Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

So many possible playoff-scenarios going into penultimate week of this, here, 2018 season! Sort of reminding me of ’89.

Browns, I believe, got a 1-in-50,000 shot!

Here’s my guess...

AFC
(1) KC 12-4, (2) Hou 12-4
(3) NE 11-5, (4) Pit 9-6-1, (5) LAC 12-4, (6) Ten 10-6

NFC
(1) NO 14-2, (2) LAR 12-4
(3) Chi 10-6, (4) Dal 9-7, (5) Sea 10-6, (6) Min 9-6-1

Notables: Ravens win at Chargers this Sat (as Steelers lose to Saints) but Browns play spoiler Week #17. Texans & Titans knock off Eagles & Redskins respectively thus getting Dallas the division-title thus Dallas losing at Meadowlands Wk 17 because all’s wrapped up. Titans win play-in game Wk 17 over Colts. SF beats Bears (and then beat the now-locked-in-2nd-seed Rams following week, forging 6-10 yet again) and Bears also lose finale at Min because Vikings will need to win.

KC has had a couple near misses/missed opportunities lately with the Raiders giving them a game and losing to Chargers at home. I say Seattle beats KC, LA beats Baltimore & Denver to win the division and home field advantage. Could you imagine home-field going through a 30,000 seat soccer stadium? Call me crazy, but it could happen. Seattle is also desperate and has not clinched yet.

LA #1, KC #4

I could see Houston going down in Philadelphia and beating Jax in Week 17, so they are #3 seed. It is not easy to win in Philadelphia.. just ask the Steelers - without a win there since 1965.

That puts NE in the driver's seat for #2 seed due to very easy final two home games against Bills & Jets. Since realignment in 2002, the AFC East has been the WORST division.

Texans are #3.

Steelers are very desperate and I don't feel confident the Saints will win Sunday. I think it's fair to say they go 1-1 in final two or they finish 2-0. Regardless, the Saints are a taller task than New England. Their offense is better and defense far better. I don't think the Steelers play well in dome games. Haven't won in NOLA since 1990.

It comes down to LA/BAL on Saturday. Steelers win the North, #4.

TEN or IND is final wild card #6.

NFC -

NOLA is #1 with home-field.

LA locked into #2 seed as I don't see the Saints going 0-2 to finish. Hard to think the Rams would lose at Arizona or against SF in final two.

Bears have to lose out and Dallas has to win out for Cowboys to have #3. Don't see it happening. CHI in at #3. DAL in at #4.

Seattle is your #5 top wild card. Vikings creep in at second wild card, #6.