NFL 2010: the Playoff Chase

The playoff picture is narrowing...narrowing to 19 teams. NFL.com says twenty teams have a chance to make a post season appearance...I think they rounded that number up to the nearest ten. The Chicago Bears have made the playoffs by winning their division already while a few teams have clinched playoff berths though not divisional titles.

The New York Jets can still win the AFC East because they trail the Patriots by two games and have split their head-to-head games...the Jets , however, play the Bears in Chicago this week and the Bears need to win or rather to continue to win to get a shot at home field throughout the NFC playoffs. If the Jets lose this week they can't win the AFC East, but will still likely make the playoffs.

Four teams have clinched playoff bids though not necessarily divisional titles except for the Bears...the Falcons, Patriots, and Steelers have clinched playoff spots...gaining more home possible home field games is what is at stake for these teams now.

The Steelers can win their division this week against the Panthers...the pitiful Panthers will be crushed this week in a home game for the Steelers who have as sure a thing this week as there is in the NFL. This game could be a shutout victory for Pittsburgh.

Atlanta who has also earned a playoff spot have New Orleans to worry about...the Saints trail them by two games and the two teams play this Monday night in the biggest game of the year for Monday night football fans. New Orleans need to win on the road to have a shot at the divisional title...they're good enough to win, but can they bring their team speed to bear when good field position benefits their offense. I think the Saints win this game on Monday night.

Kansas City has the Chargers on their tail leading them by just one game...the AFC West title is in the balance as the two teams play their last two games. The Titans will test the Chiefs in Kansas City this week and a victory over Tennessee isn't a sure thing...the Titans have been getting their injured players back and can score points very efficiently even against a tough Chiefs defense. The Chargers play the Bengals on the road this week and they might crush the disorganized Bengals even after the long road trip across the Rockies...look for the Chargers to win on Sunday and win the AFC West on the last day of the season on January 2, 2011.

Indianapolis goes to Oakland this week in pursuit of an AFC South title...I like their chances against an Oakland bunch that can put together an occasional great effort but will probably lose to the Colts and their slim playoff hopes will disappear into the San Francisco Bay fog bank. The Raiders are 7-7 and need a lot of complicated-to-explain good fortune to win their division and even to get a wild card playoff berth. They have to win out against Indy and Kansas City and that looks unlikely. As I looked into Oakland's path (based on a reader's comment) to the playoffs I found--to my surprise because I'm not a follower of the Raiders--they are 5-0 in their division and can win the AFC West if the division ends up in a tie...they, however, need to tie two teams that they trail: a tie in won-loss record is the best they can hope for to win the division. That scenario would involve Kansas City losing two more games and San Diego losing at least one.

The NFC West has St Louis at 6-8 leading the division if you can fathom that...Seattle can still win the division as can San Francisco at 5-9--WOW! That's not good press for the NFL. If the Seahawks and Rams have the same 7-8 record going into their week 17 game the winner of that one will win the division. The 49er's can actually win the NFC West with a 7-9 record, but they still have to win two to be 7-9...they will be eliminated this week if they lose to St Louis...I think St Louis beats them this week and puts us--the suffering lovers of excellence who also can't find political salvation consistently-- fans out of our mediocrity-misery...I think St Louis will win their final two and win the NFC West at 8-8.

Green Bay has a shot at a wild card spot as they face the Giants--loser of that astounding Eagles rally last week--and if the Packers win the home game in Lambeau Field they have the first tie breaker over the Giants if they both end up tied at season's end. The Packers who trail the Giants by one game today will need to win their last game as well because the Giants appear good enough to win their final game versus Washington.

Tampa Bay at 8-6 can still earn a wild card spot...Tampa Bay closes out the season with Seattle and New Orleans with both those games on the road. The Bucs path to the playoffs is as a wild card and they have to jump over New Orleans who needs to lose its final two while the Bucs need to win their final two. However, I think the Saints will beat Tampa Bay next week--week 17--and decide the issue if the Bucs aren't already eliminated by then with a loss to Seattle this Sunday.

That's the playoff outlook...enjoy the many pivotal games this week!

Resources:
www.NFL.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures