AFC
Remaining Schedule
vs Green Bay Packers
vs Jacksonville Jaguars
at Kansas City Chiefs
vs Los Angeles Chargers
The AFC currently runs through Denver, but that could change. The Broncos are virtually a lock to make the playoffs & it would take an utter collapse to lose the division, but the battle for the #1 seed will be tough. Denver doesn’t have any cupcakes left on the schedule.
Remaining Schedule
vs Buffalo Bills
at Baltimore Ravens
at New York Jets
vs Miami Dolphins
New England is nearly a lock to win the AFC East, even with a loss to Buffalo next week. The Patriots also have a really good chance to be the #1 seed, their remaining schedule is considerably easier than Denver’s.
Remaining Schedule
vs New York Jets
at Denver Broncos
at Indianapolis Colts
vs Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville currently sits alone atop the AFC South & with 9 wins, the Jaguars are a virtual lock to make the playoffs. The division, however, is up in the air, with a red hot Houston breathing down their necks. Unfortunately, Jacksonville & Houston will not play each other over the next four weeks.
Remaining Schedule
vs Miami Dolphins
at Denver Broncos
at Cleveland Browns
vs Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh currently leads the AFC North & holds the fourth seed in the AFC, but their position is precarious. The Steelers could still miss the playoffs entirely. Their schedule isn’t easy, with the rematch with Baltimore looming in the final week. A rejuvenated Cincinnati is also lurking. Winning the division seems like the only path for Pittsburgh as a wildcard is a very, very long shot.
Remaining Schedule
at Kansas City Chiefs
at Dallas Cowboys
vs Houston Texans
at Denver Broncos
The Chargers have one of the toughest closing schedules of any playoff contender, not a single cupcake involved. They’re in good shape now, but every win is critical.
Remaining Schedule
at New England Patriots
at Cleveland Browns
vs Philadelphia Eagles
vs New York Jets
A loss in New England will end Buffalo’s hopes of winning the AFC East & getting a top three seed, but the Bills are a virtual lock for the playoffs. In a playoff scene that could be missing Kansas City & Baltimore, some may think this is Buffalo’s year, but if they have to win three tough road games to make the Super Bowl, I’m skeptical.
Remaining Schedule
vs Arizona Cardinals
vs Las Vegas Raiders
at Los Angeles Chargers
vs Indianapolis Colts
Houston has worked themselves all the way back into the playoffs, if the season ended today, but they have their sights set higher. Texans are just a game behind Jacksonville in the AFC South, they don’t play each other, but one little slip by the Jags & Houston will pounce.
Remaining Schedule
at Seattle Seahawks
vs San Francisco 49ers
vs Jacksonville Jaguars
at Houston Texans
Indianapolis was already in a full on collapse before they lost Daniel Jones for the season. They shouldn’t let the Jones’ injury change the narrative, the Colts were a long shot to make the playoffs with that closing schedules.
Remaining Schedule
at Cincinnati Bengals
vs New England Patriots
at Green Bay Packers
at Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore should stay alive until the final week, when they visit Pittsburgh, because the AFC North is very weak. The Ravens have a tough schedule & they haven’t looked good lately.
Remaining Schedule
vs Los Angeles Chargers
at Tennessee Titans
vs Denver Broncos
at Las Vegas Raiders
Kansas City pretty much has to run the table to make the playoffs, but don’t doubt for a second that Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid & the Chiefs aren’t capable of doing just that. Their two toughest games are in Arrowhead. Don’t count out KC until they are officially eliminated.
Remaining Schedule
at Pittsburgh Steelers
vs Cincinnati Bengals
vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at New England Patriots
Miami also needs to run the table, and get some help, to make the playoffs. The schedule is tough, but manageable, especially if New England has everything wrapped up by the final week. Dolphins are a long shot, but still alive.
Remaining Schedule
vs Baltimore Ravens
at Miami Dolphins
vs Arizona Cardinals
vs Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati is still alive because of a bad AFC North, but any loss will all but eliminate the Bengals. Call me crazy, but with a healthy Joe Burrow, I think Cincy has a legitimate shot.
Games to Watch
Week 15– Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
KC has no margin for error & LA has a brutal schedule. Feels like the winner of this one will make the playoffs, the loser could be out.
Week 18– Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The AFC North usually comes down to these 2 teams, and this game will, again, decide the winner of the division. But, there’s a caveat, I think it will be between the Steelers & a resurgent Cincy. If Pittsburgh wins this, they’re in, lose & I think the Bengals sneak in.
Week 15– Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
This game will probably have no bearing on the AFC East, I don’t think Buffalo will make up two games in 4 weeks, but it could be the difference between the Pats having the #1 seed and a bye or being #2.
Week 15– Green Bay Packers @ Denver Broncos
Huge heavyweight fight. Broncos need it in their battle for the #1 seed, Packers need it to maintain their lead in the NFC North. This one will have a lot of seeding implications.
Week 16– Cincinnati Bengals @ Miami Dolphins
Both teams could be eliminated by then, but one of them almost certainly will be afterwards. Both Cincy & Miami have no margin for error which raises the stakes for this one.
My AFC Picks
- Denver Broncos (14-3) AFC West Champions
- New England Patriots (14-3) AFC East Champions
- Houston Texans (12-5) AFC South Champions
- Cincinnati Bengals (8-9) AFC North Champions
- Buffalo Bills (13-4)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5)
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-7)
NFC
Remaining Schedule
vs Detroit Lions
at Seattle Seahawks
at Atlanta Falcons
vs Arizona Cardinals
The division and conference #1 seed will be decided in two weeks when the Rams travel to Seattle. LA will be either the first or fifth seed in the NFC.
Remaining Schedule
at Denver Broncos
at Chicago Bears
vs Baltimore Ravens
at Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay has two tough road games the next two weeks that will ultimately decide what seed they end up with. Packers could end up as the #1 seed if they run the table.
Remaining Schedule
vs Las Vegas Raiders
at Washington Commanders
at Buffalo Bills
vs Washington Commanders
Philadelphia is scuffling & their fans are in panic mode, but a favorable closing schedule means they should easily clinch the #3 seed in the NFC. Eagles need to fix things to defend their title, but they certainly have the chance to do so.
Remaining Schedule
vs Atlanta Falcons
at Carolina Panthers
at Miami Dolphins
vs Carolina Panthers
Tampa’s playoff destiny will be decided by those two games with Carolina. Buccaneers are floundering, but the division still runs through them, for now.
Remaining Schedule
vs Indianapolis Colts
vs Los Angeles Rams
at Carolina Panthers
at San Francisco 49ers
Seattle is in much the same boat as the LA Rams, that matchup next week is huge, but the Seahawks also have two tough road games to finish the season.
Remaining Schedule
vs Tennessee Titans
at Indianapolis Colts
vs Chicago Bears
vs Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco has a firm grip on a wildcard spot, but they should still have eyes on the division title. Two tough games to finish the season, but the Niners get them both at home.
Remaining Schedule
vs Cleveland Browns
vs Green Bay Packers
at San Francisco 49ers
vs Detroit Lions
Chicago lost first place in the NFC North & the #1 seed, but they have a shot to get both back rather quickly. The rematch with Green Bay will decide the division. If the Bears defend their home field, they should be no worse than the second seed.
Remaining Schedule
at Los Angeles Rams
vs Pittsburgh Steelers
at Minnesota Vikings
at Chicago Bears
Detroit controls their own destiny, for now, because of the final week matchup with Chicago. The Lions, however, don’t have the easiest of schedules. Every loss hurts.
Remaining Schedule
at New Orleans Saints
vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
vs Seattle Seahawks
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina’s season hinges on those two games with Tampa. Panthers best bet to make the playoffs is to win the NFC South.
Remaining Schedule
vs Minnesota Vikings
vs Los Angeles Chargers
at Washington Commanders
at New York Giants
Dallas is still alive because of Philly’s struggles, but the Cowboys have no margin for error. This week’s matchup with Minnesota probably eliminates one of them.
Remaining Schedule
at Dallas Cowboys
at New York Giants
vs Detroit Lions
vs Green Bay Packers
Minnesota is still mathematically alive, so I’m including them in this list. The Vikings, however, are the longest of long shots. Three very tough games in the last four, I expect them to be eliminated quickly.
Games to Watch
Week 16– Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
This game will likely decide the NFC North champion. Packers have a tough one the week before, then easier ones after this. Bears have what should be an easy one before this, but 2 tougher ones to finish the season.
Week 16– Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Huge, huge game with major implications. Winner will probably win the NFC West and the #1 seed & first round bye. Loser will end up the fifth seed & on the road in the playoffs.
Week 16– Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
Week 18– Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lump these two together because these will decide the NFC South. One team will get in & host a playoff game, the other will go home for the offseason.
Week 15– Minnesota Vikings @ Dallas Cowboys
Both teams are long shots, but one of them will almost certainly be eliminated after this one.
My NFC Picks
- Los Angeles Rams (13-4) NFC West Champions
- Chicago Bears (12-5) NFC North Champions
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) NFC East Champions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) NFC South Champions
- Seattle Seahawks (13-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Green Bay Packers (11-5-1)
Nickels and Dimes 