WHALEN Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Early look at who's in, who's out of the playoffs By Gary Horton Scouts Inc. Updated: November 7, 2007, 3:55 PM ET Comment Email Print It's the midpoint of the season and everyone is starting to look ahead to the playoffs. A lot can change between now and the end of the regular season, but here is a look at who will be in and who will be out and what the playoff picture might look like in January. AFC Playoff Picture New England Patriots Current Record: 9-0 Projected record: 16-0 Result: AFC East champion Seed: No. 1 This is a complete team full of confidence with no major weaknesses and it plays in a weak division. The Patriots' biggest remaining challenges are a road game at Baltimore (Dec. 3), a home game versus Pittsburgh (Dec. 9) and a closing game at the New York Giants (Dec. 29). This team doesn't have any trap games and will be ready every week. That makes 16-0 a very real possibility. Indianapolis Colts Current record: 7-1 Projected record: 15-1 Result: AFC South champion Seed: No. 2 The Colts know they can play with the Pats. Now they just want to get all their weapons healthy and land a rematch with New England. The offense will continue to be consistent and the speed of their defense will continue to surprise opponents. However, they have tough division games left with the physical Jaguars and Titans and have a challenging game at San Diego on Sunday. To get to the Super Bowl, the Colts will have to win in Foxborough, but they have done it before and won't be intimidated. The Road To Super Bowl XLII AFC Wild Card Weekend No. 3 Pittsburgh over No. 6 Jacksonville A perfect batttle between two teams with similar philosophies -- run the football, eat up the clock and play great defense. The difference will be Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger using his play-action package to create a couple of big passing plays for the Steelers win. No. 4 San Diego over No. 5 Tennessee This could be a very close, low-scoring game that matches LaDainian Tomlinson against the underrated Tennessee defense. This game will come down to the quarterback and even though San Diego's Philip Rivers is not playing great, he will make more positive plays than Vince Young. NFC Wild Card Weekend No. 3 New Orleans over No. 6 Detroit The 0-4 start by the Saints is now a distant memory and QB Drew Brees will exploit the Lions secondary. The Saints new-found pass rush pressure will get to Jon Kitna and the the Lions' fairytale season comes to an end. No. 5 New York Giants over No. 4 Seattle Seattle got into the playoffs by default and are playing a hot team with no major flaws. The Seawhawks offensive line will not be able to protect QB Matt Hasselbeck and the Giants offensive balance will exploit an average Seattle defense. This game will be easy for the Giants. AFC Divisional Playoff No. 1 New England over No. 4 San Diego The Patriots will be well rested and will exploit the Chargers' weaknesses. Tom Brady will have a field day against this defense and the Pats defense will shut down Tomlinson, forcing Rivers to make plays, something that won't happen enough. No. 2 Indianapolis over No. 3 Pittsburgh This could be a classic playoff game between two teams with contrasting styles. The Steelers will try to be physical and wear down the Colts, but Indy will counter with a great passing game and lot of Joseph Addai. In the end, Indy will do a good job of containing Steelers RB Willie Parker and the game will come down top Peyton Manning vs. Roethlisberger and and we know who wins that battle. But this will be a good one. NFC Divisional Playoff No. 1 Dallas over No. 5 New York Giants This will be the best game in the NFL playoffs. It features a great Giants pass rush against Tony Romo sits to pee, but the Cowboys will sneak away with a close win at home because of their running game and the fact Romo sits to pee makes a couple more plays in the passing game than Giants QB Eli Manning. No. 2 Green Bay over No. 3 New Orleans The Packers are tough to beat at home, especially in January. Brett Favre will pick apart a suspect Saints secondary while the Packers CB duo of Al Harris and Charles Woodson will take the Saints' receivers out of the game. AFC Championship No. 1 New England over No. 2 Indianapolis This is the rematch that everybody has been waiting for since Week 9, but now it's in New England. It will be close, but Brady will outduel Manning and the Pats will spread the field and, ironically, wear down the Colts. NFC Championship No. 1 Dallas over No. 2 Green Bay The Packers have to leave the friendly confines of Lambeau Field and by now, Romo sits to pee and Co. are on a roll. Finally, the lack of a run game for Green Bay going against the underrated Cowboys run game will be the difference in this one as the Cowboys roll to the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XLII New England over Dallas This will be a matchup of the best that each conference has to offer, but the Pats are on a mission. Brady will pick apart a vbulnerable Cowboys secondary with his spread offense and the Patriots will finish a perfect season with a comfortable win in Arizona. -- Gary Horton Pittsburgh Steelers Current record: 6-2 Projected record: 13-3 Result: AFC North champion Seed: No. 3 The Steelers look like a real Super Bowl contender after they thrashed the Baltimore Ravens on MNF. Still, they are still flying under the radar while New England and Indianapolis get all of the headlines. The game plan never changes -- run the football, play physical in the trenches, attack on defense and make some big passes off play-action. They are a dangerous team in the playoffs because they can slow the game down and dictate the style of play. Those are qualities that bother the more explosive offensive teams. They have tough back-to-back games in December with New England and Jacksonville, but they will be playoff ready in January. San Diego Chargers Current record: 4-4 Projected record: 8-8 Result: AFC West champion Seed: No. 4 After being destroyed by Adrian Peterson and the Vikings Sunday, this no longer looks like a team climbing back into elite status. Philip Rivers is struggling, the defense is not playing with great toughness, and right now you just don't see a champion's heart. But the Chargers still play in a mediocre AFC West and they could be a .500 team and still win their division. They have a huge hurdle with the Colts visiting on Sunday. The Chargers also have physical road games at Tennessee, Jacksonville and Kansas City. They do not look like the Chargers of a year ago and they certainly don't look like a team that will go deep in the playoffs. Tennessee Titans Current record: 6-2 Projected record: 11-5 Result: wild card Seed: No. 5 They are one of the most well-coached and physical teams in the NFL. The Titans win with a power run game and a "punch you in the mouth" defense. That style gives the explosive, elite teams a lot of trouble, especially if the game is in Tennessee. Right now, the Titans are winning without consistent quarterback play and that could haunt them down the stretch. They have a huge division game on Sunday against Jacksonville. The schedule also features San Diego at home and tough road trips to Kansas City and Indianapolis. The Titans won't win the division, but they will be a tough out in the playoffs. Jacksonville Jaguars Current record: 5-3 Projected record: 10-6 Result: wild card Seed: No. 6 The Jaguars are a hard team to get a handle on because their performance can dramatically change from week to week. We do know that they are a physical team that can run the football and play solid defense, but they need to get QB David Garrard healthy for the stretch run. The Jaguars have a tough remaining schedule -- road games at Tennessee, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh -- but they have a good chance to slide in as the last AFC wild card, which would mean that both wild cards would come from the AFC South. NFC Playoff Picture Dallas Cowboys Current record: 7-1 Projected record: 14-2 Result: NFC East champion Seed: No. 1 It seems as if their lopsided loss to New England was eons ago and the Cowboys are starting to look like a complete team. Tony Romo sits to pee is the real deal at quarterback and he has weapons in the passing game. The Cowboys have a physical run game and the defense is starting to get Wade Phillips' schemes. They have a monster game on Sunday on the road against the New York Giants, but the rest of their schedule is manageable with the toughest games at home (Green Bay and Detroit). The Cowboys will fight to the end to beat the Giants for the division title, and this team is equipped for a deep playoff run. Green Bay Packers Current record: 7-1 Projected record: 12-4 Result: NFC North champion Seed: No. 2 We keep waiting for the Packers to fade, but they keep coming up with new ways to win and are having more fun than any other team in the league. They have an underrated defense with a deep defensive line rotation, athletic linebackers and shutdown corners who can play press coverages. The lack of a run game is a concern late in the season, but with Brett Favre the Packers have a chance to win every game -- especially at home. They have tough back-to-back road games in November at Detroit and Dallas, but this looks like a team that can play at home until the NFC Championship game. The Packers are for real. New Orleans Saints Current record: 4-4 Projected record: 11-5 Result: NFC South champion Seed: No. 3 All of the sudden, this looks like the same Saints team that went to the NFC Championship Game a year ago. Drew Brees is starting to make plays in the passing game, Reggie Bush is running pretty well, but most importantly, the defense is starting to produce, especially the pass rush. You have to worry about the loss of Deuce McAllister and a consistent power run game, but after an 0-4 start and now four straight wins, the Saints look as though they can win the division. They have a favorable closing schedule, but they will battle Tampa Bay all the way to the end. Seattle Seahawks Current record: 4-4 Projected record: 10-6 Result: NFC West champion Seed: No. 4 Luckily for them, the Seahawks are in a division that nobody seems to want to win and will probably emerge with the NFC West crown by default. They have a soft run game that holds back a good play-action passing game and, at best, they are a middle-of-the-road defense. Seattle doesn't seem to play with a lot of passion or a sense of urgency. If Shaun Alexander decides he wants to run hard, this could be a decent playoff team. If not, the Seahawks are one and done. Their late schedule is manageable with a couple of tough trips to Philadelphia and Carolina, but this right now is an underachieving team. New York Giants Current record: 6-2 Projected record: 13-3 Result: wild card Seed: No. 5 They are well-rested, everybody is getting along, and they now have a confident swagger. Their defense can make game-changing plays, especially the defensive line, and that takes pressure off an improving offense. Speaking of offense, Eli Manning is playing better, the run game is taking shape and this looks like a team without a glaring weakness. However, the Giants' second-half schedule is brutal with games against Dallas, at upstart Detroit and tough division games against Philadelphia and Washington before closing at home against New England, which at that point might be trying to conclude an undefeated regular season. The Giants may be one of the top three teams in the NFC, but it will be difficult to match their first-half 6-2 record and overtake Dallas in the NFC East. Still, this is a team that nobody will want to play in January. Detroit Lions Current record: 6-2 Projected record: 9-7 Result: wild card Seed: No. 6 We have been waiting for weeks to see the Lions start to lose, but evidently they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to fall apart by now. They have always had an explosive passing game, but now they are starting to show offensive balance by running the ball, plus they are playing decent defense. This is an excited team that believes in itself and is enjoying the ride. Still, the Lions have a tough closing schedule that features the N.Y. Giants, Green Bay twice, San Diego, Dallas and Kansas City. They may fade a little bit, but probably have enough of a cushion to sneak into the playoffs. Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called The War Room. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?id=3098461 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d0ublestr0ker0ll Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Guess it's time to stop playing the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1N_SKINS Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 im not surprised the media doesnt respect us because we play like idiots in the games we win except lions and when we loose we look as if we dont deserve to win a single game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walking Deadman Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 He took the current records and said thy're making the playoffs in the NFC whoopdeedoo!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyburd Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Do we look like a playoff team? Just what I thought. If I was on the outside looking in, I say no way the Skins go 8-8. Take the Homer glasses off people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRobi21 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Guess it's time to stop playing the games. Yup. Lets pack it in guys. Season's over. We had a good run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenegadeTK Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 cant wait to prove em wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerald362 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Wait a minute.............did anyone look at the final records listed by this guy? He has the lions finishing 9-7. Right now, we are 5-3. I think that 4-4 is very possible for this team, and we have the advantage over the lions since we thrashed them earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jivelikenice Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Do we look like a playoff team? Just what I thought. If I was on the outside looking in, I say no way the Skins go 8-8. Take the Homer glasses off people So your saying that from the outside looking in you would think we would not go 8-8 when we are already 5-3? I dont think its homeristic to say that we win more than three or even just three games out of our next 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwpanic Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 green bay makes it all the way to the nfc championship? i praying that we get the chance to play those guys again in the playoffs and redeem ourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWill Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Gibbs is best in December. If we hold strong through November, we are as good as in. JGs teams may look like a mess early, but they sure do finish strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slacky McSlackAss Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 So if he has the Lions going 9-7 and making the playoffs, that means we go 8-8 or worse. Sorry buddy, not gonna happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedBNG Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 They have the Saints and Giants losing only 1 more game the rest of the season? :laugh: at ESPN... you guys really ARE a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragemdw Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Do we look like a playoff team? Just what I thought. If I was on the outside looking in, I say no way the Skins go 8-8. Take the Homer glasses off people ok rage do not get yourself suspended from the site again!! :dallasuck :gaintsuck :eaglesuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spec138 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Not saying these predictions are true by any means, but if this did happen, can you imagine a 13-3 team in the WC? That's crazy haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#1njskinsfan Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 will make it all that much more sweeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Too many gaudy records in the "projected" category. He thinks the Cowboys, Giants, Colts, Steelers, and Saints each only lose one more game the rest of the way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_33 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Man...Am I the only one who thinks this team could go 11-5 or 10-6 realistically? Sure we are 5-3 right now and have played poorly over the last 3 games...BUT PEOPLE....We have won!! If we were 3-5 or even 4-4,I could see the lack of faith...But a sweep over Philly and we are right back in the thick of things...6-3 We have NY 1 more time and Dallas TWICE!Our Defense is strong enough to carry us most of the time and our Offense could have a strong showing in any of these games! We have been playing well enough on the road to win..!If you can win on the road,then you stand a good chance at making the playoffs... We have Dallas,Minny,TB and the Giants on the road...(currently 2-2) If we can win 2 more of these games (possibly Minny and TB) that would bring our wins to 7! Home games against Dallas,Philly,Buffalo and Chicago..I think we can win 3 of these... That's 10 wins people!Have some faith!HTTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forbeskin Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Man, I hope the Patriots lose a game this year, please let em.....I'm so sick of the Pats this, the Pats that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyno Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Horton hears a boo! BOOOO.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zazzaro703 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 These people are pretty big on the Lions, who have a really really tough schedule the rest of the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Folks, let's drop the "the media doesn't respect us" routine. I'm with Czaban: We have two overtime wins, against teams that are a combined 1-16. I'm not saying "we suck". Among other things, we all know that it's possible to lose to crummy teams in this league. But really, nobody should be able to refer to us as a "playoff team" with a straight face right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM916 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Right now, we are 7th I beleive. If the playoffs happened next week, we would not be in. That's all there is to this. They failed to venture any guesses as to which winning teams will not finish as winners and merely took the favorites. That's the real question for the second half of the season, who will run the table and who will fall apart? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tastes Like Chicken Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 These people are pretty big on the Lions, who have a really really tough schedule the rest of the way. Yep. The Lions are the new Cardinals. Can't wait for that house of cards to come tumbling down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sens11 Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 ok rage do not get yourself suspended from the site again!!:dallasuck :gaintsuck :eaglesuck I got your back... That's why this week is so damn important... If we win this week and go 6-3 into the Dallas game.. anything goes! Earn your respect with winning games Skins! :logo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.