Sorry I feel behind with posting the playoff scenarios this week. The workload at the real job continues to haunt me. With two weeks left in the season, the playoff picture is more in focus. In the AFC:

PLAYOFF TEAMS
• Colts (13-1)
• Broncos (11-3)
• Bengals (11-3)
• Patriots (9-5)
• Jaguars (10-4)
• Steelers (9-5)

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
• Chargers (9-5)
• Chiefs (8-6)
• Dolphins (7-7)

ELIMINATED
• Dolphins (7-7)
• Browns (5-9)
• Ravens (4-10)
• Titans (4-10)
• Raiders (4-10)
• Bills (4-10)
• Jets (3-11)
• Texans (2-12)

AFC playoff matchups at the moment

Wild-card round, Jan. 7-8

No. 5 Jaguars (10-4) at No. 4 Patriots (9-5, AFC East champs)

No. 6 Steelers (9-5) at No. 3 Bengals (11-3, AFC North champs)

Second round, Jan. 14-15

Lower-ranked team at No. 1 Colts (13-1, AFC South champs)

Higher-ranked team at No. 2 Broncos (11-3, AFC West leaders)

Explaining the Seedings

Steelers seeded ahead of Chargers (Steelers beat Chargers 24-22 on Oct. 10)

In the NFC:

PLAYOFF TEAMS
• Seahawks (12-2)
• Bears (10-4)
• Giants (10-4)
• Panthers (10-4)
• Bucs (9-5)
• Redskins (8-6)

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
• Vikings (8-6)
• Cowboys (8-6)
• Falcons (8-6)

ELIMINATED
• Eagles (6-8)
• Rams (5-9)
• Lions (4-10)
• Cardinals (4-10)
• Packers (3-11)
• Saints (3-11)
• 49ers (2-12)

Wild-card round, Jan. 7-8

No. 5 Buccaneers (9-5) at No. 4 Panthers (10-4, NFC South leaders)

No. 6 Redskins (8-6) at No. 3 Giants (10-4, NFC East leaders)

Second round, Jan. 14-15

Lower-ranked team at No. 1 Seahawks (12-2, NFC West champs)

Higher-ranked team at No. 2 Bears (10-4, NFC North leaders)

Explaining the Seedings

Bears seeded ahead of Giants, Panthers by better record vs. NFC (Chicago 9-1, N.Y. 8-3, Carolina 7-3)

Redskins seeded ahead of Cowboys because of head-to-head sweep and Falcons, Vikings by better record vs. NFC (Washington 8-2, Minnesota 7-4, Atlanta 5-5)

COD Carnac

Artist rendition by Shane Nackerud

Here is the continuation of my highly scientific analysis of the remaining schedule to try and ascertain how the Vikes will end up: Invited to the party or on the outside looking in. Here is the playoff picture based on my Carnac-like powers:

•AFC: Division winners: New England at 11-5 (East); Cincinnati at 13-3 (North); Indianapolis at 15-1 (South); Denver at 12-4 (West); wild cards: Pittsburgh at 11-5 and Jacksonville at 12-4.
•NFC: Division winners: N.Y. Giants at 12-4 (East); Chicago at 11-5 (North); Carolina at 11-5 (South); Seattle at 13-3 (West); wild cards: Tampa Bay at 11-5 and Minnesota at 10-6.

We'll certainly have a clearer picture after Xmas Day. What a day for football that will be!

VU Fantasy Updates

The VU Pick 'Em League is heading into the last two weeks. Can Coworker Jim of the league leading Cuyahoga Riverdawgs hold onto the lead he has held for nearly the whole season? We'll see if he can hold or if he folds like the Browns against the Bronco's circa 1987.

The Commish's tteam, Bubbling Farts, won Week 15 missing just three picks. And Bubbling Farts moved to within 13-points of the lead!

The Top 15:

1 cuyahoga riverdawgs
2 Bubbling Farts
3 The Wizzinator
4 C.J.'s pix
5 Straight Cash Homies
6 Pogo
7 FITZ
8 Ron Burgundy
9 Wisconsin Vikes?
10 paviking
11 hawgdawg
12 Big Dogs
13 Oracle of Cheese
14 Ragnar
15 Mr. Cheer Or Die

Over in the Beer Brotherhood Fantasy League, I reached the Super Bowl! It's all about the money now! Forget about pride and all that other jazz. I want some green backs.

My tenative lineup heading into the Super Bowl game:

QB C. Palmer, CIN BUF
RB S. Alexander, SEA IND
RB T. Barber, NYG @WAS
WR T. Holt, STL SF
WR J. Porter, OAK @DEN
TE C. Cooley, WAS NYG
PK N. Rackers, ARI PHI
Def Seahawks IND
Avg Total FP 75.7

My opponents tenative lineup heading into the playoff game:

QB M. Hasselbeck, SEA IND
RB S. Gado, GB CHI
WR T. Houshmandzadeh, CIN BUF
WR R. Smith, DEN OAK
WR R. Wayne, IND @SEA
TE T. Gonzalez, KC SD
PK S. Graham, CIN BUF
Def Dolphins TEN
Avg Total FP 56.4

Return next week to find out how I did.

Vikes Geek Writes

If you are looking for something more tangible to read, head over to Vikes Geek column where he puts up some rather interesting prose on Tice.

Posted by maasx003 at December 22, 2005 06:45 AM