The final week of the NFL season is upon us and the playoff scenarios are the talk of the NFL. In the AFC, seven teams are still alive for a spot in the playoffs. The New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens have the easy course…win and your in, lose and you are out.
The tiebreaker scenarios change significantly based on who wins and who loses. The Jets and Ravens lose every tiebreaker scenario, making it a free-for-all should either team lose. The following is a breakdown of all the possibilities for today’s games:
New York Jets clinch a playoff spot with:
A win over Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore Ravens clinch a playoff spot with:
A win over the Oakland Raiders
Denver Broncos clinch a playoff spot with:
Denver win and a New York loss or tie and a Baltimore loss or tie
Denver win and a New York loss or tie and a Pittsburgh loss or tie
Denver win and a New York loss or tie and a Houston win
Denver win and a Baltimore loss or tie and a Pittsburgh loss or tie
Denver win and a Baltimore loss or tie and a Houston win
Pittsburgh loss and a Baltimore loss and a Houston loss and a Jacksonville loss
Pittsburgh loss and a Baltimore loss and a Houston loss and a New York loss
Pittsburgh loss and a Baltimore loss and a Jacksonville loss and a New York loss
Pittsburgh loss and a Houston loss and a Jacksonville loss and a New York loss
Miami loss or tie and a New York loss and a Baltimore loss and a Houston loss and a Jacksonville loss or tie
Pittsburgh Steelers clinch a playoff spot with:
Pittsburgh win and a Houston loss or tie and a New York loss or tie
Pittsburgh win and a Houston loss or tie and a Baltimore loss or tie
Pittsburgh win and a New York loss or tie and a Baltimore loss or tie and a Denver loss or tie
Houston Texans clinch a playoff spot with:
Houston win and a New York loss or tie and a Baltimore loss or tie
Houston win and a New York loss or tie and a Denver loss or tie
Houston win and a Baltimore loss or tie and a Denver loss or tie
Jacksonville Jaguars clinch a playoff spot with:
Jacksonville win and a Pittsburgh loss and a Baltimore loss and a Denver loss and a Houston loss
Jacksonville win and a Pittsburgh loss and a Baltimore loss and a Denver loss and a New York loss
Jacksonville win and a Pittsburgh loss and a Baltimore loss and a Houston loss and a New York loss
Jacksonville win and a Pittsburgh loss and a Denver loss and a Houston loss and a New York loss
Jacksonville win and a New York loss and a Denver loss and a Houston loss and a Baltimore loss
Miami Dolphins clinch a playoff spot with:
Miami win and a New York loss and a Baltimore loss and a Houston loss and a Jacksonville loss or tie
Every time an All-Star team is selected there are always bound to be undeserving guys making the squad and a bunch of bridesmaids hoping to be the bride. The 2010 Pro Bowl selections are no different this year. Unlike most years, there are fewer disagreements on the choices. Regardless, there were some glaringly bad selections and awful omissions.
Here’s my take:
Who Was Undeserving
1. Jason Witten
Here’s a guy that had an awful season. Who cares if he has a lot catches, they’ve been meaningless dump offs and mop up play. He rates at the bottom for YPC, TDs and catches for first downs. Not to mention he is no longer Romo’s go to guy.
2. Bryant McKinnie
Benched two weeks ago as Julius Peppers brutalized Brett Favre, leading to the sideline meltdown between Favre and Childress. His reward…a starting spot on the Pro Bowl offensive line. At least Pepper is on his team this time.
3. David Akers
A beneficiary of playing on a team that can’t put the ball in the end zone. Kicking is about more than just chipshot field goals. Akers has never shown himself to be a pressure guy and his kickoffs rate in the back half of the league. A little known fact: Shaun Suisham and Nick Folk had better averages for 40+ field goals and they both got cut.
4. Wes Welker
Put the numbers aside, this guy has no right in the Pro Bowl. He is not even their top receiver. His numbers are bloated because of the slot passes which are more wildcat formation runs than actual catches. He’s the only top WR where less than 10% of his catches are over 10 yards.
5. DeAngelo Williams
Williams had a somewhat down year on a bad team that he contributed losses to and he gets in the Pro Bowl? He deserved it last year, but not based on his performance this year. After Jonathan Stewart’s performance against the Giants, Williams might not even start next year.
6. Asante Samuel
While he gets lots of interceptions, he gets beaten too often. This is not to mention that the guy likes less tackling contact than Deion Sanders. Its almost impossible to play every down of every game and only have 40 tackles, but Samuels did it.
Who Got Shafted
1. Cedric Benson
How did this guy not make the team? He leads the NFL in carries per game and has made an unbelievable comeback against all the odds. his performance against the Bears should get him in alone. Probably the biggest shaft of them all.
2. Brent Celek
This guy has been a rock in the Philly offense. Unlike Witten and Tony Gonzalez who feed as dump off receivers, Celek goes down the field for his catches because dumps to its running backs. Not to mention taking hit better than anyone in the NFL. Celek is a major reason why the Eagles offense has clicked despite all the injuries. I guess he lost out so undeserving Eagles like Akers and Samuels could attend in his place.
3. Ryan Grant
This guy has been a workhorse. When he is running the ball well, Green Bay wins games. He is perhaps the most important player to their success because he takes pressure off the offensive line that can’t pass block.
4. D.J. Williams
Victim of the ongoing love affair with Ray Lewis that will never end. Williams had a breakout year that should have gotten the recognition it deserved. Williams is a tackling machine but won’t see the Pro Bowl until Lewis retires.
5. Antoine Bethea
94 tackles, 9 passes defended and 4 INTs. This rates you a bystander for the pro bowl. But if you get 45 tackles, 8 passes defended and 3 INTs at the same position, you are in like flint. Congrats to Ed Reed for stealing Bethea’s spot.
The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Denver Broncos 28-16 yesterday and in doing so set two records and kept them rolling towards a perfect regular season this year. The first and current record they set is a impressive 22nd straight regular season victory eclipsing the 21 stright set by the New England Patriots just last year. You have to be both lucky and good to achieve a streak like this. The second and even more impressive record is the Colts have won 114 games this decade breaking the 113 wins in the 90’s set by the mighty San Francisco 49ers. The Colts are making history each week and are steam rolling towards a improbable 16-0 regular season finish. I would not bet against them achieving that goal and achieving that history.
In yesterday’s victory, they jumped out to a 21-0 lead. Denver closed to 21-16 before their great leader Peyton Manning lead them to a 80 yard drive to salt away the victory. It seems that Manning and the Colts can come up with that kind of scoring drive whenever they need to.
Their next three games are Thursday at Jacksonville, then the Jets at home and then finally at Buffalo. They should pull off that triple and will never be forgotten in the annals of the NFL.
I am truly hoping that they pull this off as I love a team and player like Peyton Manning to make sport memories that will last a lifetime. It makes watching the NFL very enjoyable for me and to any NFL fan that enjoys history in the making. Keep the decade of excellence going, Colts.
Along with the Saints, there is another 12-0 team n the NFL and that is the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have been another team that has been very good at times but have been very fortunate to be undefeated. They have done it with the great play from their superstar quarterback, Peyton Manning. They have been suspect on the ground this year as Joseph Addai is their top runner only have amassing 662 yards but has twelve touchdowns. The Colts have a upcoming four game stretch that is win manageable on their quest to perfection.
The Colts next game is home to the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are coming off two impressive victories over the Giants and Chiefs. The Colts are in a different league than those two, add the home field advantage, and the Colts should be 13-0. Their next game is at Jacksonville. This could be a tough road game as Jacksonville as looked good at times. Which Jacksonville team will show up is the question. From their it is the Jets at home. The Colts should roll to a victory over them and possibly be within one game of a undefeated season. Their last game would be in the cold at Buffalo. The C0lts usually don’t fair well in the cold but if they are still undefeated that should warm them up wth the motivation to play well and get the victory.
As you see from their upcoming schedule, the Colts have a decent shot for a perfect season. I would love to see them match the 1972 Miami Dolphins and make this a memorable season for NFL fans. Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks ever and deserves a season like this. Colts+Peyton could very well equal perfection.
Every time an All-Star team is selected there are always bound to be undeserving guys making the squad and a bunch of bridesmaids hoping to be the bride. The 2010 Pro Bowl selections are no different this year. Unlike most years, there are fewer disagreements on the choices. Regardless, there were some glaringly bad selections and awful omissions.
