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Clint Mills' look at the NFL playoffs picture Here we go... AFC EAST New England, 9-6. @Miami (Monday Night) Win and they're the AFC East Champs. If the Jets lose to Detroit, they'd host the Dolphins in game 1 of the playoffs, it the Jets beat Detroit, it's Tuna Bowl III in Foxboro stadium. If the Pats lose to Miami, they will either lose their playoff spot to the Jets, or they'll be back in Miami to try it again the following week. Miami, 9-6. New England (Monday Night) Same exact scenario as the Pats. If the Jets win, they must win the division and host New York in week 1, if the Jets lose, they can still back into the playoffs with a loss and travel North to Foxboro. New York, 9-6. @Detroit It's simple. Win and they're in to face the winner of the big Monday Night game on the road in week 1. AFC CENTRAL Pittsburgh, 11-4. @Tennessee Unless Pitt loses to the Oilers by 64 points (no kidding), they are Central Champions and get a week off. Jacksonville, 10-5. @Oakland The Jags game at Oakland is essentially meaningless. They have already secured the #2 wildcard spot, and have a snowball's chance in hell at winning the division. AFC WEST Kansas City, 12-3. New Orleans Schottenheimer has always been thought of as a choker, but if his Chiefs lost at home to the Saints and hand the #1 seed back to Denver, he just may be driven to retire. The Division title and home field advantage will never be on a platter more silver. Denver, 11-3. @San Fran (Monday Night) , San Diego Unless the Chiefs do choke, Denver is just playing out the string. They could slip to the #2 wildcard at 11-5 if Jacksonville also wins it's last game. I doubt Mike Shanahan will be resting his starters this year, however, so you can count on Denver as being the #1 wildcard team. If not against San Fran, then certainly against the Chargers. NFC EAST New York, 9-5-1. @Dallas Another meaningless week 17 game awaits. Win or lose to the Cowpies, the Giants are Champs of the East and will host the #3 wildcard team in week 1. Washington, 7-7-1. Philadelphia If they want revenge on the Giants in the playoffs, the are going to need help. The 'Skins must beat Philly at home, and hope either Detroit loses at home to the Jets, or Minnesota loses at home to the Colts. NFC CENTRAL Green Bay, 12-3. Buffalo The Pack repeated as Champs last week, and are only chasing the remote possibility of getting the #1 seed. San Fran needs to lose to Denver and Seattle, and the Pack must take care of business at home at Lambeau. Tampa Bay, 9-6. Chicago Despite losing 3 of their last 4 games, the Bucs would still host a wildcard game if they beat the Bears at home. The Bucs are in no matter what, but may have to go on the road if they lose to Chicago. Minnesota, 8-7. Indianapolis This team has not won a game since beating Chicago at home on November 9th, but win and they're in. Should both Detroit and Washington win, the Vikes would HAVE to win over the Colts to get in. Should they get in, they'll be on the road if Tampa Bay or Detroit win. But should Tampa and Detroit both lose, Minnesota would host either Washington or Detroit. Detroit, 8-7. Jets The only way the Lions aren't going to the playoffs is if Minnesota and Washington both win and Detroit loses at home to the Jets. Not likely, but certainly possible. Detroit would host a playoff game against the Bucs if Tampa loses to Chicago. NFC WEST 49ers, 12-2. Denver (Monday Night), @Seattle In all likelihood, the NFC road to the Super Bowl will go through San Francisco, but stranger things have happened. They do not have it as easy as the Chiefs do in the AFC. I doubt Green Bay will lose to Buffalo at home, so it looks like the 9ers will need one more win to wrap up home field. If they don't get it done on Monday Night, don't bet against a Seahawks upset in the Kingdome. Check back next week for a playoff preview. In this weeks edition of the "fantasy scenario," what looked laughable last week suddenly looks quite possible, and this weeks fantasy is even better, as last week I had the Pats as the #3 seed in the conference. Granted it's still possible for the Pats to finish 9-7, but what kind of fantasy would that be? Setting the stage:
The playoffs: Wildcard Weekend: @Pittsburgh over Miami Divisional Playoff: @New England over Pittsburgh AFC Championship Game: @ New England over Denver Super Bowl XXXII: @San Diego: New England over Green Bay Although this weeks fantasy scenario is ever better than last weeks, this one is actually more believable with the Pats big win down in Jacksonville. If they can snap the Jags 13 game home win streak, then why can't the Pats go to the Super Bowl? The Pats may only have to play one more road game the rest of the way, at Miami on Dec 22nd. "Let's get ready to RUUUMMMBLE!" |
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