Conventional wisdom would say that it won’t matter if the Patriots go 16-0 this season. They’re going to the Super Bowl, regardless. No one can stop them, and that’s including Peyton Manning and his injury riddled Colts. And let’s not even start with the NFC, right? The Dallas Cowboys, who are now lifted to new heights as the powerhouse of the NFC after defeating Green Bay, are supposedly not even close to New England in terms of fire power. And the proof? A 48-27 drubbing handed to Dallas by the Massachusetts natives in week 7.
But that’s just speculation. Hell, I guess everything is when it gets to this point in the season. To be honest, the only thing we’re certain of is that the Miami Dolphins are not going to the playoffs, and that New England has won it’s division.
Big deal.
I’m not saying don’t vote for Bill Belicheck for coach of the year, or neglect Tom Brady from the MVP. I’m just saying don’t shut out the little guys from the big game before it even starts.
Contrary to popular belief, there are other teams that will be in the playoffs this year. In fact, there are eleven reasons why the Patriots should worry about their winning streak, and why they are becoming, week by week, more vulnerable.
The way the playoff picture looks now, the following teams would be in the playoffs:
AFC: New England, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Jacksonville, Cleveland
NFC: Dallas, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Seattle, New York Giants, Arizona
And that’s exactly how it’s going to stay.AFC Bye Honors go to…
New England and Indianapolis
Pittsburgh will unexpectedly fall to the Cleveland Browns
while San Diego will break their playoff jinx and get past post season newbies, Jacksonville
New England will have more trouble than expected in a shootout with the Browns, but inevitably will prevail
as the Colts will give everyone what they’ve been hoping for, a rematch with New England, by disrupting Philip Rivers all day and destroying the Chargers
So, in a rematch of this season’s earlier “Super Bowl 41 and a half”, it will be the Pats and the Colts.
But who wins it? Again, there’s that conventional wisdom. My thought is if the Patriots lose before the regular season is up, they will run away in the playoffs, all the way to a Super Bowl victory. But if not, if they face Indy with an unblemished 17-0 record, they will fall to the defending champs.
Your AFC Champion for 2007 will be…the Indianapolis Colts
As for the NFC Bye Honors…
Dallas and Green Bay
The New York Giants will travel to Seattle and shut down the Seahawks’ already suspect rush offense. But the more telling fact will be how Eli Manning grows into his own on the road in the playoffs, keeping alive a possible “Manning versus Manning” Super Bowl.
The Arizona Cardinals, who barely will have missed out on stealing their division from the aforementioned Seahawks, will travel to Tampa Bay, where that always prideful Tampa defense will surround the immobile Kurt Warner and send the Cards packing just like the Vikings did back in 98, in their last playoff appearance.
the divisional games won’t be as close…
In Green Bay the Giants will remember exactly why they lost to these same packers 35-13 in week two, and that’s simply because Brett Favre is Brett Favre. Manning fans, you will never see that Super Bowl matchup you dream of.
and the other NFC Championship game representative will be the Dallas Cowboys, who will absolutely run wild against Tampa Bay, simply because Terrell Owens says so.
So, at long last, here it comes, another rematch for the ages. The second game that was talked about all season. This one really comes down to whether or not Green Bay wins out and Dallas loses twice, but since neither of those are likely to happen, a trip to Texas is definately in order for the Packers. And just as Brett Favre has done for years and years, he will overcome and blow everyone away.
This game will come down to rookie kicker Nick Folk missing a game winner as time expires, just after rookie kicker Mason Crosby hit the game winner.
Brett Favre back in the Super Bowl? At 38? Yes, it is shocking, but get ready for it. Because it’s going to happen.
Unfortunately, the only good out of that fact is that maybe such a great season will lure him back for another season or two. Because the end result against an Indianapolis team that has really overcome so many obstacles, is, well, not a good one.
Indianapolis resurges in the post season with a lively comeback from Marvin Harrison, and the determiation of a man spurned (Manning).
You 2008 NFL Champion will be…the Indianapolis Colts.
2 replies on “NFL Post Season Predictions”
Gutsy "Could Happen" Prediction I don’t really think it’s going to pan out this way and I think leaving Minnesota out of the mix in the NFC is going to bite you in the gluteous maximus, but I do appreciate the wishful thinking.
It is difficult to decide which would be more poetic; Green Bay and Favre against the defending Super Bowl Champs or against an undefeated juggernaut. However, depending on the seeding, a Viking-Cowboy NFC Championship game looks more likely to me right now with Favre retiring after getting knocked out in the second round. The Packers just don’t seem to be building the momentum to get any further.
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momentum I hear you on Minnesota. But Arizona faces Seattle this week, ad if they win that game that is huge for their hopes at the division, and obviously helps in the wild card race. The Vikings, however, have to hope they can win out and some other teams lose. The Cardinals are the only team other then the Giants who really hold their fate in this wild card race.
I also think you’re totally off on Green Bay not building up momentum. Until running into a slightly better team in Dallas, they were 10-1 and riding a 6 game win streak. How is that not momentum?
True, if they can’t win 3 of their last 4, I’d have to agree with you (making that 3 losses in their remaining 5 games) but that won’t happen. The only game they should possibly lose is against Detroit, the only team left on their schedule that has anything to fight for. However, if Detroit can’t get past Dallas this week, Green Bay going 14-2 is a real possibility.
Will that be enough momentum for you? Ha ha, thanks for reading.