Playoff Push

[Paintrain]

I'm seeing a lot of pessimism about our playoff chances in spite of where we currently stand. If you take a look at the schedules of our playoff competitors we have BY FAR the simplest road to the post season. If we go 3-2 down the stretch (I think we're going to go 4-1) then we should be in as the 5 or 6 seed..

Current playoff standings from the Washington Times. NYG and Arizona are not listed as they are virtual locks to win their divisions.

2. Tampa Bay 8-3

Remaining: N.O., at Carolina, at Atlanta, S.D., Oakland

4. Chicago 6-5

Remaining: at Minn., Jacksonville, N.O., G.B., at Houston

5. Carolina 8-3

Remaining: at G.B., T.B., Denver, at Giants, at N.O.

6. Washington 7-4

Remaining: Giants, at Baltimore, at Cincinnati, Philadelphia, at S.F.

7. Atlanta 7-4

Remaining: at S.D., at N.O., TB, at Minn., St. Louis

8. Dallas 7-4

Remaining: Seattle, at Pitt., Giants, Baltimore, at Philadelphia

9. Minnesota 6-5

Remaining: Chicago, at Detroit, at Arizona, Atlanta, Giants

10. Philadelphia 5-5-1

Remaining: Arizona, at Giants, Cleveland, at Washington, Dallas

[hooskins]

God damn NFC South. I am also worried that 10-6 might not be enough this year.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by hooskins

God damn NFC South. I am also worried that 10-6 might not be enough this year.

Do you think Dallas or Atlanta is going 4-1 down the stretch or Minnesota is going 5-0? Otherwise it won't matter as long as we get to 10 wins. We will have tiebreaker advantages over all of them if we finish 10-6.

[SBXVII]

This weekend was my weekend to take our standings into consideration. 7-4 is not really bad if you think about the fact that we have a new coach/coach's, and a new offense. Usually when you do that it takes close to 2-3 yrs to be any kind of decent team. We all understand the learning curve.

Having said that 11-5 or 10-6 would be awsome. Making the play-offs is just the icing on the cake considering the Skins situation.

Also if I remember correctly someone said that our defense is not pass rush based but run stopping based. Everyone is wondering why we are not getting the pass rush or push and it's not designed that way. It's designed for run stopping. The CB's and S are supposed to be stopping the pass. before people start screaming for link...I thought I heard Blache state this in one of his pressers but it may have been simply announcers talking about our defense. So ....no link.

[RMSkins]

Why isn't Green Bay or New Orleans listed? They're both right in the thick of things as well.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Why isn't Green Bay or New Orleans listed? They're both right in the thick of things as well.

Based on the outcome of MNF neither team would rank higher than 9 but yes, the winner is in the thick of things.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Do you think Dallas or Atlanta is going 4-1 down the stretch or Minnesota is going 5-0? Otherwise it won't matter as long as we get to 10 wins. We will have tiebreaker advantages over all of them if we finish 10-6.

Sure I am worried, this is ATL's remaining schedule:

@SD
@NO
TB
@MIN
STL

SD is not that good, NO and TB will be tough but not impossible, and the Viks and Rams aren't great.

[hooskins]

We play Giants then the Ravens next two weeks. We could, I pray not, lose the next two and end up with 3 must win games.

Not the best situation, and I don't know if Zorn has the ability to lead a team to win multiple games straight the way Gibbs did.

[hooskins]

It also really depends on the QB situation in Philly as well...

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by hooskins

We play Giants then the Ravens next two weeks. We could, I pray not, lose the next two and end up with 3 must win games.

Not the best situation, and I don't know if Zorn has the ability to lead a team to win multiple games straight the way Gibbs did.

We may have to win 3 straight, I'm afraid. But it's do-able against cincy, SF, and the fading iggles at home. Still easier than what Gibbs faced.

[hooskins]

That's true, I just wouldn't want to be in that position and I feel Gibbs' style is more suitable for a run.

[53Fan]

I applaud your optimism and bringing reality to the situation Paintrain. We have as good a chance as anyone to make the playoffs. It's not a sure thing but there's no reason for panic. Did anyone really think we'd be in the hunt at this point? I like our chances as much as anyone elses.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Do you think Dallas or Atlanta is going 4-1 down the stretch or Minnesota is going 5-0? Otherwise it won't matter as long as we get to 10 wins. We will have tiebreaker advantages over all of them if we finish 10-6.

I'm confused Paintrain: from their schedule I figure Dallas probably goes 9-7 and misses the playoffs, and if by chance they do go 10-6 and we go 10-6 then sure we get the nod. But Carolina or Tampa is sure to get the 5th seed (the other takes the division), and ATL has a cakewalk schedule. I do think ATL is likely to go 4-1, with a loss to Tampa almost guaranteed. The only other team I could see beating them is Minn... really, Minn? No, I don't think so. ATL should take it to the Vikings. Hard to imagine ATL 11-5 after last year's disaster but I won't be surprised by it.

[Skins4L]

....

[djnemo65]

First of all, anyone who has watched football for more than two weeks should know that it is nonsense to look at the remaining schedule and say, we'll win this one, they'll lose that one, so and so should go 2-3, etc. It never EVER works out that way. We'll likely lose a game we should win, win a game no one counted on, and everyone else will do the same. December is a time of insanity in the NFL

What Paintrain's analysis shows us is that we have as good a chance as anybody else. It'll be fun watching these games down the stretch with the playoffs seemingly on the line every week.