It's a strange year. Seems like it’s real top heavy with 4 to 5 teams being locks already.
Cards, Rams, Bucs, Boys all seam like locks. Might even include us. That leaves 1 wild card open and that looks like the Vikings.
Who else? I’m just not seeing anyone improving.
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Two wild card spots, since there are seven playoff teams in each conference now.
I think there's 5 sure bets with Cards, Rams, Bucs, Boys and Packers. I'd give a 6th spot to the Saints. After that, the 7th spot could be one of about 6 or 7 teams.
One of those teams will fade. Question is, which one?
One of those five? I'd pick the Cowboys but it won't matter because no one else is winning that shit division.
It's all so far away with a 17 game season. It could look a lot different in January. It is whoever loses the most key players will fade. And whoever loses their QB will drop like a rock.
Injuries are up everywhere. The speed of the game is up. So how does the NFL respond? By reducing protective gear (except helmets) and lengthening the season. Brilliant.
They thought Squid Game was a good model for the league.
As we approach the halfway point of this season, it appears there will be 2 teams from each division making the playoffs, except the NFCE likely having only the division winner.
The Packers are (once again) in the driver's seat for the NFCN, but the pressure remains to stay even with all other division leaders plus the Rams at 6-1. Each team has at least 1 loss within the conference except the Cards, of course.
A victory by the Packers vs the Cards could pay HUGE dividends on playoff seeding...
@YATittle posted:One of those teams will fade. Question is, which one?
As others have said injuries are key to who fades and stays going strong.
To me honestly it still is the Bucs conference until someone proves otherwise. They have a pretty darn good defense and I would never bet against Brady with that balanced offense.
Cards? I honestly haven't seen them play so I have no opinion on them yet. Everyone else? I kind of think of GB, LA, Dallas, and the Saints all about the same teams. Yep, I know the Saints throttled us but I would bet good money that won't happen again.
Yep. Even though it pains me to say, the Bucs are the cream of the crop and the rest of the teams have to show they can knock them off come playoff time. I don’t see a ton changing unless TB goes out. Would love a playoff rematch. With that said, shit load or season left. All of this talk is premature ejaculation.
I honestly think that the Bucs would have to have some injuries across the offensive and defensive lines for us to beat them.
After all is said and done, in the next couple of months, I think we will end up with the Packers and the Bills in the Super Bowl.
In 2010, we were the wild card team with injuries similar to this year.. Went on the road to Philly, Atlanta, and Chicago and eventually won the super bowl.. We got hot, and the rest is history..
Everyone here knows that story. The difference between every year since then is a capable defense.
Maybe this is the year with Campbell, Stokes, Smith, Mercilus and Douglas. Kudos to assistant GM Gute for adding the last 3 in season when it became apparent they were needed.
Would be great if we get z and 23 and bahk back just in time for the push - nice and rested
The difference is in who is injured, not how many. What pro bowlers or all pro's were on IR in 2010? Was there even one?
We should have 23 back but it's not looking good for Z. Aside from that, AR , Jenkins and Bahktiari need to stay healthy for a legitimate run. Hell that's a couple months and many games from now.
pkr, I agree. Getting all three of Z, Alexander and Bak would be huge for a late season run. Now add Myers to that list. Also, Imagine a pass rush with Z, Preston, Gary and Mercyless. And imagine Alexander, Stokes, Douglas and even King back. That is a possibility. And with the additions of Campbell, Smith and Cory B. this year from FA. That is a definite improvement over last year on defense and ST’s.
Mark my words, Z will be back, if only to find a new team willing to reward him in the 2022 season. A missed year will bring him a vent minimum deal or close.
I find it amazing the the 3-3 vikings are in the playoff picture, at this point, in time. It tells you what kind of a mess the rest of the league is in, if a 3-3 team is considered a playoff contender. I still feel it will be GB and Buffalo in the Super Bowl, at this season's end.
Can’t wait for the Zim, MM chess match this week
@mrtundra posted:I find it amazing the the 3-3 vikings are in the playoff picture, at this point, in time. It tells you what kind of a mess the rest of the league is in, if a 3-3 team is considered a playoff contender. I still feel it will be GB and Buffalo in the Super Bowl, at this season's end.
And there’s talk of more expansion teams, I am not a fan of that idea whatsoever
Maybe it seems silly because some teams have barely played a third of their schedules yet so there hasn’t been much separation.
@PackerHawk posted:One of those five? I'd pick the Cowboys but it won't matter because no one else is winning that shit division.
That's right. The Boys probably only have to win 2 more games to have the division title sewn up.
Boys are the biggest lock to make the playoffs. After that, I'd say Tampa and Packers then Cards and Rams.
That leaves 2 slots left with 9 games to play. And 11 teams to choose from.
Throw out the entire NFC Least. That's 3. Throw out the Lions. That's 4. I'm tempted to throw out the Seahawks and Niners but Hawks get Wilson back. Throwing out Niners that's 5.
You have 2 slots left with 6 teams fighting for 2 slots.
Panthers / Falcons / Saints / Seahawks / Bears / Vikings
Pick 2 and IMO it won't matter because one of the big 5 is coming out of the NFC.
I’d throw out TBSS as they are well, pretty awful, before I’d throw out the Russ-less Seahawks.
Saints and Vikes are front runners by far IMO.
The Vikes look good but they have a brutal stretch ahead, Boys, Chargers, Ravens and Pack. We will learn a lot over the next month. Of course they are the Vikes.
@Pikes Peak posted:The Vikes look good but they have a brutal stretch ahead, Boys, Chargers, Ravens and Pack. We will learn a lot over the next month. Of course they are the Vikes.
The Minnesota Pedmo's are 3-3 . They could easily end up 3-7 after that stretch. Then a bunch of pick em games. They finish up with the Rams and Pack. Vikes will have to battle to be 8-9 by the end
@YATittle posted:Mark my words, Z will be back, if only to find a new team willing to reward him in the 2022 season. A missed year will bring him a vent minimum deal or close.
No it won't. He's a guy that's performed at a high level his whole career. He got hurt, just like football players do. He's not some Kevin King type who can't stay on the field.
Zero chance Z would get vet minimum.
He would have to return and really jack up his back. At that point you are probably looking at retirement instead of vet minimum.
