We’re in Week 12 now, and the playoff picture is taking shape. While the playoff predictions are simple(coming up), choosing the champion is tough and takes some luck. Of course, by now the top teams have emerged. So let’s get going!

Dallas Cowboys

Well, duh, right? Dallas has had 400 yards in 8 straight games, Elliott is on pace to reach 1700 and more, and Dak has a 108.6 rating. The defense isn’t stellar, but is getting the job done. They’re poised to reach at least 12-4, and maybe up to 15-1. Only the Seahawks stand a chance, but do they against the top team in the league?

Seattle Seahawks

Meanwhile, Seattle is back. Wilson is probably healthy again(look up the touchdown catch), and the offense is clicking. Rawls is back, Graham is back, and Kam Chancellor is back. The defense is dominant, and a battle against the high-flying Dallas offense is imminent in January.

New England Patriots

Tom Brady is playing out of his mind right now, with a crazy 123.3 rating. Like, whoa!! The Bills loss will hurt them, but this team is firing. Nothing can stop the offense, and the defense is still good. Cowboys…Patriots…Super Bowl LI!!!

Note: I apologize for my millennial slang. I am only 12, after all. ((Hint drop!)Why did I do that?)

Oakland Raiders

This team could be the only SB spoiler in the AFC. The offense is doing great, but penalties must be cleaned up. And the defense needs a lot of work if they want to stop Tom Brady. But there is hope for the Bay Area. Oh wait, they’re moving to Vegas! Ouch.

New York Giants

While this might surprise some, New York is on the rise. Winners of five straight, the Big Apple looks good. Manning has picked it up recently, and the defense is remarkable. They’ll need a bit of luck, but the Giants can make it to the NFL’s biggest stage.

My Prediction

I think the Cowboys will certainly win out, and make it to Houston. The Raiders make a strong case, but New England is just too strong, so they make it. I’m biased, but in a thriller Super Bowl, Elliott goes for 150 and a TD, Brady is shut down, and Dallas wins, 30-14.

Thanks, register, and look for more this fine Thanksgiving!

If you are a football fan who just came out of a coma from mid-July, you’d have trouble realizing the truth. Crazy things have happened. The Vikings are undefeated-with Sam Bradford. Dak Prescott, the Cowboys third-stringer, is starting, has records, and is 5-1. The Panthers-that team that went 15-1 last year- is 1-5. The Raiders are leading the AFC West-over the Chiefs and Broncos. The Bengals are 2-4, as are the Colts. The Patriots went 3-1 without Brady, even with Jacoby Brissett starting. You get the point.

So, 6 weeks through(and the TNF game in Week 7), we have some idea of where things stand. The playoff picture(with three teams below the cut line):

Note: GA means games ahead.

The table shows some surprises. Houston is second in the AFC(thanks to tiebreakers), as is Dallas in the NFC. The Ravens and Titans are one game out of the playoffs. Cincy is nowhere on the list. Neither are the Panthers, while the SB50 champs, the Broncos, are 5th, and the Cardinals 9th.

This scares early projectors, because consistency is out the window. I’m new to this, but it probably happens every year. So I have my too-early predictions.

Of course, things could change. Bradford could start playing like the usual Sam Bradford, the Raiders’ defense could come to hurt them, and Brady could start playing badly. Matt Ryan could go win every game from here on out, and take the No. 1 seed, but it doesn’t look that way. These predictions are not very realistic, but it can’t be-not at this stage. I’ll do this again at Weeks 10 & 13 and give scenarios at Week 15. Oh, and stop using Jason as our name in the comments. I have the emails, so use something different, please! Register/subscribe at the bottom of the sidebar(don’t know details, so figure it out), and email me for ideas, feedback, and especially compliments. See you around!