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The weather is getting colder, and this can only mean that the playoffs are right around the corner!  I know there are still 4 weeks left in the regular season, but it’s hard to wait even that long for the most exciting time in sports.  I’m of course talking about the NFL playoffs.  One game, win and keep going, lose and you’re gone.  So I’m going to fast forward a bit and predict the remainder of the schedule and tell you how each division will end up and what the playoff match ups will be.  You know what?  I’ll even go through the whole playoffs and tell you who’ll win it all. 

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!
(Unless of course I suck at predictions, which is most likely the case).

* Denotes wild card team

Order of Finish

Wild Card Playoffs

Divisional Playoffs

Conference Championships

Super Bowl

No Huddle
The Falcons usually own the Panthers, but Julius Peppers, and more importantly the Panther D-Line wreaked havoc for Vick in the backfield.  This has probably locked up the NFC South division title for the Panthers.

The Bills still had a shot at catching the Pats in the division entering this game against the Dolphins.  But, as it turns out, the Dolphins had the same record as the Bills and I overlooked their shot at catching the Patriots.  So the Bills manage to absolutely have their way with the Dolphins to start the game, getting a 21-0 lead.  So what does any team do when they go up 21 points in only the 1st quarter?  Why they continue scoring at will of course.  What do the Bills do?  Relax.  These are the pitiful Dolphins; no way can they catch us even though they have 3 quarters to do it.  As it turns out, they only needed the 4th quarter to catch them.  Now it’s only the Dolphins who have a chance at catching the Pats.  In reality, no team in this division deserves to make it to the playoffs. 

The game plan, as it is for every Steelers game, is pounding the ball relentlessly with the running game.  This has been their bread and butter last year and this year.  Now, when you face a great offence, such as the Bengals, shouldn’t you really stick to the game plan to keep the ball out of Palmer’s hands?  And the Bengals, yes, the Bengals will win the division.  The Steelers have to pretty much run the table to make the playoffs now. 

Drew Bledsoe and Eli Manning put on a clinic on how to throw incompletions.  Both QBs had a horrible completion percentage.  Dallas had a golden opportunity to all but lock up the division, but then they played the game.  Bledsoe is prone to lay an egg every once and a while, for no good reason, and this was the game.  Where has the feared Parcells running attack gone?  Oh?  It hasn’t existed at Dallas during his whole tenure?  Well then, I guess Julius Jones and Marion Barber have to work harder, that’s all. 

A lot of people think Brett Favre is the only player helping the Packers.  Against the Bears, he’s the reason they lost, and this isn’t the first time either.  His careless throws and resultant interceptions cost the Packers the game in their quest to be spoilers against their rival the Bears.  Yet, because of his superstar status, I doubt we’ll see such a bold and true statement as I have made uttered by any other media source.  Although it’s time for Aaron Rodgers, we won’t see him this season because of the ‘Favre Mystique’.  So Favre, who has done much for the Packers in the past, is hurting the team long term. 

That was harder than it should have been, Jacksonville.  The Browns are not a good team.  The Jags are another team that will make the playoffs but don’t deserve it.  They really haven’t played anyone all year besides the Colts.  Here’s hoping for an early exit on wild card weekend. Unless they play the Pats of course.  

Minnesota has yet again extended their win streak.  People are starting to notice their playoff aspirations.  We should all step back and note who they’ve played though.  It’s been bad team after bad team.  No matter what the outcome for this team, Mike Tice has got to go.  Bears at Vikings week 17 for the division? 

The Colts will win against Jacksonville, then again the following week against the Super Chargers, thus becoming 14-0 and equaling the regular season wins that the ’72 Dolphins achieved.  They will then lose to the Seahawks in week 16 before beating the hapless Cardinals in the final week.  Their final record will be 15-1 and the debate will begin whether they achieved the Dolphins feat by going 14-0 in the regular season before the loss against the Seahawks.  If the season wasn’t as long, they would have been perfect some will say.  Others will say perfect means no losses all season, end of story, no matter how long the season is.  So it is written, so it shall be. 

The Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs should make the playoffs.  Sadly, one of these teams at least, most likely the Chiefs, will have to sit this one out.  What a difference a Willie Roaf makes.  With him, the Chiefs look great, without him, horrible.  How can an Offensive tackle be the glue that holds your whole offense together?  This should be a message to all clubs building a team.  The O-Line as well as the D-Line are the most important positions in football.  Games are one and lost in the trenches.  It may not be pretty, but it’s by far the most important part of the game.

Early on in the season, many people thought the Chargers were going to miss out on the playoffs, and be the best team to do so ever.  But now all of a sudden, they’re in good position to do make it, with their dismantling of the Raiders on Sunday night.  They still have a brutal end to their schedule, but this whole season seems to have been a brutal schedule for them.  This season has really tested their mettle, and no matter what the outcome, they’ll be an even superior team next season. 

Offensive Player of the Week: Reuben Droughns for becoming the first Browns player to get over 1000 yards rushing in a season since 1985.  1000 isn’t even a big mark anymore for RBs.  How sad that the Brown haven’t had one since 1985.

Defensive Player of the Week: Charles Tillman for his 95 yard interception return against Favre and the Packers.  It’s defensive plays like this that allows the Bears to win games. 

Special Teams Player of the Week: Adam Vinatieri for setting the new mark for points scored by a New England Patriot, surpassing some old guy who commentary for the team. 

Top Ten:
1. Indianapolis Colts – Rolling rolling rolling. 
2. Seattle Seahawks - MNF
3. Chicago Bears – Their defense is one of those great ones. 
4. Carolina Panthers – Getting back in the groove in time for the playoffs?
5. Denver Broncos – It’s always tough to win in Arrowhead. 
6. San Diego Chargers – Keep on making their charge to the playoffs. 
7. Cincinnati Bengals – Showing the Steelers that their time is now. 
8. New York Giants – Showing Dallas that they division is theirs. 
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – That Browns game was too hard. 
10. Kansas City Chiefs – Beating the previous #3 team in this top ten.