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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER
18, 2013 |
 By
Chris Berman
MOF Media Analyst
Published
Wednesday, December 18, 2013 |
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Welcome to the Contender / Pretender column! The
first edition of Season 27. Now you can
basically assume what the jist of this column
will be. We will go through each division, in
each conference and tell you if that team is a
contender or a pretender, with a twist. You will
get my prediction of their remaining games as
well, giving you a playoff prediction after each
edition of the column. Enjoy!
|
AFC EAST |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. x- NEW ENGLAND (11-1) |
at NYJ, vs GB, at BUF,
vs OAK |
(4-0) |
The Patriots have already clinched a
playoff berth. I expect the Patriots
win their remaining 4 games. |
(15-1) |
|
2. NEW YORK (8-5) |
vs NE, at TEN, at JAC |
(1-2) |
The Jets currently control their own
destiny, but with the loss to the
Texans, it puts in question their
ability to defeat the Titans. I
expect them to drop a game to the
Patriots and Titans, and beat the
Jaguars to finish. |
(9-7) |
|
3. MIAMI (7-6) |
at HOU, vs BUF, at PIT |
(1-2) |
This is a tough team to predict.
However, I expect them to slip up
against the Buffalo Bills and the
Pittsburgh Steelers. |
(8-8) |
|
4. BUFFALO (6-8) |
at MIA, vs NE |
(1-1) |
Buffalo has been hot lately, but I
don't see them beating the Patriots,
but I do see them hurting the
Dolphins chances at the post-season.
|
(7-9) |
|
AFC NORTH |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. y- BALTIMORE (10-4) |
at TB, at CIN |
(2-0) |
The Ravens have already clinched the
AFC North and they will be fighting
for that bye. I think the game vs.
The Buccaneers will be interesting
since it's Pauly's 3rd time playing
him. But I expect the Ravens to win
out. |
(12-4) |
|
2. CLEVELAND (5-7) |
at TB, vs SD, vs CAR,
at HOU |
(2-2) |
I expect the Browns to split their
final two games. Loss to Tampa, win
vs San Diego, loss to Carolina, and
win at Houston. These can definitely
flip flop, but I don't see Cleveland
finishing .500 or above. |
(7-9) |
|
3. PITTSBURGH (4-8) |
vs TB, at CIN, at SD, MIA |
(4-0) |
The game that will be most
interesting is the game against the
Buccaneers, how will the
Commissioner handle this one? It
will probably be simulated, but I
like Pittsburgh to win out here. |
(8-8) |
|
4. CINCINNATI (3-10) |
vs PIT, vs OAK, vs BAL |
(1-2) |
I see a win over Oakland, and 2
loses one to Pittsburgh and one to
Baltimore. |
(4-12) |
|
AFC SOUTH |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. INDIANAPOLIS (7-8) |
at HOU |
(1-0) |
The Colts really need to win their
last game or they're going to
absolutely be out of the playoffs. I
do expect them to beat the newly
energized Texans team, but it will
be close. |
(8-8) |
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2. TENNESSEE (5-7) |
vs JAC, at JAC, vs NYJ,
at SD |
(2-2) |
This is going to be very
interesting. I see the Titans
beating the Jaguars and Chargers.
However, I definitely don't see him
beating the Jets. The deciding game
will be the 2nd game vs the Jaguars
for the division title. |
(7-9) |
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3. JACKSONVILLE (4-8) |
at TEN, at HOU, vs TEN,
vs NYJ |
(1-3) |
The Jaguars have the role of spoiler
here, they could pull a miracle and
win out, and get help and win the
division yes, but that's asking alot
of a poor team. I expect them to
split with the Titans and lose the
rest. |
(5-11) |
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4. HOUSTON (3-7) |
at DAL, vs MIA, at OAK,
vs JAC, vs IND, vs CLE |
(2-4) |
With 6 games left the Texans really
do control their own destiny, if
they can upset some teams, they'll
find themselves in prime position. I
see them beating the Jaguars and
Raiders, and losing the rest. |
(5-11) |
|
AFC WEST |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. y- DENVER (11-3) |
vs SF, vs SEA |
(1-1) |
The Broncos already clinched the AFC
West division, but they have two
behemoth games left against Seattle
and San Francisco. I expect them to
split, win vs SF loss vs Sea, that
will cost them the 2 seed. |
(12-4) |
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2. KANSAS CITY (7-6) |
at SD, vs SD, at SF |
(2-1) |
I see the Chiefs sweeping the
Chargers, and then losing to the
49ers to finish ahead of Miami,
earning the 6th and final seed in
the AFC. It wont be easy beating the
Chargers twice, but I see them
pulling it out. |
(9-7) |
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3. SAN DIEGO (2-6) |
vs KC, at ARI, vs OAK,
at CLE, vs PIT, at KC,
at OAK, vs TEN |
(2-6) |
I see the Chargers beating the
Raiders once, and the Cardinals.
That's it, they will lose the rest. |
(4-12) |
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4. OAKLAND (2-7) |
at SF, at SD, vs HOU,
at CIN, vs ARI, vs SD,
at NE |
(1-6) |
They will split with San Diego, and
lose the rest. They will be the only
team to lose to Arizona this season,
mark my words. |
(3-13) |
|
NFC EAST |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. DALLAS (9-4) |
vs HOU, at TB, vs NO |
(3-0) |
The Dallas Cowboys finally getting a
break, Peezy has a favorable
remaining 3 games that should propel
them into the NFC East and possibly
the #1 or 2 seed. |
(12-4) |
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2. PHILADELPHIA (9-6) |
vs DET |
(0-1) |
The Eagles have 1 game remaining
against the Lions, and they must win
the game to have any shot at the
playoffs. The game is going to be
high scoring, but I think the Eagles
will drop it. |
(9-7) |
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3. NEW YORK (9-6) |
vs TB |
(1-0) |
The Giants have 1 game left, and it
will be against Pauly's Buccaneers,
same thing applies here. They MUST
win to have any shot at the
post-season. I think they will beat
the Bucs. |
(10-6) |
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4. WASHINGTON (4-9) |
vs TB, at NO, at ARI |
(1-2) |
They will beat the Cardinals, but I
don't think they will beat Tampa or
New Orleans. |
(5-11) |
|
NFC NORTH |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. DETROIT (10-4) |
at MIN, at PHI |
(2-0) |
The Lions and Calvin Johnson have
two remaining games left, and with
the Bears up their behinds they have
to win both, and I expect them to do
just that. |
(12-4) |
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2. CHICAGO (9-5) |
at MIN, vs ARI |
(2-0) |
The Bears are fighting to get into
the post-season, and they have the
two worst NFC teams on their
schedule remaining, I expect them to
win both. |
(11-5) |
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3. GREEN BAY (3-9) |
at NE, at ARI, vs CAR,
vs MIN |
(1-3) |
I see 1 win under footballray and
that will come against Arizona,
maybe!!? |
(4-12) |
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4. MINNESOTA (2-7) |
vs NO, vs ARI, at SF,
at SEA, vs DET, vs CHI,
at GB |
(3-4) |
The Vikings could play the role of
spoiler here, but I don't know if
they have it in them. I see them
beating the Saints, Cards and
Packers, and losing the rest. |
(5-11) |
|
NFC SOUTH |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. ATLANTA (8-7) |
vs TB |
(1-0) |
It's not going to be easy, but
Atlanta needs to win this game to
prove it to themselves and to
actually win the division before
they blow it. I expect them to do
it. |
(9-7) |
|
2. TAMPA BAY (3-3) |
vs CLE, at PIT, vs CAR,
vs ARI, at WAS, at NYG,
vs DAL, vs BAL, at ATL
at NO |
(5-5) |
The Buccaneers finally got an
interim coach, if they can find a
way to finish above .500 they might
win this division, which is crazy. I
think the 5 wins will be against:
CLE, CAR, ARI, WAS, & NO.
|
(8-8) |
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3. CAROLINA (5-7) |
at TB, at GB, at CLE,
vs SF |
(3-1) |
I have faith in Carolina here, I
think they will finish very strong
with 1 loss to the Buccaneers and
that's it. I think they will upset
the 49ers, and put pressure on
Atlanta. |
(8-8) |
|
4. NEW ORLEANS (4-8) |
at MIN, vs WAS, at DAL,
vs TB |
(1-3) |
Saints will win 1 more game, and
that will be against the Redskins, I
expect them to lose the remaining. |
(5-11) |
|
NFC WEST |
REMAINING GAMES |
OUTCOME |
COMMENT |
FINAL RECORD |
|
1. SAN FRANCISCO (6-2) |
vs OAK, at SEA, vs MIN,
at DEN, at STL, vs SEA,
vs KC, at CAR |
(4-4) |
The 49ers are coming off vacation,
so the rust will definitely set in
and he must shake it off quick with
this incredible division. I see the
4 wins coming against: OAK, SEA,
MIN, & KC. I think he will lose the
rest. |
(10-6) |
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2. SEATTLE (8-3) |
vs SF, vs MIN, at SF,
vs STL, at DEN |
(4-1) |
The Seahawks are my favorite to win
this division. I see them splitting
with the 49ers, and then beating the
Rams, Vikes, and Broncos to claim
the title. |
(12-4) |
|
3. ST. LOUIS (9-4) |
at ARI, vs SF, at SEA |
(2-1) |
The Rams will finish in the
playoffs, I think the game vs the
49ers will determine our 6th and
final seed. I like the Rams to beat
the Cards and Niners, and lose to
the Seahawks for the division crown. |
(11-5) |
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4. ARIZONA (0-8) |
at MIN, vs SD, at TB,
vs STL, vs GB, at OAK,
vs WAS, at CHI |
(1-7) |
They will win 1 game, vs the
Raiders. That's it. |
(1-15) |
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