2014 NFL Predictions Week 11 Update
With six weeks to go, this is when the men get off the porch and chase the boys away.... to date only one team has been officially eliminated.
AFC
EAST
NE - "Lack O-line & D, not your typical Belichick team". The most resourceful coach in the NFL. In catbird seat, 4-2 gets #1 seed, they will be hard to beat @ home.
MIA - "Too many turnovers, no discipline." Fins win out takes div, 5-1 with loss @ NE, could back into WC with new found D & help.
BUF - "Schizoid with lots of potential, but which team is going to show up?" If you want hope, deal for DET backup QB.
NYJ - "The curse of the dynasty dog killer descends on Gotham, just not a good team and Ryan pays the price." Alot of money for nothing.
NORTH
PIT - "A load of unrealized potential here" must win out at home AND @ ATL to take div. Late run could get it done.
BAL - "Rice scandal hurt." Weak late schedule = run? Must win out at home AND @ MIA to win div.
CIN - "Tougher schedule and bungling Marvin Lewis don't help." Must win out at home AND @ HOU & CLE to win div. New coach needed.
CLE - "Manziel could be bigger bust than Leaf or RG3. Should have traded down to fill needs." Trade down and DET backup QB would have made playoffs.
SOUTH
IND - "Tougher schedule this year, need to find some D to go deeper in playoffs" Default div. winner, probable 1 and done.
HOU - "One bad year = + Clowney, great talent base, weak schedule rebound. Fitzpatrick? Meh, imagine what they could do with the Lion's backup QB?" Mallet isn't the answer, if you want playoffs, deal for DET backup QB.
TEN - "Whisenhunt needs to clean house, at best a .500 team muddled in purpose and without chemistry. QB's Whitehurst? Locker? Go steal a Lombardi Trophy from the Lions." Repeat and rinse, if you want hope, deal for DET backup QB.
JAX - "2nd most mismanaged team in NFL, should have grabbed known quantity Tebow 2 years back for hometown ticketsales. Some FLA college teams could beat the Jags." Only Skins and Raiders are more pathetic.
WEST
DEN - "Rebound from SB humiliation?" TBD. If Buncos lose @ KC, must win out (@SD & CIN) to win div, otherwise WC.
KC - Right now, unbeatable at home. If they beat OAK twice (some college teams could) AND win remaining home games, they could win div (see above), otherwise WC.
SD - Plagued by injuries and inconsistent D play. Need to win out and get help, otherwise odd man out in the West.
OAK - Eliminated mathematically with a perfect 0-10 record. A commitment to mistakes: "Most mismanaged team in NFL."
NFC
LEAST
DAL - "Plenty of Rom-O, if they find any D in Dallas." Found a running game which helped D, losses to West exposed them. Probable div winner, but still a one and done.
PHI - "Kelly's heroes have a lot of O, but no D. Just the remnants of the dog killers dynasty." Foles out, Sanchez in. Losses to West exposed them. If they win div, one and done.
NYG - "Jekyll and Hyde QB and team, Coughlin's last stand, everybody has read the Book of Eli, pressure crumbles him." Only question here is, who's next coach in NY pressure cooker.
WAS - "Needs to get over RG3 mistake where they should have traded down to fill needs, just not a good team." Rinse and repeat, want hope? Deal for DET backup QB.
NORTH
GB - "Mr. Rodgers said, R-E-L-A-X, this is my neighborhood. He's right, when they control rock and find D look out." Should cruise to #2 or #1 seed, will be tough at home.
DET - "So deep in talent, how long with it take Caldwell to figure out Stafford will never pull this off. Their backup QB is best kept NFL secret." They found D, still stuck on Stafford.
CHI - "Read above, ditto for Cutler and with Trestman making the calls, no one could, not even legendary Montana." New coaching and QB needed.
MIN - "Still rebuilding, No D and must find one fast as Bridgewater & Peterson won't be enough." Took a "switching", still not ticking.
SOUTH
NO - "Lost what little D and ground game they had. Brees arm and Payton's brains won't be enough." Probable 7-9 or 8-8 default div winner, then one and done.
CAR - "Tougher schedule, no surprises. They have D, but 1 dimensional O needs new playbook." No O makes it tough on D. One more year of Riverboat, then?
ATL - "Weak schedule rebound, alot of O, with a little D they could make a run." No D whatsoever, when does the clock run out on Smith?
TB - "Lovie won't make much difference. Man U. players would be an improvement, some EFL teams could beat the Bucs." True, but they did beat the Skins.
BEST
ARZ - "Last year Arians 10-6 group finished outside, not this year. Need to find pass D, more ground game. They do host the 2015 SB." At 9-1 should win div, but... lost QB Palmer for year, ouch for pass game, 31st in rushing. Tail end includes: 2 vs SEA; @ STL; @SF.
SF - "Need to change predictable O playbook, Kaepernick must run more and make less mistakes." Lame-O and QB gaffs are killing them. A. Smith is back, Bowman can practice, Willis out for year. Could make a WC run, winning out gets them #2 seed; 5-1 doesn't guarantee them WC spot.
SEA - "As defending SB champs, every week they are opponents SB. Its tough to repeat." Opposing D coordinators caught up with 1 dimensional O. Winning out (which they won't) doesn't guarantee them WC spot.
STL - "Fisher has a work in progress, without QB Bradford, going nowhere in footballs smashmouth division." If Bradford didn't go down, they make playoff run. Last 3 W's: vs SEA; @SF; vs DEN. This is the team NOBODY wants to see right now, take SB futures for next year. Los Angele's should snatch them back now.
Playoff Six Packs
AFCPreseason SD, NE, CIN, IND, DEN, BAL
(sub PIT & KC for CIN & SD)
Week 11 NE, DEN, PIT, IND, KC, BAL
NFC
Preseason SEA, GB, DAL, CAR, SF, ARZ
(sub NO & DET for CAR & SEA)
Week 11 ARZ, GB, DAL, NO, DET, SF
In the AFC: Outside of a repeat title game with NE & DEN, the other contenders - IND, KC, PIT, CIN, BAL, MIA all have various deficenies which will become problematic in the playoffs.
In the NFC: West teams have dominated matchups with other NFC playoff contenders DAL, PHI, DET, NO and CAR, all of whom have deficiencies which will become problematic in the playoffs. Although GB's QB Rodgers is hot, their inability to defend the run (#29 rush D), could be problematic.
The West leading ARZ defense has stood up, only KC & DET have allowed fewer points. However, without QB Carson Palmer and a running game (#31) they now face the toughest part of their schedule with backup QB Drew Stanton (3-1).
Even with their run game and D still performing, smashmouth SF & SEA have been anything but. One dimensional offensive game plans, a lack of support from the passing dept and too many mistakes have plagued both teams. But don't stick a fork in either of these formidable sides just quite yet.
DET with the #1 scoring D is an interesting prop, but then there is both the "dome sweet home" and Stafford "just can't get er done" issues. Given the make up of the NFC playoff teams and ARZ losing Palmer, if somebody doesn't make a statement by running the remainder of the table, it would not surprise to see a #5 or #6 seed make a run to the SB.
Super Bowl outlook: "The winner of the NFC Best will probably win SB XLIX." Overall, the NFC West vs NFL 20-10; vs NFC 14-5; vs AFC 6-5. The only team over .500 with a winning record vs the NFC West is KC at 2-1. Again, the SB will be played in Arizona. Let's see who gets into the post season party, and who has the hot hand.
We'll check back Wild Card weekend.
AFC
EAST
NE - "Lack O-line & D, not your typical Belichick team". The most resourceful coach in the NFL. In catbird seat, 4-2 gets #1 seed, they will be hard to beat @ home.
MIA - "Too many turnovers, no discipline." Fins win out takes div, 5-1 with loss @ NE, could back into WC with new found D & help.
BUF - "Schizoid with lots of potential, but which team is going to show up?" If you want hope, deal for DET backup QB.
NYJ - "The curse of the dynasty dog killer descends on Gotham, just not a good team and Ryan pays the price." Alot of money for nothing.
NORTH
PIT - "A load of unrealized potential here" must win out at home AND @ ATL to take div. Late run could get it done.
BAL - "Rice scandal hurt." Weak late schedule = run? Must win out at home AND @ MIA to win div.
CIN - "Tougher schedule and bungling Marvin Lewis don't help." Must win out at home AND @ HOU & CLE to win div. New coach needed.
CLE - "Manziel could be bigger bust than Leaf or RG3. Should have traded down to fill needs." Trade down and DET backup QB would have made playoffs.
SOUTH
IND - "Tougher schedule this year, need to find some D to go deeper in playoffs" Default div. winner, probable 1 and done.
HOU - "One bad year = + Clowney, great talent base, weak schedule rebound. Fitzpatrick? Meh, imagine what they could do with the Lion's backup QB?" Mallet isn't the answer, if you want playoffs, deal for DET backup QB.
TEN - "Whisenhunt needs to clean house, at best a .500 team muddled in purpose and without chemistry. QB's Whitehurst? Locker? Go steal a Lombardi Trophy from the Lions." Repeat and rinse, if you want hope, deal for DET backup QB.
JAX - "2nd most mismanaged team in NFL, should have grabbed known quantity Tebow 2 years back for hometown ticketsales. Some FLA college teams could beat the Jags." Only Skins and Raiders are more pathetic.
WEST
DEN - "Rebound from SB humiliation?" TBD. If Buncos lose @ KC, must win out (@SD & CIN) to win div, otherwise WC.
KC - Right now, unbeatable at home. If they beat OAK twice (some college teams could) AND win remaining home games, they could win div (see above), otherwise WC.
SD - Plagued by injuries and inconsistent D play. Need to win out and get help, otherwise odd man out in the West.
OAK - Eliminated mathematically with a perfect 0-10 record. A commitment to mistakes: "Most mismanaged team in NFL."
NFC
LEAST
DAL - "Plenty of Rom-O, if they find any D in Dallas." Found a running game which helped D, losses to West exposed them. Probable div winner, but still a one and done.
PHI - "Kelly's heroes have a lot of O, but no D. Just the remnants of the dog killers dynasty." Foles out, Sanchez in. Losses to West exposed them. If they win div, one and done.
NYG - "Jekyll and Hyde QB and team, Coughlin's last stand, everybody has read the Book of Eli, pressure crumbles him." Only question here is, who's next coach in NY pressure cooker.
WAS - "Needs to get over RG3 mistake where they should have traded down to fill needs, just not a good team." Rinse and repeat, want hope? Deal for DET backup QB.
NORTH
GB - "Mr. Rodgers said, R-E-L-A-X, this is my neighborhood. He's right, when they control rock and find D look out." Should cruise to #2 or #1 seed, will be tough at home.
DET - "So deep in talent, how long with it take Caldwell to figure out Stafford will never pull this off. Their backup QB is best kept NFL secret." They found D, still stuck on Stafford.
CHI - "Read above, ditto for Cutler and with Trestman making the calls, no one could, not even legendary Montana." New coaching and QB needed.
MIN - "Still rebuilding, No D and must find one fast as Bridgewater & Peterson won't be enough." Took a "switching", still not ticking.
SOUTH
NO - "Lost what little D and ground game they had. Brees arm and Payton's brains won't be enough." Probable 7-9 or 8-8 default div winner, then one and done.
CAR - "Tougher schedule, no surprises. They have D, but 1 dimensional O needs new playbook." No O makes it tough on D. One more year of Riverboat, then?
ATL - "Weak schedule rebound, alot of O, with a little D they could make a run." No D whatsoever, when does the clock run out on Smith?
TB - "Lovie won't make much difference. Man U. players would be an improvement, some EFL teams could beat the Bucs." True, but they did beat the Skins.
BEST
ARZ - "Last year Arians 10-6 group finished outside, not this year. Need to find pass D, more ground game. They do host the 2015 SB." At 9-1 should win div, but... lost QB Palmer for year, ouch for pass game, 31st in rushing. Tail end includes: 2 vs SEA; @ STL; @SF.
SF - "Need to change predictable O playbook, Kaepernick must run more and make less mistakes." Lame-O and QB gaffs are killing them. A. Smith is back, Bowman can practice, Willis out for year. Could make a WC run, winning out gets them #2 seed; 5-1 doesn't guarantee them WC spot.
SEA - "As defending SB champs, every week they are opponents SB. Its tough to repeat." Opposing D coordinators caught up with 1 dimensional O. Winning out (which they won't) doesn't guarantee them WC spot.
STL - "Fisher has a work in progress, without QB Bradford, going nowhere in footballs smashmouth division." If Bradford didn't go down, they make playoff run. Last 3 W's: vs SEA; @SF; vs DEN. This is the team NOBODY wants to see right now, take SB futures for next year. Los Angele's should snatch them back now.
Playoff Six Packs
AFCPreseason SD, NE, CIN, IND, DEN, BAL
(sub PIT & KC for CIN & SD)
Week 11 NE, DEN, PIT, IND, KC, BAL
NFC
Preseason SEA, GB, DAL, CAR, SF, ARZ
(sub NO & DET for CAR & SEA)
Week 11 ARZ, GB, DAL, NO, DET, SF
In the AFC: Outside of a repeat title game with NE & DEN, the other contenders - IND, KC, PIT, CIN, BAL, MIA all have various deficenies which will become problematic in the playoffs.
In the NFC: West teams have dominated matchups with other NFC playoff contenders DAL, PHI, DET, NO and CAR, all of whom have deficiencies which will become problematic in the playoffs. Although GB's QB Rodgers is hot, their inability to defend the run (#29 rush D), could be problematic.
The West leading ARZ defense has stood up, only KC & DET have allowed fewer points. However, without QB Carson Palmer and a running game (#31) they now face the toughest part of their schedule with backup QB Drew Stanton (3-1).
Even with their run game and D still performing, smashmouth SF & SEA have been anything but. One dimensional offensive game plans, a lack of support from the passing dept and too many mistakes have plagued both teams. But don't stick a fork in either of these formidable sides just quite yet.
DET with the #1 scoring D is an interesting prop, but then there is both the "dome sweet home" and Stafford "just can't get er done" issues. Given the make up of the NFC playoff teams and ARZ losing Palmer, if somebody doesn't make a statement by running the remainder of the table, it would not surprise to see a #5 or #6 seed make a run to the SB.
Super Bowl outlook: "The winner of the NFC Best will probably win SB XLIX." Overall, the NFC West vs NFL 20-10; vs NFC 14-5; vs AFC 6-5. The only team over .500 with a winning record vs the NFC West is KC at 2-1. Again, the SB will be played in Arizona. Let's see who gets into the post season party, and who has the hot hand.
We'll check back Wild Card weekend.
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