The AFC East has seen a bit of a shift. The Colts, once thought to be the heavy favorite, are now on such a slide one wnders if they will even make the playoffs. Meanwhile the Dolphins are looking like the best team in the NFL, and the Jets are looking like they may be the second best team in the AFC. No one expected this from the Jets, but they look better each week.
In the AFC West the Chiefs are still the team to beat. They are looking better as the season progresses. They've already shown themselves better than the Seahawks and they have handled some tough teams so far this season. Right now these two teams looked destined for the playoffs. The Chargers are done at this point, they had to win this last week against the Chiefs but instead got blown out.
The AFC Central is as boring as it's been all season. It's still the Steelers and the Oilers plugging along. Both teams should make the playoffs. Of course the trick is there can only be six teams that make the playoffs out of the AFC and right now I would say there are seven teams that will all make the playoffs. Obviously one of those teams will be staying home.
Dallsa rules the NFC East despite losing. In fact all these teams are losing and they have allowed the Eagles to get back into the picture here in the East. The Redskins are playing very badly right now, the Cardinals are proving to be very unpredictable and the Cowboys just don't seem that good, but they sit atop the East right now.
Similarly the Lions and Packers have let the Bears and Vikings get back in the mix in the the NFC Central. I still expect the Lions or Packers to win the Central, but you never know. I would say at this point the Lions look to be the best team. The Packers defense is struggling a bit and they have never really had much offense if they don't have a great defense.
The 49ers meanwhile are pulling away inthe NFC West as the Rams have gone on a slide. Old age must be catching up to these guys. They can look so good one week and so bad the next. Funny thing is I wouldn't be surprised to see both of these teams at the bottom of the West next season as they are both aging at the primary positions.
Standings
AFC
East: Miami 9-2; New York 8-3; Baltimore 7-4; New England 5-6; Buffalo 4-7
Central: Pittsburgh 8-3; Houston 7-4; Cincinnati 3-8; Cleveland 2-9
West: Kansas City 8-3; Seattle 7-4; Oakland, San Diego 5-6; Denver 2-9
NFC
East: Dallas 7-4; St. Louis, Washington 6-5; Philadelphia 5-6; New York 3-8
Central: Detroit 7-4; Green Bay 6-5; Chicago, Minnesota 5-6; Tampa Bay 4-7
West: San Francisco 8-3; Los Angeles 6-5; Atlanta, New Orleans 3-8
Statistics
QBs
Sea Brian Sipe 95.2
KC Greg Hendrickson 93.7
Dal Roger Staubach 93.3
RBs
Phi Ricky Bell 1,017yds
Mia Benny Malone 991yds
Pit Franco Harris 938yds
Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 1,035yds
Sea Steve Largent 961yds
NYG John Jefferson 891yds
Playoff Picture
AFC
Miami 9-2
Kansas City 8-3
Pittsburgh 8-3
New York 8-3
Baltimore 7-4
Houston 7-4
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Seattle 7-4
NFC
San Francisco 8-3
Detroit 7-4
Dallas 7-4
Green Bay 6-5
St. Louis 6-5
Los Angeles 6-5
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Washington 6-5
Key Games to Watch
San Francisco 8-3 at Green Bay 6-5
The Packers' defense has got to pick it up if they hope to get back on track for the playoffs. This team lives and dies by their defense and right now they are dying. The 49ers meanwhile are playing really good ball right now. This should be a very good game.
Dallas 7-4 at Los Angeles 6-5
The Cowboys schedule doesn't get any easier. They are desparate to win to say atop the NFC East and the Rams are desparate to win to stay in the playoff picture. There should be some serious offense in this game.
Pittsburgh 8-3 at New York Jets 8-3
This should be a great game. These two teams should match up very well against each other. I would expect this one to be a 17-14 type game and very physical.
Baltimore 7-4 at Houston 7-4
Two teams struggling to hold up to early season expectations this will be a big loss for one of these two teams. Both teams are struggling with their passing games and the Colts are still without Billy Sims. That should give the edge to the Oilers.
In the AFC West the Chiefs are still the team to beat. They are looking better as the season progresses. They've already shown themselves better than the Seahawks and they have handled some tough teams so far this season. Right now these two teams looked destined for the playoffs. The Chargers are done at this point, they had to win this last week against the Chiefs but instead got blown out.
The AFC Central is as boring as it's been all season. It's still the Steelers and the Oilers plugging along. Both teams should make the playoffs. Of course the trick is there can only be six teams that make the playoffs out of the AFC and right now I would say there are seven teams that will all make the playoffs. Obviously one of those teams will be staying home.
Dallsa rules the NFC East despite losing. In fact all these teams are losing and they have allowed the Eagles to get back into the picture here in the East. The Redskins are playing very badly right now, the Cardinals are proving to be very unpredictable and the Cowboys just don't seem that good, but they sit atop the East right now.
Similarly the Lions and Packers have let the Bears and Vikings get back in the mix in the the NFC Central. I still expect the Lions or Packers to win the Central, but you never know. I would say at this point the Lions look to be the best team. The Packers defense is struggling a bit and they have never really had much offense if they don't have a great defense.
The 49ers meanwhile are pulling away inthe NFC West as the Rams have gone on a slide. Old age must be catching up to these guys. They can look so good one week and so bad the next. Funny thing is I wouldn't be surprised to see both of these teams at the bottom of the West next season as they are both aging at the primary positions.
Standings
AFC
East: Miami 9-2; New York 8-3; Baltimore 7-4; New England 5-6; Buffalo 4-7
Central: Pittsburgh 8-3; Houston 7-4; Cincinnati 3-8; Cleveland 2-9
West: Kansas City 8-3; Seattle 7-4; Oakland, San Diego 5-6; Denver 2-9
NFC
East: Dallas 7-4; St. Louis, Washington 6-5; Philadelphia 5-6; New York 3-8
Central: Detroit 7-4; Green Bay 6-5; Chicago, Minnesota 5-6; Tampa Bay 4-7
West: San Francisco 8-3; Los Angeles 6-5; Atlanta, New Orleans 3-8
Statistics
QBs
Sea Brian Sipe 95.2
KC Greg Hendrickson 93.7
Dal Roger Staubach 93.3
RBs
Phi Ricky Bell 1,017yds
Mia Benny Malone 991yds
Pit Franco Harris 938yds
Recs
Det Mel Jacobs 1,035yds
Sea Steve Largent 961yds
NYG John Jefferson 891yds
Playoff Picture
AFC
Miami 9-2
Kansas City 8-3
Pittsburgh 8-3
New York 8-3
Baltimore 7-4
Houston 7-4
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Seattle 7-4
NFC
San Francisco 8-3
Detroit 7-4
Dallas 7-4
Green Bay 6-5
St. Louis 6-5
Los Angeles 6-5
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Washington 6-5
Key Games to Watch
San Francisco 8-3 at Green Bay 6-5
The Packers' defense has got to pick it up if they hope to get back on track for the playoffs. This team lives and dies by their defense and right now they are dying. The 49ers meanwhile are playing really good ball right now. This should be a very good game.
Dallas 7-4 at Los Angeles 6-5
The Cowboys schedule doesn't get any easier. They are desparate to win to say atop the NFC East and the Rams are desparate to win to stay in the playoff picture. There should be some serious offense in this game.
Pittsburgh 8-3 at New York Jets 8-3
This should be a great game. These two teams should match up very well against each other. I would expect this one to be a 17-14 type game and very physical.
Baltimore 7-4 at Houston 7-4
Two teams struggling to hold up to early season expectations this will be a big loss for one of these two teams. Both teams are struggling with their passing games and the Colts are still without Billy Sims. That should give the edge to the Oilers.
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