History suggests that every NFL season, 5 teams make the jump from also-rans the previous season into the playoffs. That means that 5 playoff teams from the previous season miss out on postseason play. By the nature of the case, it is notoriously difficult to predict which teams will make the jump and which will miss out. But unlike our patron saint, George Costanza, here at the youvegottalovesports blog, we invite a good challenge. So I'm going to make my picks about which 5 2008 non-playoff teams will make the playoffs this year, and which 5 playoff teams will miss out.
Just as a reminder: the 12 2008 Playoff participants by conference were:
Titans
Steelers
Dolphins
Chargers
Colts
Ravens
Giants
Panthers
Vikings
Cardinals
Falcons
Eagles
Now to my picks:
5 in:
Patriots
Jets
Bears
Seahawks
Saints
5 out:
Dolphins
Titans
Vikings
Cardinals
Falcons
What are your picks? What do you think of mine?
Dave, I have no problem with your five in.
ReplyDeleteI like your five out for the most part. Although the Dolphins are on the rise, so are the Jets. And with Brady at the helm of the Pats, they'll likely be a playoff team.
Although Cutler will improve the Bears, I'd like to think the Vikes will have a shot at the playoffs.
I can be persuaded to put the Ravens on the out list, instead of the Dolphins - Ravens lost Rex Ryan, who knows what they really have in Flacco, question marks in the running game.
ReplyDeleteBut I can see the Dolphins being a better team but because of harder sked and competition going 9-7.
I should have been clearer. I think this is a great list, Dave.
ReplyDeleteOf course, these things are extremely hard to predict. Nearly every year it seems like one of the teams that played in the Super Bowl fail to make the playoffs.
So what we see here is that the only thing that is predictable is unpredictability. So does that mean that it's possible this is the year that we don't see as much turnover? Or more? We don't know.
But this list looks pretty good. Let's look at the five in:
Pats: 2 words: Tom Brady
Jets: Very near a playoff berth
Bears: Jay Cutler could make the difference
Seahawks: they shouldn't have 600 injured receivers and a wildcat oriented (Seneca Wallace) qb this year
Saints: Disappointing last year. Should bounce back.
Ok, about the 5 out
Dolphins: Like I said. They're a team on the rise. But with the improvement of the Jets and the return of Tom Brady, the playoff picture is a little more bleak for them.
Titans: It really felt like they overachieved last year. This could be the year they come back to earth. Or not.
Vikings: Too talented to miss the playoffs. But an awful coach and a questionable qb situation can keep talented teams out.
Cardinals: Nearly every year, a superbowl team fails to make the playoffs. The Cards have shown no reason for us to doubt them, but we're pretty sure the Steelers will make it so that doesn't bode well for the Cards.
Falcons: Did well last year, but if Tampa can bounce back and the Saints too, plus a sophomore slump for Matt Ryan, we may see them miss the playoffs.
Great analysis.
The case for the Ravens is simple. The AFC North isn't all that good. Four easy wins will come against the Browns and Bungles. And they have a good chance of splitting the season series against the Steelers if Flacco plays well.
ReplyDelete