If the Playoffs started today December 15

[The Gipper]

If the Playoffs started today, here would be who is in, and their positioning:

AFC:

AFCE  Bills  10-3  #3 seed

AFCN  Steelers  11-2  #2 seed......they have clinched playoff spot

AFCS  Titans  9-4  #4 seed....over Colts based on division record

AFCW  Chiefs  12-1  #1 seed,  have clinched division

Wilcards:  #5  Browns  9-4....over Colts based on Head to Head;  #6 Colts  9-4;  #7 Dolphins  8-5 over Ravens based on conference record

In the Hunt:  Ravens  8-5, Raiders 7-6,   also Pats at 6-7 and Broncos at 5-8 are still mathematically alive

NFC:

NFCE   Washintong  6-7  #4

NFCN  Packers  10-3   #1 seed.  They have clinched their division

NFCS  Saints  10-3  #2 seed.  They have clinched a playoff spot.

NFCW Rams  9-4   tiebreaker over Seahawks based on head to head

Wildcards  #5  Seahawks  9-4  #6.  Buccaneers  8-5.   #7.  Cardinal 7-6.

In the Hunt:  Vikings  and Bears  both 6-7.     Technically, all other NFC teams are still mathematically in it, except Falcons. 

[The Gipper]

The Race for the #1 overall pick:

1. Jets  0-13

2. Jaguars   1-12

3. Bengals  2-10-1

4. Chargers, 5. Cowboys, 6. Panthers, 7.   Falcons 8. Texans  all at  4-9...but would draft in the aforementioned order...except Houston who traded their pick to Miami.

Critical Games, between  contenders this week:

1. Browns vs. Giants

2. Saints vs. Chiefs

3.  Seahawks vs. Washington

4. Chicago vs. Minnesota

5. New England vs. Miami.

Other games can obviously affect who makes it/seeding etc. 

[AP1]

It's no secret; 11 wins will be needed.

The Colts have the Texans, Steelers and Jaguars remaining. They should, at worst, go 2-1 and could go 3-0.

The Dolphins have the Patriots, Raiders and Bills remaining. 2-1, 1-2, it probably won't matter.

The Ravens have the Jaguars, Giants and Bengals. They will go 3-0.

The Raiders have the Chargers, Dolphins and Broncos. They will probably go 2-1. If they go 3-0 in my scenario, then the Dolphins go 1-2, which won't be enough to get in.

The Browns, Colts and Ravens are duking it out for 5, 6 and 7 and the Browns have the least margin of error.

The Steelers have the Bengals, Colts and Browns. Barring disaster, they will go 1-2. 12-4 wins them the Division. If they happened to go 0-3 and the Browns and Ravens each go 3-0, all three teams would be 11-5. The Steelers would have swept the Ravens, the Ravens would have swept the Browns and the Browns and Steelers would have split. Where does it go then?

The Browns cannot take the Jets and Giants for granted. 

[bjh2130]

@ap1 said:

Steelers would have swept the Ravens, the Ravens would have swept the Browns and the Browns and Steelers would have split. Where does it go then?

It would go to divisional record which would eliminate us with 3 losses while they both have 2. Then it will reset to the beginning and go head to head giving the steelers the division.

However in your scenario of the browns going 3-0 that would put them at 12-4 not 11-5. They would obviously win the division in the case of steelers and ravens are both 11-5 vs 12-4 for browns.

[gumby73]

with the browns at 9-4..so are the Colts & *Titans..Colts play @Pitt(Texans/Jags both at home)..Titans play @GB on SNF (vs.lions/@texans).. Browns & 1 of Colts or Titans should take up 2 wildcard spots..the Ravens hold the inside track in conference & division record over Miami (both teams are 8-5)...The Dolphins play at Raiders in 2 weeks (@Bills final week).. 

Continue to take care of Browns business week by week.. I got a hunch the 3 Wildcards should become Browns/Ravens/Tennessee?... (but that's why they play the games)

[SdBacker80]

I’ve watched a ton of Giant football this year and they could easily be 8-5 instead of 5-8. Danny Dimes looked awful Sunday his hammy wasn’t ready.  Hopefully it isn’t ready this week either.  He can hurt our defense with his feet.  We need Ward back and on his go to guy Slayton.  Dimes likes the short stuff so we need to be in the grill of their WRs- they go deep down the middle a lot with their TE Engram.  He could be matchup nightmare if the giants decide to go after us there.  He’s probably the best athlete on the team.  Their Oline is playing good football.  
 

Our defense will be tested again.  Defensively, They are well coached they are in the places they should be.  They don’t give up big plays and they have some castoffs playing good football Peppers and Williams.   Blake Martinez is playing great football at the Linebacker position.      No studs no freaks just good football players that play within their assignments. This is not going to be an easy game. 

The Jets are toast and want control of draft.  Show up start fast and run it down their throats. 
 

[The Gipper]

@gumby73 said:

with the browns at 9-4..so are the Colts & *Titans..Colts play @Pitt(Texans/Jags both at home)..Titans play @GB on SNF (vs.lions/@texans).. Browns & 1 of Colts or Titans should take up 2 wildcard spots..the Ravens hold the inside track in conference & division record over Miami (both teams are 8-5)...The Dolphins play at Raiders in 2 weeks (@Bills final week).. 

Continue to take care of Browns business week by week.. I got a hunch the 3 Wildcards should become Browns/Ravens/Tennessee?... (but that's why they play the games)

There is a whole thread on the upcoming schedules. 

[gumby73]

@the-gipper said:

There is a whole thread on the upcoming schedules. 

                    quit being a N A G !    

[The Gipper]

@gumby73 said:

                    quit being a N A G !    

I don't nag, your mother nags.   Simply pointing out that there is a bunch of additional info on that matter elsewhere. 

[Orion]

We have to stay ahead of the Dolphins & Raiders.  Of course I'd like the best seed possible, but I just wanna qualify for the playoffs.