NFL Playoff Predictions

Let's start with the AFC.

There are 8 teams with a winning record. Plus, the Baltimore Ravens lurking at 3-5. 

At 7-2, the Colts should win their division. Even if they don't they'd have to fall off pretty hard to miss a wild-card spot. So let's say they're in. 

The Bills and Patriots should both get in. The Patriots have a creampuff schedule and will just keep racking up wins. 

Steelers at 5-3, Ravens at 3-5. Hard to imagine the Ravens going 8-1 the rest of the way. Their most likely path to the playoffs is winning the division at 10-7. Still could happen if the Steelers go 4-5 down the stretch, but my point here is I think it's only one team coming out of the North. 

So we've got 2 in the East. 1 in the North. 

4 teams to fill from the West and South. Colts are 1. The Broncos given that they are 7-2 will be another. I know I'm biased, but the Chiefs are playing well, despite a recent loss at Buffalo. 

I think the last slot comes down to the Chargers or Jaguars. 

Niether team is that trustworthy and they play each other in two weeks in Duval County. 

Whoever wins that game will have a big advantage, and my gut says it's the Jags. 

So my playoff locks at this point:
Colts

Bills

Patriots

Broncos

Then I've got:

Chiefs
1 of Jags/Chargers, leaning Jags
1 of Steelers/Ravens, leaning Steelers

If I was sorting by division winners:
Colts

Bills or Pats

Steelers or Ravens
Broncos or Chiefs

I still think Chiefs can catch Broncos. 

This gives us something that looks like 

1 Bills
2 Colts
3 Chiefs
4 Steelers
5 Patriots
6 Broncos
7 Jaguars

or 

1 Colts

2 Bills
3 Broncos
4 Steelers
5 Patriots
6 Chiefs
7 Jaguars

I know it's super early, but very possible we get a Chiefs-Broncos opening round playoff game. We'll be seeing that game in November, December, and possibly January.



Jumping over to the NFC.

There are 9 teams with a winning record but two of them are the Panthers and Bears. No offense, but the Panthers and Bears have not looked like a playoff team. They've padded their resume with wins against crap teams and will have troulble getting to 10 wins. 

So let's sort those remaining 7 winning teams by division:

Eagles

Packers

Lions

Bucs

Seahawks

Rams

49ers

Those are your 7 most likely playoff teams based on current record. The seeding is going to be impossible, but could be something like this.

1 Seahawks

2 Eagles

3 Bucs

4 Packers

5 Lions

6 Rams

7 49ers