After week 1 of the NFL season I wrote an article with the eight teams I believed would make the playoffs this year. In my prediction I had the AFC teams being New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, San Diego, and the New York Jets. If the playoffs were to start today all of those teams would be in the playoffs with the only exception being the NY Jets who are currently a half a game out. I have all four division leaders in and still believe that the Jets will make the playoffs with Buffalo and Cincinnati still lacking enough talent and experience to make the playoffs.
In the NFC I predicted Green Bay, Detroit, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington, and Philadelphia to make the playoffs and each one of them would be in the playoffs or in reach of making the playoffs if they were to begin today. My biggest disappointment so far has been the Philadelphia Eagles, however, they appear to be playing better football lately and I see them making up some ground in the NFC East. The team that I feel I made a mistake on taking was the Washington Redskins. Rex Grossman has been very ineffective and a season ending injury to Tim Hightower has me questioning if they have the ability to even qualify this year as a wildcard team. As it sits right now the division is in the control of the NY Giants and if they can stay healthy should be able to make the playoffs.
The Oakland Raiders had surprised me this year but with the injury to Jason Campbell and other key players they will continue to struggle and put points on the board giving the division to San Diego. The toughest division to decide is the NFC South. The three teams in contention have looked like playoff teams one week, and than looked like bottom feeders the next week. New Orleans appears to have the advantage with an offense that has scored an NFL high 239 points. Also their defense has allowed 158 points giving them the second best ratio of a plus 81 in the NFL, only the Packers have a better ratio of a plus 89.
Week 8 doesn’t have many potential playoff matchups excluding the New England @ Pittsburgh game. This game should determine how each team stacks up in the AFC and could very well be a preview of the AFC championship game.