Here were my preseason picks for the playoffs:
AFC Division Winners - New England, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Denver
AFC Wildcards - Baltimore and San Diego
NFC Division Winners - Philadelphia, Green Bay, New Orleans and Seattle
AFC Wildcards - San Francisco and Chicago
In the AFC I am sticking with three of my division winners in New England, Indianapolis and Denver. I am thinking Cincinnati still makes the playoffs as a Wildcard, but Pittsburgh will win the division. I am sticking with Baltimore as my other Wildcard team. I think the Chiefs and Dolphins will finish just behind Cincinnati with the same number of wins, but one more loss thanks to the tie that Cincinnati had. As for the team that makes it out of the AFC for the Superbowl, my preseason pick was Indianapolis, I am not sold that they will make it out the AFC. I think the team that makes it out is the team with home field advantage and at this point I could see all the division winners at 13-3 and 12-4. Next week the Indianapolis vs New England game could help decide who get home field. For now I am going to stick with my pick of the Colts.
In the NFC I am only going to stick with two of my division winners in Philadelphia and New Orleans. I am thinking Seattle and Green Bay both make the playoffs as Wildcards but Arizona and Detroit will win their divisions. I know Arizona and Seattle still play twice, but I think Arizona will split that meaning Seattle has to make up another game and the schedules for both teams look equally as difficult. For Detroit they have a much easier schedule than Green Bay and they already have a win over Green Bay. I originally had Seattle coming out of the NFC and I am going to stick with that pick. They will have to do it on the road during the playoffs, but they have been there and I think they will turn it up to another level when it maters.
The biggest surprise to me so far this season is the Arizona Cardinals, They are playing in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL and have only one loss. They have had QB injuries and they are still winning. This is a young team that I think will be good for a few more years.
The biggest disappointment to me is the Atlanta Falcons. I thought they would contend for the division and a wildcard, but at this point they are just going to be a spoiler for other teams. Sitting with only two wins and their four non-divisional games are all against teams with winning records. Three out of the four divisional games they have left are on the road. There is a chance that this team wins four games or less this year.