(12-25-2021, 09:01 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I have never seen anything like this before.  13 of the 16 teams in the AFC are at .500 or better with 3 games left.  And with 8 wins enough to get in the top 7 right now that means every one of those teams have a legit shot at a playoff spot.  If we lose and start needing help from other teams it will be crazy trying to keep track of who to root for every week.

Every team in both the AFCN and AFCW are at .500 or better, and 10 of our 17 games this year are against those teams. 3 of our other opponents are also at .500 or better (Min, GB, SF).  So right now that projects to 13 of our 17 games being against teams .500 or better.

So what can we look at to rank all these teams bunched together with 7 or 8 wins?

Bengals are 5th (out of 16) in AFC in scoring, 10th in points allowed, and 5th in point differential (+66) behind the Bills (+151), Patriots (+140), Colts (+98), and Chiefs (+89).

The Titans have by far the best record against teams with winning records at 6-3.  After them 3 teams are 3-3 (Bengals, Patriots, Ravens).  No other team has more than 3 wins and are all under .500 against winning teams.

(12-26-2021, 01:56 AM)Murdock2420 Wrote: They haven't been great but they still have A-Aron.

(12-26-2021, 11:49 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: Travis Kelce out for KC

Pittsburgh getting all the breaks

(12-26-2021, 12:25 AM)Awful Llama Wrote: I would hope we would not risk the health of our players on the eve of our first playoff game in six years just so Mike could try to settle a nearly 60-year-old grudge.  That team doesn't exist anymore, and the architect of Paul's humiliation long lies moldering in the grave.  But who knows what goes through Mike's noggin.  

No matter who we draw in the first round, be it the Colts or Chargers, it won't be an easy out.  And, we're not getting the bye anyway, so seeding means very little to my way of thinking.  And, the teams above us could simply win and keep us in the #4 spot anyway.

No, the only valid reason might be to ensure that the Browns do not get a WC berth.  And, maybe that's just superstition on my part.  We held the door open for the Jets in 2009 and look what that got us.  

(12-26-2021, 11:08 AM)SHRacerX Wrote:  I think the pass defense numbers suffered massively early on with Apple getting so much playing time after being a back up for so long.

(12-26-2021, 11:08 AM)SHRacerX Wrote:  Really, outside of that two game stretch against the Jets and Browns, I think the defense has been really solid.  Probably top 5 overall.  

(12-26-2021, 02:40 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Eli Apple has started 58 of the last 61 NFL games he has played.

And Herbert just scorched our D 3 weeks ago.



Our defense is not close to top 5 even if you take away our 2 worst games.  The #5 defense in the league allows 319 yards per game.  We have only held 5 of our 14 opponents under that amount.

(12-26-2021, 06:38 PM)Joelist Wrote: Chiefs currently looking good against the Stealers. If it remains the same we will be hosting the Chiefs next week and able to clinch the AFCN with a win.

Can we beat them? Heck yes!

We're not at Arrowhead for one thing. For another we might be the NFL offense best equipped to win a shootout with them. We need another mistake free game and another fast start but this is in our wheelhouse.