Weekly Playoff Chase Update (Game 12)

[AvengerRam]

As we head into the home stretch, and for as long as we are in the hunt, I'm going to do a weekly update of the standings and schedule of the Wild Card contenders, and provide my weekly predictions and projection.

Right now, there are six teams with 5 or 6 wins through 11 games who are battling for the NFC South title and 2 Wild Card spots (including the Vikings, who play tonight and then have their bye next week).
Here’s how the Game 12 schedule looks for these teams:

Chicago @ Minnesota (6-5) (11/27)
Seattle (6-5) @ Dallas (11/30)
Atlanta (5-6)* @ NY Jets (12/3)
Kansas City @ Green Bay (5-6) (12/3)
Cleveland @ L.A. Rams (5-6) (12/3)
Detroit @ New Orleans (5-6) (12/3)
*Currently leads NFC South.

I don’t have much faith in Chicago, so I’m going to go with the Vikings to jump to 7-5. Seattle will get crushed by Dallas. The Sunday schedule looks good for us, and I’m going out on a limb and predicting we’ll be the only victor among the four contenders playing next weekend.

If I’m right, the playoff race will look like this through 12 games:
Atlanta will hold on to the NFC South lead with a 5-7 record (this will be true even if Tampa gets to 5-7 by beating Carolina, as Atlanta holds the head-to-head).

For the two wild cards, it will be:

Minnesota 7-5 (WC/6th seed)
L.A. Rams 6-6 (WC/7th seed)
Seattle 6-6
Green Bay 5-7
New Orleans 5-7
Tampa Bay 5-7 (jumps into contention by beating Panthers).

Could be a good week!

 

[GoodBadUgly]

Love your optimism!

Hope you're right!

 

[Ramon Ram]

As we head into the home stretch, and for as long as we are in the hunt, I'm going to do a weekly update of the standings and schedule of the Wild Card contenders, and provide my weekly predictions and projection.

Right now, there are six teams with 5 or 6 wins through 11 games who are battling for the NFC South title and 2 Wild Card spots (including the Vikings, who play tonight and then have their bye next week).
Here’s how the Game 12 schedule looks for these teams:

Chicago @ Minnesota (6-5) (11/27)
Seattle (6-5) @ Dallas (11/30)
Atlanta (5-6)* @ NY Jets (12/3)
Kansas City @ Green Bay (5-6) (12/3)
Cleveland @ L.A. Rams (5-6) (12/3)
Detroit @ New Orleans (5-6) (12/3)
*Currently leads NFC South.

I don’t have much faith in Chicago, so I’m going to go with the Vikings to jump to 7-5. Seattle will get crushed by Dallas. The Sunday schedule looks good for us, and I’m going out on a limb and predicting we’ll be the only victor among the four contenders playing next weekend.

If I’m right, the playoff race will look like this through 12 games:
Atlanta will hold on to the NFC South lead with a 5-7 record (this will be true even if Tampa gets to 5-7 by beating Carolina, as Atlanta holds the head-to-head).

For the two wild cards, it will be:

Minnesota 7-5 (WC/6th seed)
L.A. Rams 6-6 (WC/7th seed)
Seattle 6-6
Green Bay 5-7
New Orleans 5-7
Tampa Bay 5-7 (jumps into contention by beating Panthers).

Could be a good week!

Taking it a week further:
Seattle will lose to SF
Rams should lose at Baltimore
Green Bay should win at the Giants
New Orleans will beat Carolina
Tampa should lose to Atlanta but could win to go to 6-7

So it's possible after next week all teams will be 6-7

After that our next 3 games are winnable against Washington, New Orleans and the Giants. So as usual it will come down to the last week at SF.

 

[AvengerRam]

Taking it a week further:
Seattle will lose to SF
Rams should lose at Baltimore
Green Bay should win at the Giants
New Orleans will beat Carolina
Tampa should lose to Atlanta but could win to go to 6-7

So it's possible after next week all teams will be 6-7

After that our next 3 games are winnable against Washington, New Orleans and the Giants. So as usual it will come down to the last week at SF.

Now, now… one week at a time!

 

[AvengerRam]

One pick in and I’m already 0 for 1.

Happy to be wrong, though! Bears take down Vikings!

 

[Malibu]

I think the Rams have a good shot if they go 4-2. I think we make the playoffs and here 8s why

I think it is between the Vikings, Packers, Seattle, and the Rams.

Seattle has the toughest by far schedule. They will fade.

Vikings got the 2nd hardest schedule and with the loss tonight unexpectedly and with no Jefferson and Cousins they will fade. 2 Det., one GB and Cincy.

Packers have easiest schedule by far. They play head to head with the Vikings.

Rams have 2nd easiest of the 4 teams.

So I think the Packers and Rams make the Playoffs.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Vikings lost! Josh Dobbs cost me a fantasy game but it's good for the wildcard chase!

Vikings - now 7th seed at 6-6 (6-4 in NFC). Note they have to play the Lions twice and GB once down the stretch.

 

[TexasRam]

Yea if Rams take care of business vs Teams they should beat, and the schedule plays out as expected for Seattle and Minnesota, we should be getting a 6th or 7th seed.

I ran through the ESPN playoff machine predictor thing.

Rams would probably be matched up vs Lions or Niners in the Wildcard round since Dallas will draw the winner of the South.

 

[Rams8821]

Man, a Rams Lions playoff game would be epic. Sign me up for that right now.

 

[RamDino]

Man, a Rams Lions playoff game would be epic. Sign me up for that right now.

Agreed. Stafford back in Detroit for a playoff game? Goff paying against his old team that threw him to the curb? Bring it!

 

[Rams8821]

Agreed. Stafford back in Detroit for a playoff game? Goff paying against his old team that threw him to the curb? Bring it!

And I dont want to hear anyone say, "pump the brakes" , "take it a game at a time", etc. We are fans this is what we do......

 

[Londoner]

And I dont want to hear anyone say, "pump the brakes" , "take it a game at a time", etc.

Okay then.

Let’s not get carried away; there’s a long way to go.

 

[FrantikRam]

The Bears winning last night was HUGE for us

Assuming the Packers lose to the Chiefs (which is not a guarantee):

After next week Vikes would be 6-6, Packers 5-7

Remaining opponents:

Vikings: @Raiders, @Bengals, Lions, Packers, @Lions

Packers: @Giants, Bucs, @Panthers, @vikings, Bears

Rams (assuming we beat the Browns - dangerous, but lose to them and our season is probably over): @Ravens, Commodes, Saints, @Giants, @Niners



Most likely positive outcome for us is L, W, W, W, L - finish 9-8, 7-5 in conference play

Here are the scenarios that would get us into the playoffs with that:

Packers lose twice - @vikings is definitely possible - other than that? Bucs tend to play everyone close.....? Not promising.

Vikings lose three more times - much more likely with the Lions twice and the Packers; Raiders have played some teams tough too

In both cases, we likely lose the tiebreakers. Packers head to head, and then even if Minnesota falls to 7-5 in conference play, they will have a better record against common opponents which is the next tiebreaker.

To get us excitement in week 18 and give us a few different avenues, we need the Vikings and Packers to both have at least 7 losses going into their game so that one is guaranteed 8 losses, and then whoever loses we root against the following week.

Conversely, I think with the Bears winning last night, we just root against Minnesota and Seattle the rest of the year - although after last night, I think if we 9-8 we will be in.

 

[Ramstien]

At the start of the season, I never though the Rams would have playoff hopes at this point in the season. The Browns game is very close to a must win situation with the Ravens and 9ers still on the schedule. However the Ravens are now without Mark Andrews and the 9ers seem beatable with Purdy at QB.

 

[Jacobarch]

I think the Rams have a good shot if they go 4-2. I think we make the playoffs and here 8s why

I think it is between the Vikings, Packers, Seattle, and the Rams.

Seattle has the toughest by far schedule. They will fade.

Vikings got the 2nd hardest schedule and with the loss tonight unexpectedly and with no Jefferson and Cousins they will fade. 2 Det., one GB and Cincy.

Packers have easiest schedule by far. They play head to head with the Vikings.

Rams have 2nd easiest of the 4 teams.

So I think the Packers and Rams make the Playoffs.

If the Packers and rams make it. I hope we bitch slap the Packers in the playoffs.

 

[snackdaddy]

I'm taking it one week at a time. If Seattle loses, and they're expected to, they fall to 6-6. Minnesota is 6-6. Green Bay plays KC. I expect them to fall to 5-7. I expect Detroit to beat New Orleans. NO falls to 5-7. If we win we join Minny and Seattle at 6-6. A 3 way tie for the last two spots. We control our destiny and that is all we can ask.

 

[Loyal]

I'm taking it one week at a time. If Seattle loses, and they're expected to, they fall to 6-6. Minnesota is 6-6. Green Bay plays KC. I expect them to fall to 5-7. I expect Detroit to beat New Orleans. NO falls to 5-7. If we win we join Minny and Seattle at 6-6. A 3 way tie for the last two spots. We control our destiny and that is all we can ask.

SUPER BOWL!

 

[Ellard80]

Looks like miles garrett could play sunday - the Browns injuries didn't end up being as bad as they looked at first.

 

[Rams8821]

Looks like miles garrett could play sunday - the Browns injuries didn't end up being as bad as they looked at first.

"could" and will he be 100%....doubtful....

 

[dang]

And I dont want to hear anyone say, "pump the brakes" , "take it a game at a time", etc. We are fans this is what we do......

I won’t say “ take it a game at a time" to honor your request but I’ll start to get excited WHEN the Rams beat the Browns. I think they can win if they score 17+ points on a tough defense.