Well this weeks Bengals vs. Steelers game is huge, and that's an understatement. I know a lot of the attention is going to the Colts vs. Patty's, and justifiably so. However, The Steelers Bengals game goes right up there for homefield advantage in the AFC along with that game. If the Bengals win, they essentially have a two game lead over the Steelers, with only 2 games remaining against teams with winning records. If the Steelers win, they have a 1 game lead on the Bengals, and the Steelers play exactly zero games against teams over .500. Huge is an understatement at this point.
And now onto the NFC.
NFC East.
Cowboys: Currently the Boys sit on top of the NFC East. I hate the Cowboys, I hate everything they represent. I didn't have them making the playoffs at the beginning of the year, and you know what, i might stick with that. The month of December is looming, and Big Game Romo is bound to show his ugly head again.
Eagles: Still my pick to win this division. The Eagles are solid all around, and had a tough loss this last week to the Cowboys. However, the Eagles play 16 games, unlike the cowboys that seem to stop playing after week 11.
Giants: LOL, 5-0 to 5-4. Good thing I didn't jump on this teams bandwagon. The Giants are incredibly average. They have zero threats at the wideout position, and Eli is looking like he's earning that huge contract... The defense is still solid, I think, but this team is nothign special.
Redskins: Everything that is wrong with professional football, and sports in general. An over zealous owner that has absolutely no knowledge on how to put a football team together. Disaster after disaster for this franchise. Until The Dan concedes power and puts a football mind in charge, nothing will ever change.
NFC South:
Saints: Certainly the surprise team of the NFC this year. They've had the talent, it was a matter of time that it simply all gelled together. This team gets down, they come back. This team goes up, they stay up. Quite frankly, if any team could run the table, this team could do it, but it won't happen. It's looking like a 14-2ish year in the Big Easy, and those fans have earned it.
Falcons: Wasn't big on the Matt Ryan bandwagon, but I'm on board now. I figured he would suffer through the sophomore slump like Joe Flacco is now, but Ryan is clearly the cream of the crop of his QB class. The Falcons are a lock for the playoffs, and I expect them to knock a division winner out.
Panthers: The John Fox and Jake Delhomme era is coming to an end. I had them pegged to win this division at the beginning of the year, and I was dead wrong. This team is just bad and showing it's age. It's time for the Panthers to shake things up a bit.
Bucs: Well what can you say, just wear the creamcicles every game. I can't bash a team too hard with a rookie QB and rookie coach.
NFC North:
Vikings: I know everyone is on the Brett Favre bandwagon, but I'm waiting for the 40 year old to start to break down in the next few weeks. No way he can keep up this level of play all year. Don't get me wrong, they are a lock to win this division, but games against the AFC North have exposed this team to be a fraud. You can hide in the NFC all year, but this team doesn't have what it takes to beat a power from the AFC, or the Saints.
Packers: Sexy pre-season pick for a wild card, but alas, it probably won't happen. Aaron Rodgers is in a shit position with a terrible offensive line allowing himt o get his ass handed to him time and time again. I went through this last year watching the Bengals, and the Bengals fixed their problems and are amazing now. They have an outside shot for the wildcard, depending if the Cowboys do what the Cowboys do.
Bears: Another sexy pick for the post season at the beginning of the year, and I blame that on Urlacher getting injured moreso then anything. I thought the defense would be strong enough to allow the over rated Jay Cutler to simply manage games, but the injury bug prevented that. Now, it's on Cutlers shoulder and he's not gettign the job done. You suck Jay Cutler.
Lions: Well at least they won one game.
NFC West:
Cardinals: After getting their ass handed to them by the Panthers, this team comes back and blows out the Bears. I'm not sure who this team is right now. They beat the Giants and Bears, but lose t the Colts and Panthers. However, the NFC West is traditionally the worst division in football, and the Cards are going to win this thing.
49ers: People jumped on the bandwagon, I didn't buy it. 3 wins against the NFC West doesn't impress me. They might finish 6-10, which is an improvement, but this team has no Quarterback that can be effective on the field.
Seahawks: I drank the Kool-Aid thinking that Houshmanzadeh would be the much needed piece to the Seahawks Wideouts. However, a funny thing happen. TJ leaves Cincy, Cincy wins. It's becomming clear that this guy is a locker room cancer and dumping him was the best thing the bengals could have done. Now TJ Douchemanzadeh can rot in mediocrity.
Rams: Well, they won one game, against the Lions.
So Playoffs.
Division winners.
Eagles, Saints, Vikings and Cardinals
Wild Card:
Atlanta and the Packers (screw the cowboys)
. Also, I think the Patriots will beat the Colts. Not because 'Tom Brady is better than peyton', because the Patriots are simply a better team than the Colts and always have been for years. God I hope the Eagles & Packers lose(as much as I hate Dallas, they're winning the division this year. It's all about the wild card now.)