If the playoffs started today...

**azzurri** · 10-24-2011, 02:25 PM

Probably a little soon to start this, but after 7 weeks:

1. Green Bay
2. San Francisco
3. New Orleans
4. NY Giants
5. Detroit
6. Chicago

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye

Chicago at New Orleans
Detroit at NY Giants

**ballmich** · 10-25-2011, 05:17 PM

I rarely listen to Colin Cowherd, since I can't stand him, but I flipped to his program this morning for a minute... And I'm pretty sure he said that he thinks the Lions are a 5-5 team down the stretch. I guess that includes the Falcons loss... which would make it 5-4 from here. That's still a 10-6 record, so not too bad.

Anyway, I believe that's what he said.

**azzurri** · 10-25-2011, 10:07 PM

The Lions have a murderous schedule up ahead...and the Denver game is a MUST WIN because it will only get more difficult.

I'm hard pressed to find 5 more wins in the remaining games...maybe they can navigate the minefield with wins against DEN, CAR, MIN and then squeak out two more by beating SD and winning at OAK...but even those are tough...and CAR won't be easy with Cam who can go off in any game. Hopefully GB has nothing to play for in the final week and the Lions might get that one.

Oct 30 DET @ DEN
Nov 13 DET @ CHI
Nov 20 CAR @ DET
Nov 24 GB @ DET
Dec 04 DET @ NO
Dec 11 MIN @ DET
Dec 18 DET @ OAK
Dec 24 SD @ DET
Jan 01 DET @ GB

**snoogit** · 10-27-2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by azzurri

The Lions have a murderous schedule up ahead...and the Denver game is a MUST WIN because it will only get more difficult.

I'm hard pressed to find 5 more wins in the remaining games...maybe they can navigate the minefield with wins against DEN, CAR, MIN and then squeak out two more by beating SD and winning at OAK...but even those are tough...and CAR won't be easy with Cam who can go off in any game. Hopefully GB has nothing to play for in the final week and the Lions might get that one.

Oct 30 DET @ DEN
Nov 13 DET @ CHI
Nov 20 CAR @ DET
Nov 24 GB @ DET
Dec 04 DET @ NO
Dec 11 MIN @ DET
Dec 18 DET @ OAK
Dec 24 SD @ DET
Jan 01 DET @ GB

that's a bit pessimistic. Over the next 4 weeks I would think the Lions could go 2-2 or 3-1. with losses to either CHI or GB. I have a feeling the Lions will win against GB @ home, since they've shown they can do it last year, and GB is more or less the same team this year.

The next 5 weeks will likely go 3-2 or even 2-3 with losses to NO, and GB, and possibly one of OAK, SD or MIN

9-7 or 10-6 will be the final record.

**John_Brian_K** · 10-27-2011, 11:14 AM

Oct 30 DET @ DEN
Win
Nov 13 DET @ CHI
Win
Nov 20 CAR @ DET
Win
Nov 24 GB @ DET
Loss
Dec 04 DET @ NO
Loss
Dec 11 MIN @ DET
Win
Dec 18 DET @ OAK
Win
Dec 24 SD @ DET
Win....yeah I said it.

Jan 01 DET @ GB
Loss

**Motor City Sonics** · 10-27-2011, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by John_Brian_K

Oct 30 DET @ DEN
Win
Nov 13 DET @ CHI
Win
Nov 20 CAR @ DET
Win
Nov 24 GB @ DET
Loss
Dec 04 DET @ NO
Loss
Dec 11 MIN @ DET
Win
Dec 18 DET @ OAK
Win
Dec 24 SD @ DET
Win....yeah I said it.

Jan 01 DET @ GB
Loss

I'd flip-flop the Oakland and San Diego games. San Diego is good, but coached by Norv Turner.

**Beantown Marty** · 10-27-2011, 01:53 PM

Predicted Playoff seeding (subject to revision):

1. GB - Running away. Team Passer Rating Differential is off-the-charts, and that won't stop.

2. SF - Winner of the laughable West. They've only played ONE division game! Opposition Passer Rating is excellent, and should only improve towards the end of the season (with 5 of their last 7 games being divisional!).

3. NO - Winner of the South, handily. TB is overrated already, and yes, I think we've even overrated ATL because of what we'd just seen (me included).

4. DAL - Winner of a tight East. They'll start putting games away defensively. Those late-season games with NYG will be fun.

5. NYG - Wildcard. Is it possible for Eli to have have a "quietly excellent" season?

6. DET - Wildcard. They mirror SF's game in many ways, but without the cake schedule. This may go down to the wire...

Right there at the end:

CHI - League average in mirroring categories:
Passer Rating & Passer Rating Against.
Yards per Offensive Play & Yards per Offensive Play Against.
They're going to hang around.

PHI - Who'da thunk Philly'd be a dark-horse not even halfway in? They CAN move the ball, so...

**azzurri** · 11-03-2011, 10:25 PM

As of Nov 1:

1. Green Bay
2. San Francisco
3. NY Giants (+1)
4. New Orleans (-1)
5. Detroit
6. Chicago

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye

Chicago at NY Giants
Detroit at New Orleans

**mtutiger** · 11-04-2011, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Motor City Sonics

I'd flip-flop the Oakland and San Diego games. San Diego is good, but coached by Norv Turner.

Could you explain what axe you have to grind with Norv Turner? I think he's probably the most underrated coaches in the NFL, honestly.

Plus, it wasn't him that choked at the end of the last San Diego ballgame. He didn't make Rivers fumble the ball.

**cruzer1** · 11-04-2011, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by mtutiger

Could you explain what axe you have to grind with Norv Turner? I think he's probably the most underrated coaches in the NFL, honestly.

Plus, it wasn't him that choked at the end of the last San Diego ballgame. He didn't make Rivers fumble the ball.

Please explain why he's underrated...

**T&P_Fan** · 11-04-2011, 09:56 AM

San Diego and Oakland are both winnable games. San Diego has been average this year, and Oakland has no idea whats going on at the QB position. Carson Palmer isn't the answer.

I see us winning @CHI, CAR, GB, SD, OAK, MIN and maybe NO. 12 wins, maybe 13.

**cruzer1** · 11-04-2011, 10:08 AM

The Lions need to fix their run defense, or they won't beat Chicago, Carolina, SD, Oak and Min. Thanksgiving and the weeks after that will be brutal. Almost unfair to have GB/NO back to back.

**Sven Draconian** · 11-04-2011, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by cruzer1

The Lions need to fix their run defense, or they won't beat Chicago, Carolina, SD, Oak and Min. Thanksgiving and the weeks after that will be brutal. Almost unfair to have GB/NO back to back.

Are you kidding me? They already beat Chicago (pretty soundly, even if the score was relatively close) and Min. Carolina has 2 (maybe 3?) wins.

I think 10-11 wins sounds about right. They are sitting at 6-2 now. They will beat Carolina and Minny (bad teams) and I think they'll beat San Diego at home.

That leaves Oakland (mediocre, but on road), Chicago (mediocre team, but on road), but games are winnable.

Then New Orleans and the 2 with Green Bay, which they might/should pull off one of those.

I'd be shocked to see them finish under 10 wins.

**John_Brian_K** · 11-04-2011, 12:44 PM

At the beginning of the year if you told me 10 wins I would have been estatic....right now my hopes have been raised a little. I would not be upset with 10 wins...on the contrary I would still be happy, but at this point I would think they should get one or 2 more...that is me being greedy for repayment of 2008 at the least let alone the past 20 years.

According to my previous 'predictions' I have them at 11. I will be more than happy with 11 at this point.

If they 'only' win 9 I think I will be a little upset, but will get over it rather quickly...especially if 9 still gets them in the playoffs....if they miss the playoffs this year....that may leave me shaking my head saying 'same ol Lions'...

**mtutiger** · 11-05-2011, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Please explain why he's underrated...

One of the best offensive minds in football. Lacks a flamboyant personality (re. Rex Ryan) to cover for rough starts, making him an easy target for people who don't actually watch San Diego Chargers games.

At any rate, this is the second time in as many months that MCS has said in a thread that Lions would beat the Chargers because "Norv Turner Sucks". Maybe he should back his statements up with facts instead of piling on Norv Turner, as if he were Marty Mornhinweg or Ray Rhodes or something.

**Motor City Sonics** · 11-05-2011, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Sven Draconian

Are you kidding me? They already beat Chicago (pretty soundly, even if the score was relatively close) and Min. Carolina has 2 (maybe 3?) wins.

I think 10-11 wins sounds about right. They are sitting at 6-2 now. They will beat Carolina and Minny (bad teams) and I think they'll beat San Diego at home.

That leaves Oakland (mediocre, but on road), Chicago (mediocre team, but on road), but games are winnable.

Then New Orleans and the 2 with Green Bay, which they might/should pull off one of those.

I'd be shocked to see them finish under 10 wins.

Rest of the schedule

at Chicago LOSS 6-3
Carolina WIN 7-3
Green Bay LOSS 7-4
at NOLA LOSS 7-5
Minnesota WIN 8-5
at Oakland LOSS 8-6
San Diego LOSS 8-7
at Green Bay LOSS 8-8

Choke.

I only do that to really, really lower my expectations. I am used to disappointment.

**Yoda** · 11-05-2011, 11:02 AM

Keep in mind GB will likely be sitting a few starters that last game.

**Beantown Marty** · 11-07-2011, 05:59 PM

1. GB - Duh.

2. SF - Winner of the laughable West. They'll coast because of their cake schedule, but they're excellent Passer Rating belies a rather average ability to move the football.

3. NYG - Winner of a tight East. Boy it's going to be close and fun to watch.

4. NO - Winner of the South. Their scoring defense is improving and will continue to. But their mediocre defensive efficiency has to be a concern.

5. DET - Wildcard. The Lions' Defense is right there with SF as the class of the NFC.

6. DAL - Hilarious team. Could win the East. Could get bounced from contention. *shrugs*

Right there: PHI.

Look to Fade: ATL, TB, CHI.

Tonight's game should be fun, eh?

Originally Posted by Beantown Marty

Predicted Playoff seeding (subject to revision):

1. GB - Running away. Team Passer Rating Differential is off-the-charts, and that won't stop.

2. SF - Winner of the laughable West. They've only played ONE division game! Opposition Passer Rating is excellent, and should only improve towards the end of the season (with 5 of their last 7 games being divisional!).

3. NO - Winner of the South, handily. TB is overrated already, and yes, I think we've even overrated ATL because of what we'd just seen (me included).

4. DAL - Winner of a tight East. They'll start putting games away defensively. Those late-season games with NYG will be fun.

5. NYG - Wildcard. Is it possible for Eli to have have a "quietly excellent" season?

6. DET - Wildcard. They mirror SF's game in many ways, but without the cake schedule. This may go down to the wire...

Right there at the end:

CHI - League average in mirroring categories:
Passer Rating & Passer Rating Against.
Yards per Offensive Play & Yards per Offensive Play Against.
They're going to hang around.

PHI - Who'da thunk Philly'd be a dark-horse not even halfway in? They CAN move the ball, so...

**Detroit Rock City** · 11-07-2011, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Yoda

Keep in mind GB will likely be sitting a few starters that last game.

Bingo, that last game with GB might not be near as rough if the Pack has locked up home field throughout the playoffs.

Why do people think Oakland will be a loss? They are very up and down and lost to Denver whom the Lions decimated. Nothing about that game worries me one bit as of now.

**ballmich** · 11-08-2011, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Almost unfair to have GB/NO back to back.

The Bears already played them back to back.

**ballmich** · 11-08-2011, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Yoda

Keep in mind GB will likely be sitting a few starters that last game.

I would be surprised if they did, given the likely first round bye, I'd doubt they want their starters sitting for two weeks. But wouldn't be shocked to seem them pulled in the 3rd quarter or thereabouts.

**nd1377** · 11-08-2011, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Yoda

Keep in mind GB will likely be sitting a few starters that last game.

What if (a big if) their record is 15-0?

**mr0zip0** · 11-08-2011, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by nd1377

What if (a big if) their record is 15-0?

That'd be cra-zay... Especially if the Lions needed a win to be a playoff team.

**mr0zip0** · 11-08-2011, 06:21 PM

People, the Packers won't rest their starters against us, especially not in Lambeau with that streak on the line.

They will fight us to the end to keep that streak going, their record up, their fans entertained, and our record (and possibly playoff hopes) down.

It may have been a different story in Ford Field, but they'll play a good fight and it'll be the best week 17 game this year.

**Detroit Rock City** · 11-08-2011, 07:11 PM

Unless the Pack is 15-0, the starters won't play more than a half which could allow the Lions to win that all important game to get into the playoffs. But for the sake of being a Lions homer, lets just beat them on Turkey Day, win enough games and not be in that spot.

**nd1377** · 11-09-2011, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by mr0zip0

It may have been a different story in Ford Field, but they'll play a good fight and it'll be the best week 17 game this year.

And as I mentioned in another thread, the game could possibly be moved to the late Sunday night game.

**azzurri** · 11-13-2011, 04:36 PM

As of Nov 8:

1. Green Bay
2. San Francisco
3. NY Giants
4. New Orleans
5. Detroit
6. Chicago

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye

Chicago at NY Giants
Detroit at New Orleans

**azzurri** · 11-14-2011, 03:56 PM

As of Nov 15:

1. Green Bay
2. San Francisco
3. New Orleans (+1)
4. NY Giants (-1)
5. Detroit
6. Chicago

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye

Chicago at New Orleans
Detroit at NY Giants

Really only 4 teams fighting for the 2 Wild Card slots:
Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta

All other NFC teams appear out of it. If Dallas overtakes the Giants (likely, with Dallas' easy schedule), then switch out Dallas for NYG

**lordstanley** · 11-20-2011, 07:45 PM

I thought at least one of Chicago, Atlanta or Dallas today, facing a couple of teams with half-decent records SD and Tennessee. If the Skins hadn't gone all conservative after their 1st down in OT around the Cowboys' 35 yard line, they could have done us a favor and stolen us a win. Will be cheering for the Giants to lose tonight.

**azzurri** · 11-22-2011, 02:50 AM

As of Nov 22:

1. Green Bay
2. San Francisco
3. New Orleans
4. Dallas (NEW)
5. Detroit
6. Chicago

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye

Chicago at New Orleans
Detroit at Dallas

Washington could've performed a huge service for the Lions by beating Dallas, essentially giving the Lions a 3 game lead on the Cowboys (7-3 vs 5-5 with tiebreaker). Instead, Dallas wins and is now the NFC East leader, meaning the Lions have to match up against the Giants in the WC tiebreaker instead. Detroit (7-3), Chicago (7-3), Atlanta (6-4), NYG (6-4) are the WC teams fighting it out at this time for 2 slots.

**azzurri** · 11-30-2011, 03:23 PM

As of Nov 29:

1. Green Bay
2. San Francisco
3. New Orleans
4. Dallas
5. Chicago (+1)
6. Atlanta (NEW)

Dropping out: Detroit

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye

Atlanta at New Orleans (can teams from the same division play in the Wild Card round? If not, then ATL plays at DAL and CHI at NO)
Chicago at Dallas

**azzurri** · 12-05-2011, 02:26 AM

As of Dec 5:

1. Green Bay (12-0)
2. San Francisco (10-2)
3. New Orleans (9-3)
4. Dallas (7-5)
5. Chicago (7-5)
6. Atlanta (7-5)

In the hunt: Detroit (7-5), NYG (6-6)

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye
Atlanta at New Orleans
Chicago at Dallas

Big games next week:
Minnesota at Detroit
Atlanta at Carolina
Chicago at Denver
NY Giants at Dallas

Record prediction after next week:
Dallas 8-5 (NFC East leader)
Atlanta 8-5 (WC)
Detroit 8-5 (WC)
Chicago 7-6
NYG 6-7

**azzurri** · 12-12-2011, 02:44 PM

As of Dec 12:

1. Green Bay (13-0)
2. San Francisco (10-3)
3. New Orleans (10-3)
4. NY Giants (7-6) NEW
5. Atlanta (8-5) +1
6. Detroit (8-5) NEW

Dropped out: Dallas, Chicago

In the hunt: Chicago (7-6), Dallas (7-6), Arizona (6-7), Seattle (5-7)

Round 1:
GB: Bye
SF: Bye
Detroit at New Orleans
Atlanta at NY Giants

Big games next week:
Detroit at Oakland
Jacksonville at Atlanta
Dallas at Tampa Bay
Washington at NY Giants
Seattle at Chicago
Cleveland at Arizona

**John_Brian_K** · 12-12-2011, 03:14 PM

Detroit at Oakland
Detroit

Jacksonville at Atlanta
Atlanta

Dallas at Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay

Washington at NY Giants
NY

Seattle at Chicago
Seattle

Cleveland at Arizona
Arizona in an unwatchable game

Which leads to (with GB,SF and NO all winning):

1. Green Bay (14-0)
2. San Francisco (11-3)
3. New Orleans (11-3)
4. NY Giants (8-6)
5. Atlanta (9-5)
6. Detroit (9-5)

**hardysf** · 12-12-2011, 03:54 PM

There is no way that Dallas will lose to the Bucs next weekend.

**GuitarGod19** · 12-12-2011, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by hardysf

There is no way that Dallas will lose to the Bucs next weekend.

I said that last week...then they lost to zona.

**djhutch** · 12-13-2011, 06:50 AM

Kinda hoping we can finish a game up on Atlanta & draw the Giants in the Wild Card round. If not, I'd rather face SF than NO.

**nd1377** · 12-13-2011, 10:30 AM

I would love seeing the Lions beat the 49ers and Harbaugh in San Francisco in the playoffs.

**hardysf** · 12-13-2011, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

I said that last week...then they lost to zona.

Arizona is also a much better football team, and has been playing well together.

Tampa Bay gave up 44 pts to Jacksonville. The game will not be sold out, Josh Freeman is hobbled, and Tampa has nothing to play for.

**hardysf** · 12-13-2011, 12:14 PM

I also think that the the saints will win out and secure the #2 seed and that the 49ers will play host to the six seed (niners lose to at least the steelers or @seahawks). I would rather the lions play the niners than the giants or cowboys.