Current Standings
1. Arizona 9-2 (5-2 conference) (46% chance of first round bye)
2. Green Bay 8-3 (6-2 conference) (26%)
3. Tampa Bay 7-3 (5-3 conference) (11%)
4. Dallas 7-3 (5-1 conference) (12%)
5. LA Rams 7-3 (5-2 conference) (4%)
Arizona remaining schedule - @Chicago, VS Rams, @DET, VS Indy, @DAL, vs SEA
Greenbay remaining schedule – VS Rams, VS Chi, @BAL, vs Browns, VS Vikings, @DET
Tampa Bay remaining schedule - @IND, @ATL, VS BUF, VS NO, @CAR, @NYJ, VS CAR
Dallas remaining schedule – vs OAK, @NO, @WAS, @NYG,VS WAS, VS ARZ, @PHI
LA remaining schedule - @GB, @VS JAX, @ARZ, VS SEA, @MIN, @BAL, VS 49ers
Dallas – We own the tiebreaker over them but the key to their remaining schedule is too root they beat Arizona. We also need to hope they drop 2 games to arrive at 12-5. Philly and Washington looks tough; Oakland and New Orleans can upset at any moment. Giants are helpless. I think 2 losses are certainly achievable and since Arizona is going on the road, certainly feasible.
Los Angeles – They own the tiebreaker over us and we certainly don’t want to have to travel there. If Arizona wins the division it’s a moot point anyway. I think again, we want to root they somehow beat Greenbay next week and also Arizona. We then need them to drop 2 other games, in which Baltimore, 49ers, Minnesota, and Seattle is all possible. You’d have to think Seattle will get better eventually, Minnesota just beat Greenbay so 12-5 is possible.
Green Bay – Again, need to root like hell the Rams win this week. Highly unlikely they lose to Chicago, Cleveland, Minnesota at home, or Detroit. That leaves little wiggle room. Also need Baltimore to win. That would get them to 12-5.
Arizona – We have penciled in losses to Dallas and LA. Chicago and Detroit are helpless. That leaves Indy and Seattle but both are in Arizona. If they end up at 13-4, that gives them a conference record of 8-4)
Tampa Bay – We have been lackluster on the road but are undefeated with Antonio Brown. Something will have to give down the stretch
Gronk and SMB being back last night were welcome sights. We keep getting dinged up (Vea, Marpet) last two weeks. Once AB and Carlton Davis return, we should be back to elite status.
Given our ways on the road, I don’t feel good about any of those games but Atlanta, Carolina, and New York should be multi touchdown Ws and should go undefeated at home as Buffalo doesn’t look as dominate as we thought they were.
We really should win out, but if we were to lose a game, an AFC team would be the one most desirable. let’s pencil in Indy. 13-4 record with conference record of 9-3 and the narrative of being hot going into the playoffs on a 6 game winning streak. Of course, I rather us win to get some consistency and we are currently 2.5 point favorites over them but I wouldn’t touch that game until we show we can win on the road.
Final Hopeful standings
1. Tampa Bay 13-4
2. Arizona 13-4
3. Green Bay 12-5
4. Dallas 12-5
5. LA 12-5
