OT: Predict Football Standings

I'm in a football mood thanks to the budding fantasy leagues coming up this year...

Here's some things I used for analysis

Schedule:Every year, each division plays 2 divisions for their schedule. This makes up half of their schedule for the season (coupled with 6 division games & 2 games against teams in other divisions that ended in the same place they are)

AFCE v. AFCS, NFCW
AFCW v. AFCN, NFCS
AFCS v. AFCE, NFCN
AFCN v. AFCW, NFCE
NFCE v. AFCN, NFCS
NFCW v. AFCE, NFCN
NFCS v. AFCW, NFCE
NFCN v. AFCS, NFCW

Pythagorean Wins: Based on how teams play & how they should have played. Judges how many more wins/losses a team should have had.
Underachievers: Vikings, Bears, Dolphins, Chiefs, Seahawks
Overachievers: Broncos, Raiders, Pats

Record:128-128 for each conference (AFC & NFC) is necessary.
Division Title = Y
Wildcard = X
Homefield Advanage = Z

AFC East: 33-31

New England Patriots 14-2 - z
New York Jets 8-8
Buffalo Bills 8-8
Miami Dolphins 3-13

Analysis:Until the Bills prove to me they can make the playoffs, here's me continuing to doubt them. They're the sexy pick this year for improvement with the addition of Mario Williams, but their problems last year went far beyond defense. Specifically, Fitzpatrick's need to stare down Stevie Johnson on every play didn't help.

As for the rest of this division the Jets are stuck in mediocrity & the Pats are clearly the class of the division. The biggest question remains in Miami -- are the Dolphins more talented than 3-13 or were they just much better coached than a 3-13 team by Tony Sparano? Probably the latter.

AFC South: 33-31

Houston Texans 11-5 - y
Jacksonville Jaguars 10-6 - x
Tennesee Titans 9-7 - x
Indianapolis Colts 4-12

Analysis: On average, 25% of the teams in the league that had 6-10 records or worse make the playoffs next year. Enter the Jacksonville Jaguars. I love Mularkey as a head coach and I see him working well with Gabbert. If the defense holds up and MJD returns as he's expected, this could be a team to watch

AFC North: 33-31

Baltimore Ravens 12-4 - y
Pittsburgh Steelers 8-8
Cincinatti Bengals 7-9
Cleveland Browns 5-11

Analysis:The big thing here is the Steelers. I really don't know if they're good enough to make the playoffs next year. Mainly because of Big Ben's partially torn rotator cuff and how poorly he played with it in the second half of last season. Playing in a weak AFC, I think they sneak into the playoffs -- barely.

AFC West: 29-35

San Diego Chargers 9-7 - y
Denver Broncos 8-8
Kansas City Chiefs 6-10
Oakland Raiders 6-10

Analysis: Here's why I don't see the Broncos winning this division. History shows that QBs that change teams late in their career don't succeed. Peyton Manning to a Broncos team is the quick fix. One that won't work, either in the long-term or short term.

Let's couple this with the rest of the division's floundering. Last year this division's winner was 8-8. It was easily the most mediocre division. What's worse is this year the AFCW plays the AFCN (BAL, PIT, CIN, CLE) and NFCS (NO, ATL, TB, CAR.) Those divisions sported five playoff teams last year and a Tampa Bay team that's only a year removed from being 10-6.

NFC East (30-34)

1. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) - y
2. New York Giants (9-7)
3. Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
4.Washington Redskins (5-11)

Analysis:This conference as a whole is difficult to look at. The NFCE plays a talented AFCN and NFCS and has four teams that are talented enough to make the playoffs. I see the Giants underachieving as they often do, while the Eagles play as well as they were supposed to last season. The 'skins and 'boys falling to 6-10 isn't really a knock on their talent as it is a salute to how good the talent is in the NFC.

NFC West (28-36)

1. San Francisco 49ers (10-6) - y
2. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
3. Arizona Cardinals (6-10)
4. St. Louis Rams (3-13)

Analysis:Again, the NFCW faces a very competitive NFCN and AFCE as well.

The 'hawks are the sexy pick this year to make noise. They've got the defense and running game and if Matt Flynn is the second coming, then all should be well in Seattle. My issue is just that -- there's too much uncertainty at the QB position. Let's also look at QBs that were put in similar situations as Matt Flynn: I'm talking Matt Cassel, Matt Schaub, AJ Feeley, Kevin Kolb, Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks. For every failure, there's a success story.

NFC South (35-27)

1. Atlanta Falcons (11-5) - y
2. Carolina Panthers (10-6) - x
3. Tampa Bay Bucaneers (7-9)
4. New Orleans Saints (7-9)

Analysis:Let's look at the Saints in the past six months -- lost their defensive coordinator, a few defensive players, their head coach and pissed off Drew Brees. Even if you don't think the Brees and Sean Payton losses are enough, I think the part these guys will miss the most is Greg Williams at defensive coordinator on third down. That's right, even before the Saints got ****ed over by the NFL, I had them pegged for a down year.

I think the major thing for the Panthers this year is they'll have a lot of players returning from injuries. Specifically on the defensive end. With that offense still in tact I find it hard to bet against these guys, even in this division.

NFC North (35-27)

1. Green Bay Packers (13-3) - z
2. Chicago Bears (11-5) -x
3. Detroit Lions (7-9)
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-10)

Analysis:No surprises here, really. I guess the Bears going 11-5 could rustle some jimmies, but the Bears were sitting pretty at another playoff run until Jay Cutler got hurt. If Cutler's healthy, there's no reason to assume they won't pump out 10+ wins. Brandon Marshall helps the equation also.

Playoffs, AFC

1. New England Patriots (14-2)
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
3. Houston Texans (11-5)
4. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
6. Tennesee Titans (9-7)

1. Green Bay Packers (13-3)
2. Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
3. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)
5. Chicago Bears (11-5)
6. Carolina Panthers (10-6)

Wild Card Round:

Panthers vs. 49ers
Jaguars vs. Chargers
Bears vs. Eagles
Titans vs. Texans

Divisional Round:

Texans vs. Ravens
Bearsvs. Falcons
Jaguars vs. Patriots
Panthersvs. Packers

Championship Game

Ravens vs. Patriots
Bears vs. Packers

Superbowl ->Ravens vs. Packers. Ravens over Packers in the SB is my prediction 8)

AFC East: 32-32

New England Patriots 12-4 - Z
Buffalo Bills 9-7
Miami Dolphins 6-10
New York Jets 5-11

AFC South: 29-35

Houston Texans 10-6 - Y
Indianapolis Colts 8-8
Tennessee Titans 7-9
Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12

AFC North: 33-31

Baltimore Ravens 12-4 - Y
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 - X
Cincinatti Bengals 7-9
Cleveland Browns 3-13

AFC West: 34-30

Kansas City Chiefs 10-6 - Y
Denver Broncos 10-6 - X
San Diego Chargers 7-9
Oakland Raiders 7-9

NFC East (35-29)

Philadelphia Eagles 13-3 - Z
New York Giants 11-5 - X
Dallas Cowboys 7-9
Washington Redskins 4-12

NFC West (26-38)

San Francisco 49ers 11-5 - Y
Seattle Seahawks 8-8
Arizona Cardinals 5-11
St. Louis Rams 2-14

NFC South (33-31)

New Orleans Saints 11-5 - Y
Atlanta Falcons 9-7
Carolina Panthers 7-9
Tampa Bay Bucaneers 6-10

NFC North (31-33)

Green Bay Packers 12-4 - Y
Detroit Lions 10-6 - X
Minnesota Vikings 6-10
Chicago Bears 3-13

Playoffs, AFC

1. Patriots
2. Ravens
3. Texans
4. Chiefs
5. Steelers
6. Broncos

1. Eagles
2. Packers
3. 49ers
4. Saints
5. Giants
6. Lions

Wild Card Round:

Texans>Broncos
Steelers>Chiefs
49ers>Lions
Giants>Saints

Divisional Round:

Texans>Ravens
Steelers>Patriots
Giants>Eagles
49ers>Packers

Championship Game

Texans>Steelers
49ers>Giants

Superbowl - Texans>49ers

flawless.

Certainly not Philadelphia. That's a certain.-Halftime-

lol at 4-12 and 10-6 for the Jaguars. With or without MJD I'm expecting something along the lines of 7-9 or 8-8 if we're lucky. Gabbert with a year's experience throwing to Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson should be much improved from last year. And the defense should be good again.

jags have MIKE MULARKEY at head coach. theyll go 10-6 and push for the division. have faith paulColt45fool

jags have MIKE MULARKEY at head coach. theyll go 10-6 and push for the division. have faith paulColt45fool

[QUOTE="mems_1224"]this is going to come off as me being a homer but i think if our key players stay healthy the texans have a really really good chance to go to the super bowl. i just really wish the texans would get another QB, Schuab is awful Colt45fool

[QUOTE="Colt45fool"][QUOTE="mems_1224"]this is going to come off as me being a homer but i think if our key players stay healthy the texans have a really really good chance to go to the super bowl. i just really wish the texans would get another QB, Schuab is awful mems_1224

well if McFadden can stay healthy I think he can be the leading rusher in the league

last year he was leading the way before he got injured mid way thru the season

Raiders were so dumb giving up their draft picks for Carson Palmer last year smh

romeo crennel givin ya boiz hell nomsayin bruh bruh

romeo crennel givin ya boiz hell nomsayin bruh bruh

Colt45fool

Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12

DiIIasDonuts

This is looking like it might come true :cry: The only reason the Jags aren't 0-4 is because of a lucky 80 yard TD at the end of game vs the Colts.

[QUOTE="DiIIasDonuts"]

Jacksonville Jaguars 4-12

Orlando_Magic

This is looking like it might come true :cry: The only reason the Jags aren't 0-4 is because of a lucky 80 yard TD at the end of game vs the Colts.

Chiefs are going to the sb. Fml...i just cant switch teams but its just so frustrating. mowz00

[QUOTE="mowz00"]Chiefs are going to the sb. Fml...i just cant switch teams but its just so frustrating. DiIIasDonuts

Bengals are making some noise right now

if they can somehow be a wildcard they'll be a team no one wants to face in the playoffs

Bengals are making some noise right now

if they can somehow be a wildcard they'll be a team no one wants to face in the playoffs

andyboiii

[QUOTE="andyboiii"]

Bengals are making some noise right now

if they can somehow be a wildcard they'll be a team no one wants to face in the playoffs

Apocalypse33

aren't you glad you drafted AJ Green in our fantasy league? oh wait, that was me sorrryyyy!:lol:

KC shoulda won last night. No turnovers all game...until the last offensive play :|

J-E-T-S SUCK SUCK SUCK

yep :( 

KC shoulda won last night. No turnovers all game...until the last offensive play :|

J-E-T-S SUCK SUCK SUCK

yep :(

Colt45fool

well, if succop doesn't miss that first FG...

then the penalty calls were pretty bad as well....

but to add insult to injury, cassel just throws an INT in OT..which was terrible 

well, if succop doesn't miss that first FG...

then the penalty calls were pretty bad as well....

but to add insult to injury, cassel just throws an INT in OT..which was terrible

Colt45fool

[QUOTE="Apocalypse33"][QUOTE="andyboiii"]

Bengals are making some noise right now

if they can somehow be a wildcard they'll be a team no one wants to face in the playoffs

andyboiii

aren't you glad you drafted AJ Green in our fantasy league? oh wait, that was me sorrryyyy!:lol:

In Henne we trust:D

Justin Blackmon has more yards receiving in the past 2 games with Henne than the rest of the season combined.

If the Vikings can get two wins the rest of the season I'll be ecstatic.DiIIasDonuts

[QUOTE="DiIIasDonuts"]If the Vikings can get two wins the rest of the season I'll be ecstatic.mowz00

[QUOTE="mowz00"][QUOTE="DiIIasDonuts"]If the Vikings can get two wins the rest of the season I'll be ecstatic.Apocalypse33