Falcons: My Playoffs Prediction (getting there, not outcome)

[USAF HART]

Every team that is contention with us for the wild card, has so many issues that at this point in the season, the Wild Card is ours to lose. At this point we really want New Orleans to win. It would give us a 1 game lead over the Giants. If the Saints beat the Giants, New York would have to then follow that loss up with a game against the Packers. I see a very real possibility that the Giants could wind up at .500 in the next two weeks.

Detroit follows their loss against Green Bay this week by taking on the Saints next week. Detroit could be 7-5 after next week, and we hold the tie breaker against them.

Chicago has lost their QB who obviously was more important to their success than anyone originally thought. With no real QB behind center, teams can game plan against Matt Forte. Chicago will need their defense to play absolutely lights out the rest of the way to even sniff the playoff table. I don't see that happening as Chicago lost to Oakland this week. They have the easiest schedule of the remaining teams we are up against, but the lack of a leader on offense will be their Achilles heel the rest of the season.

The last team(s) we are battling for a potential wild card spot is the division leading Saints and Cowboys. The Cowboys edged out Miami this week and will face the Cardinals next week. I believe that the Cowboys will win that game and will move to 8-4. If the Giants fall to .500, they will have to win the remainder of their games to make the playoffs which includes two games against the Giants. So essentially, those two teams could beat each other out of a wild card and could simply be fighting for the division.

Last but not least, the Saints. They currently stand in first place at 7-3. Even if they lose on Monday night, they will have our same record, but win the tie breaker as they currently have the head to head over us. If the Saints win on MNF, we could be looking at nothing better than a wild card berth as they have a soft remaining schedule.

I know everyone wants to win the division, but making the playoffs would STILL be a HUGE step for this franchise. Getting to the second season is all that matters. Here are my record predictions for the teams I have listed above:

New York Giants: 9-7
Detroit Lions: 10-6
Chicago Lions: 10-6
Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
New Orleans Saints: 12-4
Atlanta Falcons: 12-4

[Jesus]

All this team can do is win out. If that happens then they can waltz into the playoffs no problem. Most of the NFC field is full of holes.
The Giants are inconsistent.
The Cowboys play strong in November but always fold in December
The Lions are unraveling. Suh will miss games maybe the rest of the season. They can't replace him. I would be surprised if they finish 9-7
Haine is going to win a few for the Bears, but they will lose a few too. He wasn't awful today, he made some nice throws. He will get comfortable in that offense.
The Saints have a soft schedule but if they brain fart again like they did in St Louis...then they could be in trouble.

The thing with the Falcons right now is they are inconsistent at times but they don't let that lose them games. Next week is a big test, despite the QB.

[juraitwaluzka]

While I would love to win the division, wild card is fine with me as long as we go into the post season hot. If it came to playing GB I would actually rather play them outdoors than indoors.