Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Los Angeles Chargers (7-5): They could still challenge for the Division but they are now a full game behind KC, they do have an advantageous schedule down the stretch with very winnable match ups NYG, KC, @Hou, DEN, @LV and outside of KC which is home, I really don't see them as being underdogs in any of the other 4 match ups. 10-7 at worst I would think. 11-6 in play for the top WC seed if they cannot steal the Division away from the Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals (7-5): Up and down team that can look great one week and then have you scratching your head the next. Not sure why Burrow has been largely grounded of late. SF, @Den, BAL...that's not easy and you can't just put every match up vs Denver as an auto-win the rest of the way, the Broncos are 6-6 for a reason and starting to find some mojo in Javonte Williams. No chance the Bengals slip from 7-5 to 7-8 and fire up the coaching hot seat? KC @Cle the final 2 weeks, my money is betting AGAINST the Cincinnati Bengals right now, you could argue they tailspin to 7-10 but even a fall to 8-9/9-8 seems pretty likely unless they really can get it together down the stretch.
Buffalo Bills (7-5): Another team that started off hot and has been in a tail spin of late with several teams nipping on their heels, this Bills team could find themselves in hot water quickly. You have to think they have 3 wins left on the schedule vs CAR, ATL and the NYJ all at home, the Panthers and Falcons will freeze to death before they even step foot on the field. Buffalo fan will shake their heads but they likely are going to cruise into 10 wins, they still have a chance vs TB and @NE but I feel if they win one of those games that they will somehow drop one of the others. 10-7 seems like a good spot for them to land with many questions about how far they can go into the Playoffs.
Outside looking in right now...
8-Pittsburgh: (6-5-1): All of their remaining opponents are at least in the Playoff discussion or have Playoff aspirations and I have seen enough of the Steelers to understand that anything above 8-8-1 is going to be a leap of faith, they might not make it even that far over the next 5 weeks @MN, TN, @KC, CLE, @Balt, good grief.
9-Indianapolis (7-6): One of the stronger teams to come along over the last 4-6 weeks, clearly established themselves as a Playoff caliber team and IMHO could make a little noise because they have a strong potent running game even with OL injuries right now. NE and @AZ the next two weeks after their BYE(YES!) will tell just how good they are but should they win the next 2 weeks, I will not be surprised, the last 2 games LV and @Jax should both be Wins for them trying to get into the Playoffs. Despite losing to Tennessee earlier in the year they could find themselves in a Division push if they pull off a couple mild upsets the next 2 weeks. 10-7 is my projections but 9-8 is also a possibility and that opens up the board for others behind them. As of right now I would anticipate a LAC-BUF-INDY 5-6-7 for the Playoffs.
10-11-12: LV-CLE-DEN all 3 of these teams are 6-6 for a variety of reasons but it seems illogical to project any of them to win out and make a huge Playoff push. Denver and Las Vegas are not playing good football, Cleveland has a solid 1-2 punch on the ground that gives them an edge. Vegas has suffered a lot of injuries and set backs in their skill positions. Long shot for any of these 3 teams to do what is needed to make s a serious push and leapfrog the teams ahead of them, almost would have to win out.
And finally...
13-Miami Dolphins (6-7): The last of the potential Wildcard teams is never going to live down the JAX loss this season. I see them being able to win vs NYJ at home, then road games @NO(they stink right now) @TN(No Henry perhaps) and then a Week 18 Showdown to try and WIN OUT vs the New England Patriots, likely already division winners and resting their guys in Miami that weekend. Could the Miami Dolphins win 10 games and miss the Playoffs for a 2nd season in a row with double digit wins?
Cincinnati Bengals (7-5): Up and down team that can look great one week and then have you scratching your head the next. Not sure why Burrow has been largely grounded of late. SF, @Den, BAL...that's not easy and you can't just put every match up vs Denver as an auto-win the rest of the way, the Broncos are 6-6 for a reason and starting to find some mojo in Javonte Williams. No chance the Bengals slip from 7-5 to 7-8 and fire up the coaching hot seat? KC @Cle the final 2 weeks, my money is betting AGAINST the Cincinnati Bengals right now, you could argue they tailspin to 7-10 but even a fall to 8-9/9-8 seems pretty likely unless they really can get it together down the stretch.
Buffalo Bills (7-5): Another team that started off hot and has been in a tail spin of late with several teams nipping on their heels, this Bills team could find themselves in hot water quickly. You have to think they have 3 wins left on the schedule vs CAR, ATL and the NYJ all at home, the Panthers and Falcons will freeze to death before they even step foot on the field. Buffalo fan will shake their heads but they likely are going to cruise into 10 wins, they still have a chance vs TB and @NE but I feel if they win one of those games that they will somehow drop one of the others. 10-7 seems like a good spot for them to land with many questions about how far they can go into the Playoffs.
Outside looking in right now...
8-Pittsburgh: (6-5-1): All of their remaining opponents are at least in the Playoff discussion or have Playoff aspirations and I have seen enough of the Steelers to understand that anything above 8-8-1 is going to be a leap of faith, they might not make it even that far over the next 5 weeks @MN, TN, @KC, CLE, @Balt, good grief.
9-Indianapolis (7-6): One of the stronger teams to come along over the last 4-6 weeks, clearly established themselves as a Playoff caliber team and IMHO could make a little noise because they have a strong potent running game even with OL injuries right now. NE and @AZ the next two weeks after their BYE(YES!) will tell just how good they are but should they win the next 2 weeks, I will not be surprised, the last 2 games LV and @Jax should both be Wins for them trying to get into the Playoffs. Despite losing to Tennessee earlier in the year they could find themselves in a Division push if they pull off a couple mild upsets the next 2 weeks. 10-7 is my projections but 9-8 is also a possibility and that opens up the board for others behind them. As of right now I would anticipate a LAC-BUF-INDY 5-6-7 for the Playoffs.
10-11-12: LV-CLE-DEN all 3 of these teams are 6-6 for a variety of reasons but it seems illogical to project any of them to win out and make a huge Playoff push. Denver and Las Vegas are not playing good football, Cleveland has a solid 1-2 punch on the ground that gives them an edge. Vegas has suffered a lot of injuries and set backs in their skill positions. Long shot for any of these 3 teams to do what is needed to make s a serious push and leapfrog the teams ahead of them, almost would have to win out.
And finally...
13-Miami Dolphins (6-7): The last of the potential Wildcard teams is never going to live down the JAX loss this season. I see them being able to win vs NYJ at home, then road games @NO(they stink right now) @TN(No Henry perhaps) and then a Week 18 Showdown to try and WIN OUT vs the New England Patriots, likely already division winners and resting their guys in Miami that weekend. Could the Miami Dolphins win 10 games and miss the Playoffs for a 2nd season in a row with double digit wins?
