NFL Playoff Projections/Power 5/Powerless 5.

Lets get right to it:

AFC:

1) Tennessee Titans (13-3)- They've already clinched at least a 2 seed after a victory and Jets loss last week. They'll win a close one @ Houston before closing out with defeats over Pittsburgh and @ Indianapolis.
2) Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)- They showed their mettle coming from behind in that Dallas game. They'll lose this week @ Baltimore but close out with victories @ Tennessee and vs. Cleveland.
3) Miami Dolphins (11-5)- I am convinced my Jets will choke; and the Dolphins will take advantage of hosting (and defeating) San Francisco and Kansas City before beating us in week 17.
4) Denver Broncos (9-7)- With San Diego all but dead, they're the AFC West champs in my mind. They'll lose @ Carolina this week and to Buffalo the following week...before taking out the Chargers in San Diego.
5) Indianapolis Colts (11-5)- Another gimme game in their schedule (Detroit). They'll slip up at Jacksonville (for some reason) but take out the Titans at home to end the season. They own the tiebreaker over the Ravens for the #5 due to their head-to-head win.
6) Baltimore Ravens (11-5)- They'll win the showdown vs. Pittsburgh this week...but then slip up at Dallas the following week before handling Jacksonville.

NFC:

1) New York Giants (12-4)- That loss to the Eagles was huge. I still think they'll get homefield but it's gonna be hella tough these next three weeks. I have them losing to Dallas, then beating Carolina (which will save them)...before a tough matchup @ Minnesota which I can see them losing (but the question will be whether the Williamses play for MIN or not).
2) Tampa Bay Bucs (11-5)- The loss to Carolina hurts; and they won't get any breaks facing the Falcons next week either. But they win their last two to pull with a tie with Carolina...and win the conference tiebreaker with them (they'd be even head-to-head as well as NFC South-wise).
3) Arizona Cardinals (11-5)- I still think the NFC West Champs can run the table. The game @ New England is what I haven't really decided on yet (given Arizona's poor record in the East) but they have MIN and SEA at home.
4) Minnesota Vikings (10-6)- They have it really tough. With that said, I think they can eek out 2 of 3 (losing this week to Arizona) before beating Atlanta and the Giants.
5) Dallas Cowboys (11-5)- They beat the Giants this week, then Baltimore before succumbing to the Eagles in the last game of the season.
6) Carolina Panthers (11-5)- They'll complete a perfect 8-0 home record by defeating the Broncos...before losing their last two to the Giants and Saints on the road.

Power 5:

1) Tennessee Titans (12-1): They did exactly what was expected of them last week versus Cleveland. Traveling to Houston has never been an easy task for them however (hence the low 3.5 spread in Vegas) so they need to watch out here.

2) New York Giants (11-2): I guess the distractions finally caught up to them this week. They looked extremely lethargic particularly on defense, only recording ONE sack and forcing no turnovers. They won the division...but not the way they liked to. They're gonna be angry...but they bump into another extremely angry team this week in the Cowboys. Drama ensues. NY Media goes nuts if the Giants lose.

3) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3): I gotta give credit where credit is due. When they were stopped on 4th down down 13-3 I thought it was all but over. But they never seemed to panic and pulled that one out. Their confidence is very high heading into Baltimore I bet. Their defense is light-years ahead of their offense still. Sidenote: That Streak for Cash winner has to be in love with Tony Romo for his ineptitude last week.

4) Carolina Panthers (10-3): That was a scintillating performance on national TV versus the Bucs. Their defense had some issues...but with a running game like that...Good God. They should be able to run all over the Broncos this coming week.

5) Indianapolis Colts (9-4): Pretty tough for me to choose between them and the Ravens for this spot...but the Colts are streaking. Granted their level of opposition has been weak recently (Browns, Bengals, and now Lions) but that's what good teams do- take advantage of soft schedules. With a team like this regaining confidence...they're gonna be a tough out come playoff time.

I got Next: Baltimore Ravens (9-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4)

Powerless 5:

1) Detroit Lions (0-13): Well. They only lost by 4 last week...

2) Cincinnati Bengals (1-11-1): Can this season end for them already?? Funny thing is though this week they MIGHT win against the Redskins? If it's any motivation- the Redskins have lost to the Rams at home already.

3) St. Louis Rams (2-11): OK, so we expected the Cardinals to bitch-smack them around. What is sad however- Arizona's Defense 14, St. Louis 10. At least for them though they have an equally inept team on their schedule next...

4) Seattle Seahawks (2-11): They showed up! But did you really think that 21-13 lead was gonna stand up? I had hoped so personally but oh well. They'll likely find themselves out of the Bottom 5 next week @ St. Louis...and could fuck up their chances at a top 5 pick along with it.

5) Oakland Raiders (3-10): I know Kansas City has a worse record than them but I keep them here because at least once again the Chiefs came to play. Meanwhile, two weeks after Oakland had "visions of playoffs" (yes that's the hallucinations AFC West teams had) they are back to normal. Facing New England this week doesn't help matters but they did beat the Jets, lost to the Bills by 1 and lost to the Dolphins by 2...

I got Next: Kansas City Chiefs (2-11), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)

And so on.