@usfbrown said:

FYI - Bleacher Report articles are written by blogger/fans and are only the opinion of one (usually) non media type person. On the other forum i'm on, we have a running joke about the site because the articles are usually written by ding bat homers.

OK, but, on something like this I am assuming they must exercise some kind of editorial control.

I know we have one regular on here who says he writes for the Bleacher Report (sorry, I can't remember who you are) on the Browns. OK. But the annual prediction goes out to all 32 franchises/markets. So, someone is amassing all those opinions and synthesizing it all down to one.

@the-gipper said:

OK, but remember in all these scenarios, of the 12 teams that went to the playoffs last year, history says that at least 5 will not go back. This has been the case now for 14 consecutive years. So, of these 12, 5 won't be in the playoffs:

Seahawks

Saints

Jets

Colts

Packers

Eagles

Ravens

Chiefs

Steelers

Falcons

Bears

Pats

and 5 new teams won't be in.

However The Bleacher Report ignores this clear historical trend. It has 10 of last years playoffs teams going back. The only changes they make are to give the AFC West to San Diego and have KC stay home; and give a WC berth to the Giants and have the Bears stay home.

I don't know who Em Diggy here had in and who he had out.

Now, a lot of people have the Bears and Chiefs staying home, but many also think a lock for a third non-repeater is the Seahawks. But, I am telling you that two other of these so called "Haves" are going to be "didn't haves" come playoff time. A lot, including me include the Colts...and it is a guess as to who the other one might be.

FYI - Bleacher Report articles are written by blogger/fans and are only the opinion of one (usually) non media type person. On the other forum i'm on, we have a running joke about the site because the articles are usually written by ding bat homers.

Seahawks

Saints

Jets

Colts

Packers

Eagles

Ravens

Chiefs

Steelers

Falcons

Bears

Pats

and 5 new teams won't be in.

However The Bleacher Report ignores this clear historical trend. It has 10 of last years playoffs teams going back. The only changes they make are to give the AFC West to San Diego and have KC stay home; and give a WC berth to the Giants and have the Bears stay home.

I don't know who Em Diggy here had in and who he had out.

Now, a lot of people have the Bears and Chiefs staying home, but many also think a lock for a third non-repeater is the Seahawks. But, I am telling you that two other of these so called "Haves" are going to be "didn't haves" come playoff time. A lot, including me include the Colts...and it is a guess as to who the other one might be.

Ratbirds won't win the North, book it. Of course, this means our dreaded Squealers win it.

Colts & Texans will not make it to the playoffs. Jacksonville wins the South.

Patriots & Jets are playoff teams, probably San Diego in the West. No wild card out of the West either.

So who joins the Ratbirds as a wild card? BROWNS (if we have a LB sighting, and a pass rush).

@emdiggy said:

Thanks Gipper! I'm saying that Cleveland could make the playoffs if they're able to split with the Ravens & Steelers.. But I have 2 teams out the East, 2 out of the North, 1 out of the South & West

Well, the AFCN does play both the AFCS and the NFCW this year on their rotation, and those divisions are supposed to be down. It wouldn't be the first time a favorable schedule got 2 teams from one division in as wild cards.

@the-gipper said:

On the other hand, Bleacher Report has played out the entire season already, in their minds and come up with the following:

AFCW: SD 10-6, Oak 8-8, KC 8-8, Denver 3-13

AFCS: Houston 10-6, Indy 9-7, Tenn. 7-9, Jax 6-10

AFCN: Balt. 12-4, Pitt. 11-5, Clev. 8-8, Cincy 1-15

AFCE: NE 12-4, Jets 11-5, Mia. 6-10, Buff. 4-12

Predict a AFC winner? Like injuries NEVER happen.

NFCW SEA 9-7, St. L. 8-8, AZ 5-11, San Fran 5-11

NFCS: ATL 13-3, N.O. 12-4, TB 9-7, Caro. 1-15

NFCN: GB 11-5, Chic. 10-6, Lions 7-9, Minn. 7-9

NFCE: Phil 14-2, NYG 10-6 Dall 7-9, Wash 3-13

Green Bay over Giants and Saints over Sea. in WC round

Philly over Saints, ATL over GB in second round

Philly over ATL in NFC title Game

Ravens over Eagle in Super Bowl

Are any of you buying all that?

Don't pay that much attention to NFC this time of year, but I've edited those prognostications for the AFC.

@the-gipper said:

So, as I am hearing this, the prediction is that possibly both AFC wildcards could plausibly come from the AFC North.

That would mean that the predicted 6 playoff teams in the AFC could look like this?:

AFCN winner, say B-more, and Pittsburgh and Cleveland as WCs

AFCS winner say the Texans

AFCW winner, say San Diego

AFCE winner, say NE

That means the Jets, Colts, Titans, Jags, Raiders, etc. all stay home in favor of the Browns making it.

Is that how I read you Em Diggy, hmm?

That's a bold one my friend ;-).. But I will say I DO have the Colts staying home

AFCW: SD 9-7, Oak 7-9, KC 7-9, Denver 3-13

AFCS: Indy 9-7, Houston 7-9, Tenn. 7-9, Jax 6-10

AFCN: Balt. 14-2, Pitt. 13-3, Clev. 6-10, Cincy 1-15

AFCE: NE 14-2, Jets 13-3, Mia. 6-10, Buff. 4-12

Jets beat Colts, Steelers beat Chargers in 1st round

Ravens over Jets, Pats over Steelers in 2d round

Ravens over Pats for AFC title

NFCW SEA 9-7, St. L. 8-8, AZ 5-11, San Fran 5-11

NFCS: ATL 13-3, N.O. 12-4, TB 9-7, Caro. 1-15

NFCN: GB 11-5, Chic. 10-6, Lions 7-9, Minn. 7-9

NFCE: Phil 14-2, NYG 10-6 Dall 7-9, Wash 3-13

Green Bay over Giants and Saints over Sea. in WC round

Philly over Saints, ATL over GB in second round

Philly over ATL in NFC title Game

Ravens over Eagle in Super Bowl

Are any of you buying all that?

That would mean that the predicted 6 playoff teams in the AFC could look like this?:

AFCN winner, say B-more, and Pittsburgh and Cleveland as WCs

AFCS winner say the Texans

AFCW winner, say San Diego

AFCE winner, say NE

That means the Jets, Colts, Titans, Jags, Raiders, etc. all stay home in favor of the Browns making it.

Is that how I read you Em Diggy, hmm?