Well, as long as the wheels don't come off the Patriots, it looks like the road to the Super Bowl will go through Foxboro. New England has already beaten Tennessee and Indianapolis so even if they all end up 13-3, New England wins the head-to-head tiebreaker. However, Tennessee won't give a flip that they have to play in New England. They are hungry and want a ring.

As far as the NFC goes, Carolina will probably win out because they have the easier schedule. Philly still has Dallas and Miami, which is not impossible, and can afford to drop one of those because they'll hold a head-to-head over Carolina and will probably end up with a better conference record than St. Louis. That being said, the Linc will be hopping in January and McNabb will get a ticket to Houston.

My prediction is the Mac Bowl in February - McNabb vs. McNair.

Theo, you're forgetting the Chiefs, who are 11-1, a game better than NE. If they win out, they have home field.

Jim, silly me! How ever did I forget The Priest and the Chiefs? I guess the game between NE and IND was pretty fresh in my mind and I forgot about the Chiefs. Nonetheless, my SB prediction remains the same as I think TEN is better than KC or NE.

Here's an interesting factoid -- for the first time since 1954, teams from California and New York will NOT be in the playoffs.

As much as I'd like to say something high-minded like "I'd love to see the Patriots even the series against the Rams" I would be totally dishonest.

The truth is I couldn't think of a better way to spend an afternoon than watching Adam Archuleta ram into Tom Brady again and again and again...

Heck I might even buy the video. Okay, back to the serious stuff.

One of match-ups I'm hoping for is an NFC Championship game between the Vikings and the Eagles. They've both lost the NFC twice in the last 5 years. Which team would choke for a 3rd time?

I wouldn't call the Vikes losing at Philly in the NFC title game a choke if it were to happen. Yeah they gagged in games they should have won against Atlanta and the Giants. But they'd be major underdogs to the Eagles if they were to get that far.

As for the Vikes rep for losing all those Super Bowls (0-4), since their last SB appearance they are 0-4 in NFC Title games. They lost in '78 to Dallas, '87 to Washington, '98 to Atlanta and '00 to New York. eek!

Someday!

[ December 10, 2003, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: George_vikingfan ]

If you think the Eagles choked against the Rams two years ago in the NFC title game, you're nuts. The so-called invincible team with the high-flying offense was taken to the absolute limit on their home turf by the team that lost a key member of the secondary to injury during the game. The Eagles took the mystique away from the Rams that day. The Patriots then took advantage of that to win the Super Bowl.

JIP, JIP, JIP, what was the final score?

29-24 Rams

It might not have been a choke, but...

JIP, tell me you aren't praying that the NFC Championship game is in the Linc this year vs. the Dome?

We all will virtually agree that it will come down to the Eagles and the Rams this year. But what decides the game is where it's played. If it's in Philly, the Eagles win. If it's in St Louis, the Rams have a better than 50% chance.

You didn't say they lost. You said they CHOKED. You were wrong.

I didn't mean to imply that they choked in all the NFC games. But last year Philly should have beat Tampa and I guess I'd put both of the Vikings NFC losses as "chokes."

At this point it's a big "what if", but I'd still like to see the match up.

I don't know. I just read in CBS Sportsline that the Jets were not officially eliminated. If they win their last three and Miami and Denver lose their last three, Buffalo loses two (but beat Miami), and either Baltimore loses three or Cincinnati loses two, Jets would win the second wildcard on a tiebreaker. Okay, severely doubtful. Besides, the Jets don't play in NY, except when they play their away game in Buffalo.

playoff picture

Also, in case you are interested, these are the tiebreaking procedures

[ December 10, 2003, 08:20 PM: Message edited by: pat125 ]

I am rooting for the Jets. Herman Edwards is an awesome coach and Chad Pennington is the real deal.. better than Peyton Manning.

Yes, better than Peyton "OVERRATED, I can't win a playoff game" Manning. It's a longshot, but this coach deserves the playoffs.

Herman Edwards. Class. Class. Class.

[ December 10, 2003, 08:16 PM: Message edited by: coyoteugly ]

Sport13, yeah, it's great that Cinci is excited about the Bengals again. But what a poor game they played against the Ravens; it was the Kitna of old. I'd still like them to make the playoffs but it's going to take some doing at this point.

Pat/George/anyone, is their anything to report about the building of a stadium by the Westside Highway, in the rail yard (I think) there? I know the Yankees were looking at it and so are the NY Olympics people, but I'd heard that there was interest from the Jets/Giants too.

[ December 10, 2003, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]

Jim, the Jets and NYC have been talking about this for a couple of years. I didn't know there were any recent discussion of this until I did a search. Here's one link .

The Jets have expressed displeasure with the arrangement at Giants Stadium. They have complained that they pay more than the Giants do in their lease (but that's because the Giants agreed to an extension, whereas the Jets didn't). What may work is if the Jets do kick in 2/3 of the money, and if NY does hold the Olympics, there is a possibility that this will happen. But I'm still skeptical. And I don't think the Yankees will be part of this deal. Steinbrenner's mouth spewed unhappiness about the Yankee Stadium location a few years ago, but with record attendance, he softened on moving.

When the Jets played in Shea Stadium, they didn't sell out many of their games. True, they sucked then, but they sold out their games once they moved to Giants Stadium. Hell, they even sold out (sort of) during the Kotite years.

Anyway, I was checking how impossible the Jets chances were by looking at the other teams' schedules. The scenario they need doesn't look totally implausible. The only really unlikely part will be Denver (at home) losing to Cleveland this weekend.

[ December 10, 2003, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: pat125 ]

He said busting a (high) heel!

Not totally implausible? Let's break this down. They need to satisy FIVE conditions:

First the Jets must win out. One loss and they're done. Remaining schedule: Home against Pittsburgh and New England, then on the road in Miami. That's one easy win and two toughies. Entirely possible that they'll beat New England the way Pennington is playing; entirely possible they'll beat Miami, given Miami's tendency to play poorly in December. But win both of them? I doubt it.

SecondBuffalo has to lose to both Tennessee and New England. This is very likely indeed, although Tennessee may be playing without McNair, and if they are, I think they're very vulnerable.

ThirdMiami has to lose all three that remain. I know, they swoon in December. and they're playing the Jets, Philly, and Buffalo to finihs out, so they could clearly lose all three. Let's say this condition is plausible.

FourthDenver has to lose all three. Their remaining schedule is home to Cleveland, at Indy, at Green Bay. Chances that they'll lose 3, especially when winning two is crucial to their making the playoffs. Highly unlikely.

Fifth Cincinnati must lose 2 or Baltimore must lose 3. Baltimore plays Oakland, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, so foreget about them losing 3. Cincy plays Cleveland St. Louis and Denver, so this part of the equation is pretty plausible.

The chance of meeting all five conditions is about as likely as every member of this site waking up tomorrow and realizing we're straight. Not gonna happen.

If it's hard to remember those five conditions, remember this: A single Jets loss, Miami win or Denver win and the Jets are out. My guess? Come Monday morning, Hawaiian resorts will be fielding calls from the Jets for January tee times.

Can't happen soon enough for my taste.

Yeah, even though they were beaten soundly by the Ravens...it's the turnovers that really killed them. Kitna had the flu, but that's not an excuse...poor play is poor play. They have SF this weekend, and Cleveland, and St Louis left....I'd be thrilled if they took 2 out of 3... I think we can beat SF & Cleveland...The Rams in St Louis is quite a tall order. 2 out of 3 would make them 9-7...I think that's good enough for 2nd place!

Yes! The Packers are back in the mix, after falling behind the Vikes by 4 games earlier in the season (thanks to the Bears for an early Xmas gift!)

Just win out and get a little more help (Vikes lose to KC and Seattle loses at S.F.).

you don't even need the help, if I remember right GB has the tiebreaker over Seattle.

Green Bay still needs help to win the division. From the ESPN Playoff Picture page (link above):

(Edit to correct:) Seattle lost to Green Bay so if they're tied GB gets the wild-card. If Seattle ends up tied with Minnesota the Vikings are in the wild-card (should the Pack win the division).

[ December 15, 2003, 10:39 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

GB is in with 2 wins, regardless of what else happens. Worst case: Minnesota, GB, Seattle and Dallas all finish at 10-6. Minnesota wins the division tiebreaker, Dallas wins the first wild card and GB beats Seattle for the second based on beating the Seahawks head to head.

With St. Louis, Carolina and Philly in, Minnesota, Dallas and GB control the final three spots, so Seattle needs help.

GO CHIEFS GO!!

Whew! Those Bengals beat SF in a high scoring affair...that defense needs to tighten up against the Rams...should be a good game. Rams are still playing for Home Field Advantage, and the Bengals are still fighting for a Playoff berth. It all comes down to these last two weeks! Ughhh!

Not quite ... this from the Wisconsin State Journal: "... if the Vikings hold off the Packers for the division title and the Packers, Cowboys and Seahawks all end up 10-6, Dallas and Seattle will advance and the Packers will miss the playoffs because of a poorer conference record. Dallas would be 8-4 in the NFC, Seattle would be 8-4 and the Packers would be 7-5 and left out.

Considering the Packers beat the Seahawks Oct. 5, that would seem unfair. But because the three teams involved will not have all played each other - the Cowboys haven't played the Packers or Seahawks - the NFL tiebreaking rules for a three-way wild card tie are based on conference record."

[ December 16, 2003, 09:25 AM: Message edited by: DCBucky ]

DC Bucky: My bad; I had totally overlooked Seattle conference mark. In a 3-team tie where they hadn't all played each other, head-to-head is thrown out. Thanks for the correction.

From the NFL on playoff possibilities:

NFC NORTH
Minnesota can clinch division title with:

1) MIN win + GB loss + MIN clinches strength of victory tiebreaker over GB

Minnesota can clinch playoff berth with:

1) MIN win + DAL win or tie + SEA loss + NO loss or tie + TB loss or tie

Note: There are other scenarios in which Minnesota can clinch a playoff berth based on strength of victory tiebreaker.

Green Bay can clinch playoff berth with:

1) GB win + DAL win or tie + SEA loss + NO loss or tie

[ December 16, 2003, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: Jim at Outsports ]

The Jets are out. And Miami is all but dead as well. Sweet!

Given that Denver's last two games are AT Indianapolis and AT Green Bay... Miam may have a chance here. Although given the demonstration of tackling that we saw last night, I'd be surprised if the Dolphin's can win another game. And then there's their receivers - on a night when they honor Clayton and Duper, the Dolphins were dropping too many easily catchable balls.

Read this in today's paper....

So all those meaningless games have some meaning after all. wink

Since my 49'ers are out of the playoff picture, I have slim, and I mean slim hopes the Seahawks will find a way into the playoffs, but the way things have gone for them on the road, and since they play S.F. in S.F., I will be shocked, if they happen to win there.

Pats just finished up securing home field throughout AFC playoffs by pounding the Bills by the identical 31-0 score that the Bills had beaten them by in week 1! They probably also just secured a job opening in Buffalo!

Amazing stat of the day: The Pats' defense has not allowed a TD in 7 of 16 games this season.

That Pats-Bills game was such a snoooozzzz.......

Billsf, you're drunk, right?

Uh, no Sparky! 31-0 makes for a very boring game.

Bill, you got to believe. Recognize and realize. I suppose, though, if I were a Bills fan, or a Chiefs fan, or an Eagles fan ( sorry Joe), or a J-E-T-S Jets fan or whoever, I'd be bored too. Three away from the promised land! BTW, could be a long night for the Redskins. Hope not.

I can't believe it but the Seahawks actually won in S.F. 24-17. Maybe, just maybe they will make it to the playoffs. They actually deserved this win though.

San Francisco should have won that game. They were given so many chances in the last drive and they just blew it.

Well, the Iggles-Skins game is looking pretty dull so far, although Skins at least have put some points up.

All I can say is Go Denver, beat those Packers!!!! I want the Hawks in the playoffs this year.

Interesting tidbit: Although the Miami-NY Jets game today is meaningless for both teams, if the Dolphins win it will be the first time since 1991 that a 10-6 team has missed the playoffs.

LETS GO LIONS! LETS GO LIONS!

The Seahawks are in. Thank you New Orleans. Now I know why I have always loved that city!!! wink