Playoff picture: Most teams still have hope

by The Greek! on Dec 3, 2008 7:00 AM EST in News Comment 9 comments

With only a month left in the season (how did that happen already?) it’s time to look at where everyone stands and see what we can expect to look forward to in the coming weeks. Looking at the standings we can divide the league into four segments based on playoff aspirations; Control their own destiny, looking for some help, looking for a miracle, and looking forward to the draft. Here’s where we stand right now:

Controls their own destiny:

AFC:

Tennessee
Pittsburgh
Indianapolis
Baltimore
NY Jets
Denver

NFC:

NY Giants
Tampa Bay
Carolina
Atlanta
Minnesota
Arizona

Looking for some help:

AFC:

Miami
New England
Buffalo

NFC:

Dallas
Washington
Chicago
Philadelphia
New Orleans
Green Bay

Looking for a Miracle:

AFC:

Houston
Cleveland
Jacksonville
San Diego
Oakland (yes, Oakland)

NFC:

San Francisco

Looking forward to the draft:

AFC:

Kansas City
Cincinnati

NFC:

St. Louis
Seattle
Detroit

Amazingly enough, with only four weeks left in the season there are only five teams that have completely tanked the season to the point of being out of the hunt.

Sure, there are a lot of teams that need a lot of help, but that’s why they play the games, and at least there are a lot of teams left that have something to play for. Of course, next week the draft list will probably double, but playing semi meaningful games in December is what you hope for in September as a fan, and the majority of fans still have a reason to hope.

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Uhm

Giants will win the title so really the list goes like this:

In control of their own destiny:

GIANTS

In need of a miracle:

EVERYONE ELSE

lol.

by ProudYankee on Dec 3, 2008 8:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Love the optimism

But, remember last year everyone handed the title to New England — until the Giants took it away. Let’s not start thinking we have already won this year. We haven’t, and it’s not guaranteed.

by Ed Valentine on Dec 3, 2008 8:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I gotta do it Ed

lol… Pittsburgh and the Boys are the only teams I see defeating us. And I mention the Boys b/c I have an unhealthy paranoia about what Romo can do to us if we don’t contain him in the pocket and make it collapse. Whenever he escapes it he looks faster than Pierce. And somehow a receiver is crossing the field right in front of him wide open.

DId anyone notice Big Hit KP is second on the team w/ tackles? That’s awesome. I wanna see more of him.

by ProudYankee on Dec 3, 2008 9:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

How does this compare to last year’s playoff scenario at the 3/4 mark?

by Woogie526 on Dec 3, 2008 9:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

2007 week 13 rankings

AFC:
Control Their Own Destiny:
6
Looking for Help:
4
Looking for a Miracle:
5
Looking forward to the draft:
1

NFC:
Control their own destiny:
6
Looking for help:
7
Looking for a miracle:
3
Looking forward to the draft:
0

On an interesting note only 1 team that controlled their own destiny after week 13 did not make the playoffs as the Redskins were able to overtake the Cardinals.

by The Greek! on Dec 3, 2008 10:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

let's be honest

Washington, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay, and Buffalo can be pushed into ‘miracle’ status. Washington is the closest of the lot, and they’d need to win out, and they’d still need the Cowgirls and Falcons to both go 2-2. I know the Boys have NYG and PIT, but I’d call the combo of Skins win out, DAL loses 2, and ATL loses 2 a virtual miracle. All those other teams are virtually certain to not make it. The only teams capable of pushing their way in right now are Dallas, and Miami OR New England by virtue of Div.
Dammit, I made a prediction. Safe as it may be, it will now blow up in my face.

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 3, 2008 11:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

BOOM

20 minutes later I pick up a newspaper and find out the Vikings’ defensive line is done for the season. Which makes Green Bay, assuming the Vikes tank, viable at 1 back of the Bears.
But c’mon, having your division leader suddenly lose 2 of its top players mid-week qualifies as a miracle, right?
Waiting for the next BOOM…

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 3, 2008 12:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs