The Miami Dolphins find themselves once again atop the AFC East. They are going for their third straight AFC title and seem to be moving into a good position. A surprise team in the mix may be the Houston Oilers. The Oilers have a 6-4-1 record, but are 6-1 in Conference play. They easily handled Baltimore last week and are playing some of the best football in the AFC right now. The Chargers, meanwhile, still sit atop the AFC West, but no one is now saying they are the team to beat. Their defense has struggled of late, and their offense has gone completely silent. They really need to get things turned around quick if they still hope to win the Division and do anything in the playoffs.
Until the Dolphins drubbed the Patriots, I was looking on them as the best team in the AFC. Their defense had been incredible, but suddenly they look very vulnerable. Mostly because like the Chargers they have no offense. If they don't find any offense, it won't matter how good their defense is they won't go far in the playoffs. Of course the Jets are still a team to watch. Though they just snapped a five game losing streak they still have the best QB in the AFC. If their defense can settle down and play how they were at the beginning of the year I still think they are the best team in the AFC.
In the NFC it is looking more and more like the 49ers year. They have outscored their opponents by 103 points and sit with a 9-2 record. They have a very solid defense and a fantastic offense. I believe their biggest competition to the NFC title is the Dallas Cowboys who have outscored their opponents by 101 points or the Los Angeles Rams who have outscored theirs by 105 points. These are some very good teams, all with very explosive offenses and solid defenses. In fact the Cowboys probably have the best defense in this group of three.
I would put the Saints right behind this group of teams along with the Eagles. The Saints have suddenly found a good balance of offense and defense, while the Eagles just have such an overwhelming offense they seem to be able to always win games.
It's hard to say who will win the NFC Central, but it really doesn't matter. None of these teams have a real shot to go anywhere in the playoffs.
Statistics
QBs
SF Jim Plunkett 97.0
Phi John Walton 96.8
NYJ Vince Evans 96.8
RBs
Bal Billy Sims 990yds
KC Ted Brown 856yds
Phi Ricky Bell 851yds
Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 999yds
NYJ Ronnie Moore 985yds
LA George Lantz 876yds
Playoff Picture
AFC
San Diego 7-4
Miami 7-4
Houston 6-4-1
New England 7-4
Baltimore 6-5
New York 6-5
-----------------------
Oakland 5-6
Kansas City 5-6
Seattle 5-6
NFC
San Francisco 9-2
Philadelphia 9-2
Green Bay 6-5
Dallas 8-2-1
New Orleans 7-4
Los Angeles 7-4
-----------------------
New York 6-5
Games to Watch
New Orleans 7-4 at New York Giants 6-5
This should be a hard hitting slug fest of a game. The Giants are sliding away and really need this win to stay in the playoff race.
Dallas 8-2-1 at Green Bay 6-5
The Packers lost to the Eagles last week and now have to take on the other NFC East power. This match up would seem to favor the Cowboys who have a solid defense and a very good offense. The Packers are all defense, but at this point I'm not sure they are as good as the Cowboys.
Baltimore 6-5 at New York Jets 6-5
All of these AFC East games are crucial. Right now the East would send four teams into the playoffs, but with them playing each other so much it's hard to imagine that number will stay so high. This should be a pretty even match up. Both teams have very good offenses and struggling defenses.
Kansas City 5-6 at Seattle 5-6
I have a feeling whoever loses this game will be out of the playoff picture. It's really the Chiefs game to lose even though they are on the road. They are playing much better football right now than the Seahawks.
Oakland 5-6 at Houston 6-4-1
The Oilers have been dominating their AFC opponents and I have a feeling this will be the end of the Raiders playoff dreams.
Until the Dolphins drubbed the Patriots, I was looking on them as the best team in the AFC. Their defense had been incredible, but suddenly they look very vulnerable. Mostly because like the Chargers they have no offense. If they don't find any offense, it won't matter how good their defense is they won't go far in the playoffs. Of course the Jets are still a team to watch. Though they just snapped a five game losing streak they still have the best QB in the AFC. If their defense can settle down and play how they were at the beginning of the year I still think they are the best team in the AFC.
In the NFC it is looking more and more like the 49ers year. They have outscored their opponents by 103 points and sit with a 9-2 record. They have a very solid defense and a fantastic offense. I believe their biggest competition to the NFC title is the Dallas Cowboys who have outscored their opponents by 101 points or the Los Angeles Rams who have outscored theirs by 105 points. These are some very good teams, all with very explosive offenses and solid defenses. In fact the Cowboys probably have the best defense in this group of three.
I would put the Saints right behind this group of teams along with the Eagles. The Saints have suddenly found a good balance of offense and defense, while the Eagles just have such an overwhelming offense they seem to be able to always win games.
It's hard to say who will win the NFC Central, but it really doesn't matter. None of these teams have a real shot to go anywhere in the playoffs.
Statistics
QBs
SF Jim Plunkett 97.0
Phi John Walton 96.8
NYJ Vince Evans 96.8
RBs
Bal Billy Sims 990yds
KC Ted Brown 856yds
Phi Ricky Bell 851yds
Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 999yds
NYJ Ronnie Moore 985yds
LA George Lantz 876yds
Playoff Picture
AFC
San Diego 7-4
Miami 7-4
Houston 6-4-1
New England 7-4
Baltimore 6-5
New York 6-5
-----------------------
Oakland 5-6
Kansas City 5-6
Seattle 5-6
NFC
San Francisco 9-2
Philadelphia 9-2
Green Bay 6-5
Dallas 8-2-1
New Orleans 7-4
Los Angeles 7-4
-----------------------
New York 6-5
Games to Watch
New Orleans 7-4 at New York Giants 6-5
This should be a hard hitting slug fest of a game. The Giants are sliding away and really need this win to stay in the playoff race.
Dallas 8-2-1 at Green Bay 6-5
The Packers lost to the Eagles last week and now have to take on the other NFC East power. This match up would seem to favor the Cowboys who have a solid defense and a very good offense. The Packers are all defense, but at this point I'm not sure they are as good as the Cowboys.
Baltimore 6-5 at New York Jets 6-5
All of these AFC East games are crucial. Right now the East would send four teams into the playoffs, but with them playing each other so much it's hard to imagine that number will stay so high. This should be a pretty even match up. Both teams have very good offenses and struggling defenses.
Kansas City 5-6 at Seattle 5-6
I have a feeling whoever loses this game will be out of the playoff picture. It's really the Chiefs game to lose even though they are on the road. They are playing much better football right now than the Seahawks.
Oakland 5-6 at Houston 6-4-1
The Oilers have been dominating their AFC opponents and I have a feeling this will be the end of the Raiders playoff dreams.
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