The halfway point (Weegie)
Okay, let's update our estimates from the Quarter Pole.
Indianapolis - Still Real, still holding the lead. Is it going to be 16, 15, or 14 at the end?
Denver - Apparently I was wrong, though I'm still struggling to see how this team rolls through the second half like the first.
Cincinnati - Ahead of the Steelers on a quirk of schedule which should evaporate this weekend. The Steelers-Bengals game II will basically establish whether they're going to be dangerous in the playoffs or on the outside looking in.
New England - At this point I think we know their fate: They'll be the 4th seed. The only question is not who do they face in the first round. The only question now, will they at least make it competitive and get to 8-8.
Kansas City - With Priest out, does this make them vulnerable to being caught by the Chargers. Given their second half schedule, I think they will be.
Jacksonville - They're in as a wildcard. Their opponents between now and then: BAL, CLE, HOU, ARI, TEN, TEN, SF, IND. I can certainly see 12-4 for them.
San Diego - They may catch the Chiefs, but unless they catch the Broncos it doesn't matter. In fact, unless they go undefeated, it won't matter. The way it stacks up right now, 11-5 makes you the 7th best team in the conference, and that won't cut it.
Which leaves us with Pittsburgh. If the Steelers play mistake free football, we're looking at 14-2, 2nd seed. If they don't we're looking at as low as 12-4, 6th seed. So debacle free football gets us in the playoffs.
Of the eight I pointed two at the quarter pole, only KC looks like a certainty to fall away. Good and bad with that, as seven for six slots is pretty good odds, but it's striking how we could see a team at 12-4 miss the playoffs in the AFC. Depending on tiebreaks that could happen to Denver, San Diego, Jacksonville, or even the Steelers.
-- Weegie Thompson
Indianapolis - Still Real, still holding the lead. Is it going to be 16, 15, or 14 at the end?
Denver - Apparently I was wrong, though I'm still struggling to see how this team rolls through the second half like the first.
Cincinnati - Ahead of the Steelers on a quirk of schedule which should evaporate this weekend. The Steelers-Bengals game II will basically establish whether they're going to be dangerous in the playoffs or on the outside looking in.
New England - At this point I think we know their fate: They'll be the 4th seed. The only question is not who do they face in the first round. The only question now, will they at least make it competitive and get to 8-8.
Kansas City - With Priest out, does this make them vulnerable to being caught by the Chargers. Given their second half schedule, I think they will be.
Jacksonville - They're in as a wildcard. Their opponents between now and then: BAL, CLE, HOU, ARI, TEN, TEN, SF, IND. I can certainly see 12-4 for them.
San Diego - They may catch the Chiefs, but unless they catch the Broncos it doesn't matter. In fact, unless they go undefeated, it won't matter. The way it stacks up right now, 11-5 makes you the 7th best team in the conference, and that won't cut it.
Which leaves us with Pittsburgh. If the Steelers play mistake free football, we're looking at 14-2, 2nd seed. If they don't we're looking at as low as 12-4, 6th seed. So debacle free football gets us in the playoffs.
Of the eight I pointed two at the quarter pole, only KC looks like a certainty to fall away. Good and bad with that, as seven for six slots is pretty good odds, but it's striking how we could see a team at 12-4 miss the playoffs in the AFC. Depending on tiebreaks that could happen to Denver, San Diego, Jacksonville, or even the Steelers.
-- Weegie Thompson
posted at 11:52 AM
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