Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:00 am EST

The not-at-all premature playoff picture: Week 16

By MJD

In: Dolphins, Chargers, Bears, Cowboys
Out: Jets, Broncos, Vikings, Buccaneers

AFC First-Round Byes:
Tennessee Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers

Other AFC Divisional Winners:
Miami Dolphins
San Diego Chargers

AFC Wild Cards:
Indianapolis Colts
Baltimore Ravens

NFC First-Round Byes:
New York Giants
Carolina Panthers

Other NFC Divisional Winners:
Chicago Bears
Arizona Cardinals

NFC Wild Cards:
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons

Notes:

• Ironically, in Week 17, the closest possible time to the playoffs, is when the premature playoff picture becomes its most useless. There are no long-term projections involved. It's paint-by-number. It's really just a prediction of the Week 17 games, and here's what I think is going to happen. You can generate your own playoff picture right here.

• In the AFC East, I say New England beats Buffalo early, but still gets locked out of the playoffs when the Dolphins beat the Jets later. It'd be a bit of a shame that New England doesn't make the playoffs with 11 wins, but it does nothing to tarnish the accomplishment of winning 11 games with Tom Brady on the shelf. It also made Matt Cassel a hell of a lot of money.

• I've got San Diego beating Denver. This probably does not shock you.

• I say Carolina nails down the two-seed with a win over New Orleans, and of course, the Falcons will beat the Rams. But how crazy is it that Atlanta is even in play for a first-round bye in the playoffs? Before the season started, 4-12 was an optimistic projection for the Falcons. And if you could stretch your mind far enough to see them in the playoffs, it would have been with a 9-7 record built on smoke and mirrors. Incredible.

• After the heartbreak of last week and the general trying nature of the season, I don't see Philadelphia putting up some superhuman effort against the Cowboys. They win, they're in. Sorry, Tampa.

• If you'd have asked me on Saturday, I'd have predicted a Houston win over Chicago and not thought twice about it. But then they came out against the Raiders and played like the game was taking place during naptime. I've gotta go with Chicago now. And I don't see Minnesota beating the Giants, no matter what the Giants opt to do this weekend in terms of resting players.

Reminder: Don't forget to take part in the great Crocs sweepstakes, right here. 

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127 Comments

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  1. Bears Fan
    1. Posted by Bears Fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

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    Bucs will get the Wild Card. The Cowboys looked pathetic against the Ravens.
  2. John R
    2. Posted by John R Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    The Jets always win when they're counted out and lose when fans feel most comfortable. This week? Everyone is counting them out. Jets win. This year the same can be said about the Chargers. Broncos win! The Philly-Cowboy game will be ugly. If Philly shows up, Dallas will pay heavy for that win. But I'm with Dallas in a tight spot.
    And whats wrong with predicting for 09? Detroit cleans house, signs Cassel, rebuilds and goes 8-8! Heck if Miami can do it why not Detroit?
  3. GabyzDelta
    3. Posted by GabyzDelta Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    3rd =(
    just like the patriots =)
  4. Darrell C
    4. Posted by Darrell C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    why is nobody making a big deal out of the Miami game being played AFTER the Pats game is finished. Jets will basically be eliminated before they even take the field (barring a major upset in Baltimore). Huge advantage to the Dolphins no? Shouldn't these games be played at the same time to eliminate advantages like this?
  5. billswill
    5. Posted by billswill Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    phins go down like a FART in church
  6. Onik
    6. Posted by Onik Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    to Darrell C,
    No one is making a big deal because is Baltimore loses, and the Jets win, the Jets are the #6 seed. Baltimore-Jacksonville will be much closer then expected.
  7. Matt S
    7. Posted by Matt S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    Miami will beat the Jets this weekend and with the Division and New England will be watching the playoffs at home on their couches...Great Turn arounds by Miami and Atlanta...to poster number 2...Detroit has NO hope.
  8. uefiji
    8. Posted by uefiji Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:27 pm EDT

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    you're still a douchebag
  9. Matt A
    9. Posted by Matt A Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:38 pm EDT

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    Go cards!
  10. Willow Lofgood
    10. Posted by Willow Lofgood Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    panthers will win it all!!!
  11. Aaron T
    11. Posted by Aaron T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Perhaps
  12. A Yahoo! User
    12. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:55 am EST

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    pats win, dolphins win, ravens win...
    and just like in week 7, baltimore takes down miami...
    the red hot colts will blow through san diego and win at pittsburgh just as they did earlier this year.
    since all of the nfc south teams lost their divisional road games, history continues with the saints beating carolina and atlanta wins the #2 seed; which could lead to a decent run for the falcons through the nfc playoffs.
    NFC: Carolina or Atlanta
    AFC: Indianapolis or Baltimore
    ..personally wish the cards would make a run, but their recent performance has me worried.
  13. G-MEN
    13. Posted by G-MEN Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    The Falcons will win, the Panthers will lose giving the Falcons and first round bye. The Vikings will win eliminating the Bears. Philly beats the Cowboys and the Bucs beat the Raiders. The Bucs get the final wild card spot. The lack luster Cardinals are in trouble when the Panthers come to town and the Vikings will have their hands full with the Bucs.
  14. A Yahoo! User
    14. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:58 am EST

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    anyone think brees gets the 402 yards he needs to break dan marinos record?
  15. G-MEN
    15. Posted by G-MEN Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    I dont think Brees will get it
  16. Rip
    16. Posted by Rip Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    Chargers will win the Superbowl!!!
  17. WOOTITANS
    17. Posted by WOOTITANS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    I think thats all they have to play for now is Brees breaking the record. If the offense is bent on making this happen with the right playcalling, it can be done. Brees and Co. have the talent to do it.
  18. Joshua C
    18. Posted by Joshua C Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    Brees will lock down the record Chargers blow out Denver, Carolina Wins to take #2 after heartbreaker, Dallas squezes in
  19. SFC
    19. Posted by SFC Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    Detroit is underated.
  20. Tom Kong
    20. Posted by Tom Kong Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

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    Chargers suck!!!!! Steelers are going to romp through the AFC and will play Giants in the Super Bowl
  21. fatkid89fxr
    21. Posted by fatkid89fxr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    I can't belive that the Bolts are even considered for a playoff position. They have a losing record. What a week division!
  22. A Yahoo! User
    22. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:28 am EST

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    Anyone think the rookie of the year should be split between Ryan and Flacco? (saying that both baltimore and atlanta win a game or 2 in the playoffs)
  23. Tv78
    23. Posted by Tv78 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:35 pm EDT

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    Denver will beat San Diego, Miami over New York, Pats over Lions.
    @ post 2: The Dolphins where 10x better than the Lions are, I say the Lions go 2-14 next year.
  24. A Yahoo! User
    24. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:52 am EST

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    Pats play Buffalo Tv78...
    If the lions get themselves a good qb and a decent line then maybe a .500 season is in their future for 09.
  25. T-BirdMan
    25. Posted by T-BirdMan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Now I am in no way saying that this is gonna happen, but how nuts would it be for Atlanta and Miami to play in the Superbowl after the years those two teams had last year. I'll be the first to admit that it is very unlikely. But if last year's Superbowl proved anything, it's that NO team is unbeatable. And I don't think there are any teams this year that look as invincible as the Pats did. There is a chance it could happen. And that in itself is really friggin' amazing.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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