Week 14, everybody! The playoff points are now finally set – who will make it in the NFC, who in the AFC? Are the Chiefs really gonna fall out? Is there another Aaron Rodgers fairy tale? And who is the MVP favourite? Tom Brady, Carson Wentz – or Russell Wilson? mySPOX user BigLuck, Thomas Psaier (Sidelinereporter. com) and the SPOX editors Marcus Blumberg and Adrian Franke discuss five central questions before the hot final spurt of the regular season.
Thomas Psaier (Sidelinereporter. com): The NFC is fiercer than the AFC – and yet, with Eagles, Vikings, Saints and Rams, four places are now quite sure to be awarded. The last two finishes will be drawn between Seattle (8-4), Carolina (8-4), Atlanta (7-5) and Green Bay (6-6), with Packers’ hopes clinging to the possible return of Aaron Rodgers a week before Christmas. Until then, Cleveland is the most feasible lottery ticket. But in week 15, however, the Panthers are entering a gigantically important playoff duel that has major implications before the Packers finish with Minnesota and Detroit. I think it’s unlikely that Green Bay will be able to beat three victories out of these four games – and that’s why the tie-breaker against Seattle won’t do any good. Remains a triathlon for two open places. Atlanta’s worst draw is Atlanta, with a backlog and two more open matches against New Orleans and Tampa – but the tie-breaker win against Seattle. On the last day of the match, the Falcons receive the Carolina Panthers in a potentially massive matchup. For Carolina, it would be better to have cleared the table by then – which is not easy, despite the fact that she has a home against Minnesota, Green Bay (possibly with Rodgers) and Tampa. So the safest bet is Seattle, which only needs two more wins in Jacksonville, against the Rams, Dallas and Arizona.
mySPOX user BigLuck: The NFC is incredibly strong so far and still holds a lot of excitement in the play-off race. In the East and North, the division winners with the Eagles and Vikings should already be determined. In the West I see, I disagree with you, Thomas, the Seahawks in front, who with the first leg in their backs also win the second leg at home against the Rams and thus secure their lead. For Los Angeles, the “7-9-Bullshit” will be a consolation prize, the wildcard. The South will be decided in the two outstanding duels between Falcons and Saints, here I see the Saints in front by winning one of these games, the Falcons securing the remaining wildcard. This means that in my playoff-picture the Panthers have to skip the sails with 10-6. Everyone else has no real chance against the strong competition. Not even the savior Aaron Rodger will lead the Packers into the Promised Land, Detroit and Washington are too far back and too inconsistent.
Marcus Blumberg (SPOX): Certainly the Eagles and Vikings are there, which is made clear by a look at the table. The two will also go in as top seeds, although the order is still debatable, as I’m a bit sceptical with the Eagles after the bankruptcy against the Seahawks, whether they pull through the very high level. Also very safe for me are the Seahawks and Rams, although I trust the Seahawks to overtake Los Angeles. The NFC South is extremely exciting. A key duel is already on Thursday between Atlanta and New Orleans. Since all of them steal their own victories, there’s probably only one team coming in. The Panthers are also in the mix. In the end, however, it will be the Saints due to the running game. In addition, I think it’s possible that the cowboys or packers are coming in again – it wouldn’t be the first miraculous comeback for Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, Dallas gets Zeke back for Christmas. One of these teams is kicking out the second in the South!
Adrian Franke (SPOX):…. and I could very well imagine the Panthers still catching it. Carolina’s schedule is brutal, so I’m even more sceptical than you, Thomas. Against Minnesota, Green Bay at Rodgers’ comeback and in Atlanta? To be honest, I count two or three bankruptcies for the Panthers. The Secondary is and remains a problem, week after week we see voting errors and resulting coverage breakdowns. The Base-Run-Game is as inconsistent as Newton and the Panthers don’t currently have a really scary Outside Passing Game. I have a wildcard in the NFC West, where I have more and more Seattle before L. A. see. Both of them, however, get into the playoffs. Lions (no run game, no pass rush, holey run defense) and cowboys (prescott inconsistent, pass protection wobbly, defense without Sean Lee) are too inconsistent. The Packers could play another Rodgers fairy tale – like Brett Hundley, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost in Cleveland. And then, despite a similarly brutal rest of the schedule, I’m more likely to go with the Falcons: Atlanta is more complete and better than the balance sheet would suggest. Wildcards for Rams and Falcons!
Page 1: The NFC playoff teams are…
Page 2: The AFC playoff teams are…
Page 3: MVP should become….
Page 4: The Vikings play the first ever Home Super Bowl
Page 5: These coaches have to go on Black Monday at the latest…
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