11 August 2016

Predicting the 2016 NFL Playoff Field


Well, friends ... it's been a while since you've seen anything new on the 'ole MTSS blog, say like 18 months. We are back just like football, and it is time to get after some playoff predictions.

It’s that time of the year when all the so-called national experts and football pundits take their shot at predicting the field of NFL playoff teams for the upcoming season. It’s a pretty mixed bag, with most of the ”predictions sure to go wrong” as some have labeled it. That’s pretty much the case here, too.

So with all the know-it-alls giving it a shot here in the opening days of the pre-season, I thought I’d throw my hat into the ring. I spend a lot of brainpower thinking about it anyway, so I just as well share it  and make a jerk out of myself like everybody else.

*Division winners
~Wildcard teams

AFC North – Pittsburgh*, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland
            The Steelers finally ride their offense to the post-season despite the Bell suspension.
AFC South – Houston,* Indianapolis~, Jacksonville, Tennessee
Texans are too talented to not take advantage of a weak division; Colts rebound.
AFC East – New England*, Buffalo, NY Jets, Miami
Despite injuries and suspensions, the Pats ride to another division title.
AFC West – Kansas City*, Oakland~, Denver, San Diego
The Chiefs ACL crew returns with a vengeance; Raiders resurgence gets the playoff berth.

AFC playoff teams – Steelers, Texans, Colts, Patriots, Chiefs, Raiders


NFC North – Green Bay*, Minnesota~, Chicago, Detroit
Packers rebound from a down year to retake the division;  Vikes squeak into playoffs.
NFC South – Carolina*, New Orleans, Atlanta, Tampa Bay
The Panthers take a step back but still rule the weak NFC South easily.
NFC East – Dallas*, Washington, NY Giants, Philadelphia
A healthy Romo/Dez combo plus a dynamic rookie at RB equals big Ws in Dallas.
NFC West – Arizona*, Seattle~, San Francisco, St. Louis
Arians leads the Cards to a division title and Seattle is right there, too.

NFC playoff teams – ­Packers, Vikings, Panthers, Cowboys, Cardinals, Seahawks


 

Super Bowl prediction: Kansas City v Seattle

The Chiefs ride their ball-hawking defense and opportunistic offense into the playoffs and run the table in the AFC. Seattle plays its typical ground and pound, smashmouth style, pounding the NFC to powder. These mirror image teams face off for the Lombardi with the hardware returning to KC after a 47-year absence and giving Head Coach Andy Reid his first ring.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come on … give it a shot. Who do you think will be the surprise and potential flop teams this season?

Until next time, thanks for reading.
Steve