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The gridirons across the NFL are officially inside an inferno... it's time for blood to be shed! The race for the playoffs has been exciting, and now the race nears its' final turns. AFC has strong clarity with the top-6 seeds locked down, leaving the 7th-spotted Broncos as the only racer in distance from those fading out of contention. NFC has a whole different vibe going on as the West and South title races now determine the playoff picture in the blue corner. Soon the race will conclude, and the bracket will be in stone.
AFC playoff picture is very-very close to stone. No chance seeds 1-6 wreckage bad enough to fall out of the race. The final spot, currently held by Denver, is the only spot that might be still up for grabs as realistically two hunters are in distance: Dolphins and Colts. Current picture:
Broncos would have to choke hard in the midst of either the Colts or Dolphins winning out in the final five weeks of games. Denver got the number 8 last night in a shootout with Cleveland (mhm), creating some more separation. Is there hope for the Dolphins or Colts?
Dolphins might be done after giving up inside frozen Lambeau, but the Colts have slight hope thanks to facing the Broncos on the 15th. Colts would need to win out, and would need the Broncos to lose another game or two. Dolphins must win out and hope the Broncos can choke the spot away with the Colts failing in the process. That's the AFC race... the Broncos, Colts, and Dolphins fighting for the final seed; plus the neck and neck race for the top seed.
Blood is shedding as the top two seeds of each conference are slaughtering the opps in an epic quest to secure playoff home-field advantage. The top four teams in the NFL are plain as day: Detroit, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Buffalo. Each squad is in the stratosphere, racing the orbit for the top seeds. Perhaps the grandest leg of the playoff race as any of the four powerhouses can be confident bets to march to the Super Bowl if they are able to secure home-field advantage in the divisional and championship rounds of the playoffs.
As you can see in the above AFC playoff standings, KC still has grasp of the top AFC seed, despite the loss to the Bills, whom are right on the Chiefs' tail. It's hard to say how the Chiefs finish the regular season due to the current play of the defending champs (regressed). I see four of the five remaining games as tough circles; considering the close wins over the Panthers and Raiders in previous weeks- the Chiefs could struggle at Cleveland as well; marking all five as tough matchups. KC could win out, or they could lose two of five. Buffalo has a weaker remaining schedj, but do still have to play a desperate Rams squad, and the mighty Lions in Ford Field. Who wants it more. Simple as that. The importance is lower in comparison to the NFC however. KC and Buffalo will be playing at home regardless in the playoffs, and you can bet one of the two will be in the big dance regardless the seed. NFC has major importance.
I feel the Lions are an easy bet to march to the Super Bowl if the playoffs go through Ford Field, as I feel the same for the Eagles if the roles are reversed in favor of going through the Linc. Can the Eagles and Lions be favorites away from home turf? Absolutely, both are favorites out of the NFC, but they should be considered automatic if given home-field advantage (especially Detroit). Lions hold the top spot by a game over the Birds, but have a far more difficult remaining schedule with a sharp thorn of division comp; plus a matchup with the Bills. The race is oh so on.
There is a whole lot going on in H-Town, with vibes all across the spectrum. Texans are happy to reach the BYE week to regroup; the relax might be slim though. I'll speak on that in a separate piece, allow me to share my opinion on Texans captain Azeez Al-Shaair getting handed down a 3-game suspension this week, in response to this brutal hit on Trevor Lawrence:
I am tired of the overreacted responses to professional football in this soft era. We have no idea the real speed of a NFL play, as we 99% don’t experience it. The speed is far faster than what close-minded brains think. No, it's not like the speed of you in the backyard, or you in your heyday on some crappy high-school field. It's bang-bang sport warfare amongst some of the most elite athletes in our universe. These players will never have the brain speed to halt the football motives they have installed in them. Al-Shaair's hit was unnecessary and we can only hope well for Lawrence in his recovery from it, but that's what they signed up for. It's the reason they make millions, which shouldn't cause one to be appalled. Paid millions to play a game that less than 0.01% of humanity can do; yeah, it comes with dangers and sacrifices. Never before, now this new era has to jump up and act like its inhumane, wanting a player banned or even more pathetic- sending death threats and slurs.
Please, we have men and women who serve up limbs for this country for far less than what NFL players make. The game comes with concussions, CTE, broken bones: these warriors know what they are signing up for. It's a barbaric sport. That should never change, sorry softie era. What's ironic, the call for Al-Shaair's head is from the same guys who have said terrible things about Trevor Lawrence (probably his family too) whenever he isn’t playing well, or when "their" little Jaguars are losing. It's pathetic. Fine 'em, wish good health, move on. I feel the worse part of this whole thing is the commissioners' office's smart tactic to manipulate the NFLPA.
NFL Ops (check that list out..) has used a smart tactic of turning former household grit names to office yes-men who are brain washed by whatever Goodell has orchestrated. The two gems being Jon Runyan and Troy Vincent Jr. & I am willing to bet the appeal officers in Kevin Mawae and Derrick Brooks could be following down the path. Jon Runyan's statement on Al-Shaair's suspension makes it all clear. Who the hell is Runyan to question a player's integrity when the cat had been nicknamed the "Mauler" for being a dirty physical force from his days at Michigan all the way to his career in Philly (among others). Runyan's words make him a hypocrite. Don't get me wrong, I am ok with Al Shaair getting a fat fine and a 1-2 game suspension... that should have been enough. No need to overreact and call for lengthy bans. It was a hit, time to move on.
Falcons are collapsing, giving the Buccaneers some life after losing three in a row behind poor QB play. Atlanta started November with ultra positive vibes after beating the Cowboys to secure five wins in six games, including two wins over the Bucs. The ship has since hit rocky waters; waters so rocky it could cause a leak severe enough to sink and abandon. As the Falcons choke, the Bucs win two straight after facing a 4-game losing skid. Now, can Tampa overcome the 2 Ls to the Falcons and get in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, at or near. 500?
At this point, the NFC South winner could have a strong chance of finishing under .500. With how Kirk Cousins has the Falcons playing, only a fool would say the Bucs are done and out. Bucs have a tough one against the Chargers, then the rest of the schedule may have them as favorites in each game; while the Falcons have the Vikings and Commanders as heavy circles on the matchup whiteboard. Atlanta could be in serious trouble. The fact the Falcons could lose the South crown and a playoff berth to the division rival they beat twice is pure craziness. Tampa was 4-6, and seemingly done- now with just a flick of a switch the team has playoff life again. Just the kind of narrative that gets Baker and the boys going. Better stop the losing Atlanta...
The race out West in the NFC is just as exciting as the South, and carries the same level of implications regarding the playoff picture. Seattle has picked things up to secure the throne with extremely important separation. Seahawks have won three in a row, with dubs over the Cardinals and 49ers. Both the victims face losing streaks as they choke playoff hopes away with the Rams staying in view. San Fran is likely done and out of the fight, especially with CMC facing demise (PCL injury), while the Cards have one final shot. The current standings:
Seahawks can end the Cardinals on Sunday, and give themselves ultra important separation. Rams are still in it, as they have the Seahawks lined up in the season finale. Seahawks have to go into Sunday with major importance. Eliminating the Cardinals is vital, but more vital is the separation that comes with the win if LA can get a monumental win-7 over the red-hot Bills. Seahawks have the Vikings, Bears, and Packers before the Rams game- they can easily drop one, or two of those games. Separation is vital; that opportunity once again comes against the Cardinals. More madness can come in this race, but Seattle is oh-so close to slamming the door shut.
With more clarity rising, and more stone forming across the playoff picture; my tiers are beginning to be quick & confident fills. Seeds 1-6 for each conference are close to being locked, barring any crazy collapses. As the NFC watches the playout of the South & West, my blue tiers tell the same:
Falcons and Seahawks shall remain treading until the Bucs, Rams, and Cardinals eventually die off. My sleeper moves to Tampa, as trusting Cousins and the Falcons seems like a scary thing to do. Lets see if Baker can motivate the boys again for a Cinderella playoff berth. There is still a chance that Stafford and the Rams take that sleeper torch instead.
The AFC playoff picture is damn near in stone. Broncos tread very lightly as they near shore. I can't see the Colts, Dolphins, or Bengals catching them. Denver would have to lose-out to give those three any hope. Hard to bet on that; my current red tiers:
Colts are a sleeper and a bad bet. Putting them as my sleeper is simply to acquaint; as Indy has hope still in the air. Soon, the safe bets will be locked in with all other hunters falling out of contention. AFC is ready for the playoffs. We are getting close! Leave with my updated power rankings:
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