PLAYOFF PROJECTION

Through the season we'll guess what the NFL playoff picture will look like when the season ends. You might be 6-2 at the halfway mark, but that doesn't mean you'll be standing on top of your division at the end. It's important to note this is our ever-changing prediction of how we think things will play out & not necessarily a current plugging-in of teams with the corresponding records.
Think of it as "bracketology" for the pigskin set.

J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets! So Geno and Rex to the East title?

Why not? I am tired of under-estimating this team & looking foolish nearly every week. It is time to stop getting so caught up in the Patriots name & look at reality. Tom Brady   is struggling & New England’s defense is ranked 18th in the NFL. More important, New York defeated New England this past Sunday & the Jets are 2-1 in the AFC East. 

 Why Denver still at No. 1 in the AFC...Could make a case for a few teams

No one expected Denver to finished 16-0, so there is no reason to panic after one loss. Denver’s defense has its issues, 48 points allowed against Dallas & 39 versus Indianapolis but let’s see what happens when the Broncos host Kansas City on Nov. 17. For now, let's believe Denver is the team to beat.

What about Kansas City in the AFC West?  7-0 record gives a nice head start

Don't buy into the argument that Kansas City has not played anybody this season because this was a group of nobody's last year. Kansas City deserves a lot of credit & that defense has been impressive. Wouldn't you rather be cautious when it comes to a surprise team than jump in feet first?

Bengals over Colts

Two things not to like about the Colts: Reggie Wayne’s injury & Trent Richardson. Wayne’s season-ending injury will really hurt quarterback Andrew Luck, but Richardson has made Cleveland's front office look like a group of geniuses & that is hard to do. Indianapolis has enough talent to make the playoffs, but Cincinnati is a better team.

Can't move you off the Lions in the North

Green Bay loses tight end Jermichael Finely & Chicago is without Jay Cutler for at least four weeks. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is without receiver Randall Cobb & Finley, while the Bears could collapse again without Cutler. In 2011, Chicago started 7-3 before Cutler sustained a thumb injury & the Bears dropped five straight. The stars are aligning for Detroit.

A No. 3 seed seems high for a team coming out of that sloppy division

I would not bet money on Dallas making the Super Bowl, but this team is good. Dallas won this past Sunday without running back DeMarco Murray, which says a lot about the Cowboys’ defense. I expect Dallas to struggle against Detroit on Sunday, but heat up down the stretch.