Arkaign Predicts:
|
Actually looks pretty easy, which means I'll probably finish 8-8 lol.
Oak/SD, Chargers can do amazing things, but lack anything resembling consistency.
Ten/KC, KC doesn't have a high-output offense, nor a defense that is stingy. Their wins all seem to come from special teams + random takeaways (skilled but ... strange .. give up a ton of yards, then all of a sudden pick-6, fumble recovery, etc). Without turnovers I think TEN can win, with turnovers and special teams scores, KC will win. KC is a very hard place to play, so I am definitely picking the underdog in this game. Oh well.
LA/SEA, Rams have had the Seahawks number at times, this won't be one of them, unless the interim coach is amazing, and Goff is swapped for 80s Joe Montana.
NO/ARI, Who the hell knows. ARI is another in about a dozen to two dozen teams who can look like playoff contenders one week, and barrel-scrapers the next. Sometimes in the same game. That actually describes the Saints as well lol.
TB/DAL, TB is VERY underrated but people are starting to come around. Best WR in the league this year, beating Julio Jones by a little IMHO. Aggressive high-energy defense. QB that is confident and extends plays. DAL has looked wobbly all the way back to Thanksgiving. Elliot has seen far less carries, and seems to be off the field a lot. QB looks worse game on game since week 10. If they trend up, they have a shot, if they stay the same or dip lower, they're done for the year, and will be blown out their first/last playoff game. It was always a long shot with the defense lacking star power, but the total collapse in playcalling and QB play has them looking very much like the 4-12 team of last year.
DET/NYG. DET will win easily if their QB is okay. They're playing well enough in all phases, and Matt Stafford is tops in my MVP ratings if Brady isn't considered. I think a lot of people haven't seen their games. They played with heart early on, but are improving week on week, with the team rising to Staffords levels rather than him falling back down to theirs. NYG I think will be hugely overrated after beating Dallas. Dallas wouldn't have beaten Cleveland playing like they did against the Giants in this last game. ProFootBall focus has Dak at a ~40 rating and 2 INTs when he had no pressure. He was pressured much less than against the Ravens, but was mechanically unsound and couldn't even deliver balls to open checkdown receivers. And Eli played almost as bad to be honest, along with the Giants O line. Their defense is good, but it was not as fierce as the Ravens, Vikings, or early-year Eagles defense. Dak collapsed entirely on his own other than Dez crapping the bed as well. The NFC East, which looked so promising earlier in the year, is starting to look as if not a one of them deserves to be in the post-season.
If they keep on pace, the class of the NFC is now the Packers, Lions, and Bucs. Who could have said that a month ago? :)
