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(Thursday, December 8)
Seven teams joined Houston and San Francisco
on the sidelines after being mathematically
eliminated from playoff action this week. Baltimore,
Cleveland, the Jets, Oakland, Tennessee, Green
Bay and New Orleans were all eliminated this
weekend leaving 23 of league's 32 teams still
alive for Super Bowl 40 after 13 weeks of action.
The AFC picture is a little bit more clear
cut with only ten teams alive for six spots.
In the East, The Pats need just a win or a Miami
loss top lock up the division. A formality.
The North is complicated with Cincinnati a leg
up on Pitt who would be odd man out at this
point. The Colts have clinched the South and
will have home foield through the playoffs with
another win. The Jags control their wildcard
destiny by winning out. Denver has leg up in
West and would be second seed by virtue of conference
record. San Diego would be the sixth seed with
the Chiefs outside looking in if things ended
today. Miami and Buffalo are out by any loss
or a New England win.
AFC Matchups would look like this:
#6 San Diego at #3 Cincinnati, winner to face
Denver at Mile High (Broncos higher seed than
Bengals by conf record, San Diego gets in over
Kansas City based on head-to-head)
#5 Jacksonville at #4 New England, winner to
face Indianapolis in Indy
The NFL playoffs are not a pure bracket system
and the Colts are guaranteed to face lowest
seeded wild card winner.
The NFC is a little bit more complicated but
should be much clearer after this weekend with
the Eagles, Redskins, Lions, Rams, and Cardinals
all on life support. Giants have a big leg up
in the East with Dallas who will battle for
wildcard. Bears are virtual lock in the North
with two game lead and tie-breaker over Bears.
Carolina controls South with Tampa Bay and Atlanta,
the Falcons odd man out. Seattle has already
clinched West and owns home field if they take
care of business.
Today, NFC Matchups would look like
this:
#6 Dallas would travel to Carolina, winner
to face Chicago (Dallas in over Atlanta or Minnesota
due to better conference record, Chicago is
#2 seed over Carolina based on head-to-head)
#5 Tampa Bay would travel to Giants, winner
to face Seattle
Key Matchups coming up:
Week 14: December 11-12
Chicago at Pittsburg
Indy at Jacksonville
Tampa Bay at Carolina
Kansas City at Dallas
Week 15: December 17-18-19
Pittsburg at Minnesota
San Diego at Indy
Atlanta at Chicago
It's crunch time and we'll find out
who are the pretenders and who are the
contenders. Food for thought while you
are handicapping games down the stretch.
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John Anthony is a documented member of The Professional
Handicappers League.
Read more of his articles and get his premium
plays here.
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