GarageGabs

With so much parity in the NFL almost EVERY game matters this weekend.  Here’s the rundown.

Current Playoff Picture 

NY Giants @ Washington: Oddly enough this isn’t a “must win” situation for the Giants to enter the playoffs.  It probably is, but there is a chance that they could finish 7-9 and still see the post season.  I don’t like their chances vs. the improving Redskins, at Washington.  New York is about to hit what we like to call…ROCK BOTTOM.  No Shockey or Strahan this weekend.  They will lose to Washington, Tiki will retire so he can be a ballerina, Coughlin will be fired, and some other coach will come in next year and try and handle all these New York egos.  Washington 24  Giants  20

Detroit @ Dallas: Dallas is in, and Detroit is out, but seeding is still at stake here.  Dallas gets back on track this week, 31-17.  Dallas could vault to the 3 seed with a Philly loss.

Carolina @ New Orleans: The Panthers  can make the playoffs.  All they need to do is beat New Orleans, have the Giants lose, and have Green Bay lose to Chicago.  Pretty amazing.  They’ll get their win tomorrow because the Saints won’t play the entire game.  Carolina 17  New Orleans  13

Jacksonville @ Kansas City: Both teams sit at 8-7 and need lots of help to make the playoffs.  The winner of this game would need Tennessee, Cincinnati, and the Jets to lose….not happening.   I’ll take the home team in this one, Kansas City 16  Jacksonville 14

New England @ Tennessee: I love the Titans and Vince Young and look for them to finish the season out with a win tomorrow.  Titans 27  Patriots 20

Oakland @ New York Jets: Jets are in with a win, they won’t disappoint their fans.  All day tomorrow you’ll be seeing shots of Jets fans doing the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!! thing….you’ll be annoyed of it quickly, but don’t worry they’ll be one and done in the playoffs.  Jets 23 Oakland 10

Seattle @ Tampa Bay: Seattle is already in and has won their division.  They’ll beat Tampa.  Seattle 31 Tampa Bay 21

St. Louis @ Minnesota: The 7-8 Rams have some around the world shot at making the playoffs….all the other 7-8 teams have to lose.  They’ll handle their end by beating Minnesota.  St. Louis 24 Minnesota 10 

Atlanta @ Philadelphia: Hmmm, all the talk is surrounding Philly.  I’m gonna call this a LETDOWN game as the Eagles back into the playoffs.  Atlanta will miss the playoffs at 8-8 and Jim Mora will be fired.  That will be the talk after this game, “will Mora be fired” and Philly blowing their chance.  NFL heads will not how Philly beat all these good teams but failed to beat Atlanta at home.  Another important note on this game:  This is a 4 pm game, so Atlanta will know if they even have a shot as all the teams ahead of the with the exception of Green Bay will have played already.  The pressure will be on Philly as well, as Dallas plays at 1pm.  Atlanta 28  Philadelphia 16

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati: Bengals win, but it won’t matter. Bengals 31 Pittsburgh 20

Buffalo @ Baltimore: Baltimore hangs on to a first round bye.  Ravens 26 Bills 13

Miami @ Indianapolis: Colts warm up for the playoffs in this one, Colts 27 Dolphins 7

Arizona @ San Diego: Chargers keep #1 seed.  San Diego 23 Arizona 20

San Francisco @ Denver: Jay Cutler and the Broncos make the playoffs: Denver 17 San Francisco 16

Green Bay @ Chicago: Packers sneak into playoffs with an upset of the Bears.  You’ll have to endure another week of hearing about Brett Favre.  Packers 27  Bears 10

If things work out as I predicted, the playoff picture will look like this:

+  First Round Bye

*   Division Champion

AFC

+*San Diego 14-2
+*Baltimore 13-3

*Indianapolis 12-4

*New England 11-5

Denver 10-6

NY Jets 10-6

Cincinnati 9-7

Tennessee 9-7

Kansas City 9-7

Jacksonville 8-8

AFC Movers:  Not a lot would change from the way the picture currently looks.  Denver and the Jets control their destiny as it is, with the 4 other teams needing help.  Nothing would change at the top either. 

NFC

+*Chicago  13-3

+* New Orleans 10-6

* Dallas 10-6

* Seattle 9-7

Philadelphia 9-7

Green Bay 8-8

Carolina 8-8

Atlanta 8-8

St. Louis 8-8

NY Giants 7-9

NFC Movers: This would be a huge shakeup, and obviously the biggest mover would be Dallas.  (go figure)  Chicago and New Orleans are entrenched, but Dallas would leapfrog Philly and Seattle, and host a first round game.  A Giants loss would drop them to the bottom of the picture, where as they are currently looking at a 6 spot.  Green Bay would obviously be the big winner in this scenario as the other 5 teams are in the playoffs anyway.  Basically the NFC is 5 teams playing for 1 spot, with a little room for movement in the middle tier.