the Dolphins are surging. I thought it was a questionable decision to go ahead and start Tua Tagovailoa after Ryan Fitzpatrick was playing so well, but they went out and drilled the Rams last week nonetheless. I think the first six AFC playoff teams are nearly locked in, but I'm iffy on the seventh. Right now, I think Miami looks the best of the teams who will potentially be fighting for that seventh spot, and it might come down to their meeting with the Raiders in week 16. AFC West Kansas City Chiefs (7-1) - x Las Vegas Raiders (4-3) Los Angeles Chargers (2-5) Denver Broncos (3-4) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: The Chiefs should win the division easily as we all expected, but the remaining teams are somewhat unclear to predict. As I just mentioned, I think the Raiders have a chance to get that last wild card spot in the playoffs, and it's really just a toss up at this point between Oakland and Miami in my opinion. I think the Chargers and Broncos will be fighting for the third spot, with neither team making much of a push for the postseason. That being said, I love the long-term futures of both teams, and Justin Herbert and Drew Lock both seem to be the guy for their respective squads. Both teams have battled injuries, but I like the Chargers to start winning games more consistently once Austin Ekeler returns and takes some pressure off of his rookie quarterback. AFC North Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0) - x Baltimore Ravens (5-2) - y Cleveland Browns (5-3) Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: The Steelers are the real deal, and they just proved that by defeating the Ravens in Baltimore to remain the lone undefeated team in the league. I think that while Pittsburgh has a good offense, it's the defense that will propel them deep into the postseason. I wouldn't worry yet if I were a Ravens fan, but it does seem like either Lamar Jackson is slightly regressing or other teams are catching up to him. Either way, I think Baltimore still makes it into the playoffs and becomes a tough team to beat there. The Browns are another team that I considered clinching the last wild card spot, but I think the injury to O'Dell Beckham, Jr. significantly hampers their offensive potential. They did just only manage to score six points on an average Raider defense. Similarly to the Chargers and Broncos, I like the long-term outlook on the Bengals, but they don't yet have enough this season. AFC South Indianapolis Colts (5-2) - x Tennessee Titans (5-2) - y Houston Texans (1-6) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: I think the Colts and Titans are really interchangeable at the top spot in the AFC South, but I'm leaving Indy as the division winner since that is what I initially predicted. I also still think whoever doesn't win the division will secure a wild card spot. The big difference between these teams comes on the defensive side of the ball. Indianapolis has a solid defense, which can stymie the run and force turnovers. Tennessee, on the other hand, has no pass rush and a weak secondary, which will ultimately limit their ceiling this season. The Titans have a slightly easier remaining schedule, which could give them the edge in the end, but they will definitely have to iron out their kinks on defense to be trusted in the postseason. Houston and Jacksonville are both lousy at this point in the season, but I would expect the Texans to rattle off a few wins with most of their toughest opponents out of the way. NFC East Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1) - x Dallas Cowboys (2-6) Washington Redskins (2-5) New York Giants (1-7) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: The NFC East is just a garbage can of organizations. So much so, that the team in first place right now isn't even at .500 on the year. Only two games separate all four teams, so technically, everyone is alive to make the playoffs. While that is the case, I think the Eagles are the least bad team overall and therefore the most likely to win the division. It's a travesty that one of these teams is going to even make it into the playoffs, let alone host a home playoff game in the first round. In all honesty, I think the Cowboys have possibly mailed it in for the season and could wind up in last place after it's all said and done due to the lack of a quarterback and a pitiful defense. But I'm keeping them at 2 for now just because of their star power otherwise on offense. Not that anyone really cares much about these teams at this point, to be honest. NFC West Seattle Seahawks (6-1) - x Arizona Cardinals (5-2) - y Los Angeles Rams (5-3) - y San Francisco 49ers (4-4) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: The NFC West is the opposite of the NFC East, as its last place 49ers are at .500, which is a better win percentage than the NFC East's first place Eagles. Unfortunately for San Francisco, Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle suffered injuries that will sideline them for at least several weeks, effectively ending San Fran's season. As for the other three teams, I actually think they'll all make it into the playoffs. I still would say the Seahawks are the team to beat in the division, but the Cardinals did do just that two weeks ago now. The Rams are the team I'd be least confident in to make the playoffs, just because of their overall inconsistency from week-to-week. Each divisional matchup between the three teams will be extremely important to determine who will take the West. NFC North Green Bay Packers (5-2) - x Chicago Bears (5-3) Minnesota Vikings (2-5) Detroit Lions (3-4) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: The Packers have dropped two out of their last three after a hot 4-0 start. Despite their recent struggles, I still would bet on them to finish on top in the NFC North. Now, the Bears are just a half game behind Green Bay, but I don't think Chicago is as good as their record shows. Therefore, while I still think they'll end up as the second best team, I don't think anyone other than the Packers will make the playoffs from this division. The Vikings were impressive in their win over Green Bay, and although it hasn't happened often this year so far, they have the talent to win pretty much any given Sunday. I'm not much of a believer in the Lions, but that's probably unfairly because of their history of futility. NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) - x New Orleans Saints (5-2) - y Carolina Panthers (3-5) Atlanta Falcons (2-6) Prediction Changes:
Analysis: I thought the Buccaneers looked like perhaps the best team in football in weeks 6 and 7, but they just narrowly escaped with a win on Monday night against the bad Giants team who honestly outplayed Tampa for much of the game. While the Saints have gotten hot lately and look better now than they did in the first few weeks, there's one thing that leads me to pick the Bucs to win the division: Antonio Brown. As if Tom Brady didn't have enough weapons to bail out his average passing abilities, he's now been gifted one of the most explosive and impactful receivers in recent history. Combine that with an above average defense that excels in pressuring quarterbacks and forcing turnovers, and you get a team that is probably going to make it to the Super Bowl. I still think the Saints make it into the postseason as a wild card team, but it'll be hard to keep up with Tampa Bay this season. Carolina has shown promise at times and Atlanta has been comically bad in about five of their games. Neither will sniff the playoffs in a competitive NFC. Written by Nick Swatson
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AuthorExpert Nick Swatson discusses all the news, predictions, and outcomes surrounding the NFL. Archives
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