(12-27-2022, 10:56 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: We don't know whether the Ravens or Dolphins will have their starting QB available to them come playoff time.

Tua is in concussion protocol again. This is at least his second concussion in 8 games, but the general public admits it is likely his 3rd concussion, and there's a chance he's shut down for the season.

And then Lamar....I mean, this is the second year in a row that he's gone down with a "minor" injury, and then is just gone for 4+ games. I assume he'll be available for the playoff game, but until he starts playing again, we honestly won't know for sure.

So my final 4 are the same as yours. Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, Chargers.

The Jaguars have a shot at beating the Chargers, but I'd take the Chargers in a coin flip.

(12-27-2022, 11:16 AM)Awful Llama Wrote: It's fun thinking about Lamar and the Ravens having to go to Buffalo.

(12-27-2022, 04:49 AM)Science Friction Wrote: I thought it would actually be more fun to predict your Final Four(AFC) now, rather than after the playoff field is set. Lot of different scenarios are still possible that you can play around with.   I'm gonna say(hope) that the Bengals win out and grab the #2 seed.  I see KC as #1 ,  Buffalo as #3 ,  Jacksonville #4  ,  LA Chargers #5 ,  Baltimore #6 , and Miami #7 .

So, I think the most likely result is:
Wildcard Round:

Dolphins @ Bengals
Ravens @ Bills
Chargers @ Jaguars

Divisional  Round:

Bills @ Bengals
Chargers @ Chiefs



That's my Final Four .   ^^^^^

 What would be interesting is if the Chargers dropped a game(say, to the Rams), then they could slide to #6 and have  to travel to Buffalo instead of Jacksonville. That could send the Ravens to Jacksonville, for a rematch of that thriller a few weeks ago. I could see the Chargers having a shot at upsetting the Bills, which could set up a potential divisional round of  Ravens/Jags @ Bengals  and Chargers @ Chiefs .  But that's more unlikely than the one I predicted above.

Who do you have for your Final Four AFC teams left standing?

(12-27-2022, 04:49 AM)Science Friction Wrote: I thought it would actually be more fun to predict your Final Four(AFC) now, rather than after the playoff field is set. Lot of different scenarios are still possible that you can play around with.   I'm gonna say(hope) that the Bengals win out and grab the #2 seed.  I see KC as #1 ,  Buffalo as #3 ,  Jacksonville #4  ,  LA Chargers #5 ,  Baltimore #6 , and Miami #7 .

So, I think the most likely result is:
Wildcard Round:

Dolphins @ Bengals
Ravens @ Bills
Chargers @ Jaguars

Divisional  Round:

Bills @ Bengals
Chargers @ Chiefs



That's my Final Four .   ^^^^^

 What would be interesting is if the Chargers dropped a game(say, to the Rams), then they could slide to #6 and have  to travel to Buffalo instead of Jacksonville. That could send the Ravens to Jacksonville, for a rematch of that thriller a few weeks ago. I could see the Chargers having a shot at upsetting the Bills, which could set up a potential divisional round of  Ravens/Jags @ Bengals  and Chargers @ Chiefs .  But that's more unlikely than the one I predicted above.

Who do you have for your Final Four AFC teams left standing?

(12-27-2022, 12:00 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I believe the Ravens are on borrowed time. 

(12-27-2022, 12:26 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Good stuff.  I love the ESPN Playoff Machine.  It does all the calculations and you just click your projected winners.  I went with the Jets in a few games because I think they still have a shot with Mike White if he returns.  Big game for the Jets @ Seattle this weekend.  Then I think if they win that, they knock off Miami for the final spot.  2022 NFL Playoff Machine - Simulate Matchups and Scenarios - ESPN

My first round looks like this (based entirely on predictions, not hope of losses for a team like KC):

Jets @ Bengals
Rats @ Bills
Chargers @ Jags

So, my final four would be: 

Jags @ Bengals 
Bills @ KC

Should the unthinkable happen (damn, they are so lucky) and either Dumpster Fire Denver beats KC, or The Fighting Josh McDaniels beat them, it would look like this:

Jets @ Bills (would actually be a good game)
Rats @ KC (llaugher)
Charges @ Jags

And my final four in that scenario would be:

Jags @ Bengals
KC @ Bills

(12-27-2022, 12:10 PM)sandwedge Wrote: Gotta be different here:
Ravens @ Bengals
Jags @ KC

AFC Championship:
Jags @ Bengals

(12-27-2022, 12:42 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Looking at the schedules of the teams who aren't locked in yet, I think the Jags win the AFC South.
I would normally say the Dolphins get that last wildcard spot, but I'm not sure now that Tua is in concussion protocol again.
They do "just" have the Jets and Patriots left though, both of whom are beatable.

I never thought I'd say this, but the Steelers somehow have a (decent?) chance to make the playoffs if they can somehow win out and the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets are not tied with them. All those teams have the H2H against the Steelers.
The only way for the Bengals to win the AFC North over the Ravens before the final game of the season is for the Ravens to lose to the Steelers and Bengals beat the Bills. So we might be (never thought I'd say this) rooting for the Steelers to win this coming weekend.
Then the Steelers play the Browns, so we should definitely root for the Browns to win that game so the Steelers have a losing record for the first time in about 15 years.

If I had to say gut feeling, I'd say the Dolphins squeak into that 7 seed.

What I would then put the seeding is:
1) Bills (14-3) - win out
2) Chiefs (14-3) - win out
3) Bengals (12-5) - lose to Bills, beat Ravens
4) Jags (9-8) - win out
5) Chargers (11-6) - win out
6) Ravens (11-6) - beat Steelers, lose to Bengals
7) Dolphins (9-8) - loses to NE, beat Jets

Ravens @ Bengals wildcard weekend

(12-27-2022, 01:58 PM)Big Boss Wrote: Bills v Jaguars
Chiefs v Chargers

Can't help but shake this feeling that it's not our year.  Don't know why.

(12-27-2022, 01:42 PM)Science Friction Wrote: I'd give $1000 right now for you to be right. Would love that scenario!!!