slcoach;977672 wrote:Looks like Ray Lewis is out this week and maybe a few more weeks. That's a nice break. The Bengals may still be without AJ Green so the run game will have to produce more than it has in recent weeks.
This is certainly not a must win for the Bengals, but they would put themselves in quite a position to make the playoff if they pull it off. Looking at other potential wildcard teams, Cincinnati would have decent leads on everyone.
East: Looking at the Pats schedule, I think they run away with it.
Jets: (5-5) Their schedule also gets easier, but still have the Giants and go to Phily. With Sanchez, I don't see better than 9-7
Bills: (5-4) Kinda falling apart. With trips to New York, San Diego, and New England, they will be fortunate to get to 9-7.
South: Texans run game and defense should be enough to win the division.
Titans (5-4) Still go to Atlanta, Houston, and have a visit from the Saints coming up. They could get to 9, but Cincy has a head to head win here.
West: I really have no clue here but I think 9-7 wins this division and I don't think a wild card comes from the West.
So, with the Jets getting Tebowed last night, it looks like if the Bengals (Cleveland, @ St. Louis, Houston (without Schaub), Arizona) Ravens (Cleveland x2, Indy, and at least one against Cincy) and Steelers (Cleveland x2, Cincy at home, St. Louis) can all get to 10 wins, both wild cards will come from the North.
Now, the Ravens have not shown the ability to beat teams they should while the Steelers and Bengals have. The Bengals could go 2-4 in the division and make the playoffs at 10-6.
I think 9-7 will get a wildcard spot to be honest. Call me crazy, but that would mean that a team from the west would have a shot at a wildcard.